IP Library Granted Patent US 7,574,821
Granted Patent B2
US 7,574,821 · App. 11/217,177 · Granted Aug 18, 2009

Autonomous loading shovel system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,574,821
App. No.
11/217,177
Granted
Aug 18, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system comprising a processor adapted to determine a profile of a surface responsive to a scan of the surface. The processor can be adapted to identify a predetermined profile from a plurality of predetermined profiles, the identified predetermined profile a closest match of the plurality of predetermined profiles to the profile of the surface. The processor can be adapted to determine a procedure based upon the identified predetermined profile. The processor can be adapted to provide the procedure to a machine.

Claims (60)

1. A system for controlling an electric mining shovel, comprising: a processor adapted to:

determine a profile of a digging surface responsive to a scan of the digging surface;

identify a predetermined bank profile from a plurality of predetermined bank profiles, the identified predetermined bank profile a closest match of the plurality of predetermined bank profiles to the profile of the digging surface;

determine a first electric mining shovel digging procedure based upon the identified predetermined bank profile;

execute an optimization routine to determine a second electric mining shovel digging procedure;

compare the first electric mining shovel digging procedure to the second electric mining shovel digging procedure to determine an preferred electric mining shovel digging procedure;

provide the preferred electric mining shovel digging procedure to the electric mining shovel, the preferred electric mining shovel digging procedure adapted to, responsive to an automatic relocation of the electric mining shovel, automatically control a cable reel to change an extended length of an electrical cable utilized to provide power to the electric mining shovel; and

execute a confusion routine responsive to a determination that a bank of said digging surface is unstable, said confusion routine adapted to request at least partial operator control of said electric mining shovel.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a sonar scanner adapted to obtain the scan of the digging surface.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an optical scanner adapted to obtain the scan of the digging surface.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive Global Position System (GPS) information regarding the electric mining shovel, said receiver communicatively coupled to said processor, said processor adapted to use the received GPS information to determine the first electric mining shovel digging procedure.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive Global Position System (GPS) information regarding a mining haulage vehicle associated with the electric mining shovel, said receiver communicatively coupled to said processor, said processor adapted to use the received GPS information to determine the first electric mining shovel digging procedure.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive Global Position System (GPS) information regarding a mining vehicle associated with the electric mining shovel, said receiver communicatively coupled to said processor, said processor adapted to use the received GPS information to determine the first electric mining shovel digging procedure.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a memory device adapted to store the plurality of predetermined bank profiles, said memory device adapted to be communicatively coupled to said processor.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

said electric mining shovel, wherein said electric mining shovel is adapted to be communicatively coupled with said processor.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a mining haulage vehicle associated with the electric mining shovel, said mining haulage vehicle adapted to be communicatively coupled to said processor, said processor adapted to signal said mining haulage vehicle to move to a determined position.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a power measurement sub-system adapted to measure a power associated with the electric mining shovel, said power measurement sub-system adapted to communicate the measured power to said processor, said processor adapted to utilize the measured power to determine the first electric mining shovel digging procedure.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a transceiver adapted to wirelessly communicate with a mining haulage vehicle associated with the electric mining shovel, said transceiver adapted to be communicatively coupled to said processor.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a proximity sensor adapted to detect an interference of the electric mining shovel with an object, said proximity sensor adapted to be communicatively coupled to said processor.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

the cable reel.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a fault correction system adapted to automatically bypass a failed component of the electric mining shovel responsive to a signal from said processor.

15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a wireless transceiver adapted to signal a help entity responsive to a detected fault in the electric mining shovel, said processor adapted to provide notification of the detected fault, said processor adapted to schedule maintenance on said electric mining shovel.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a wireless transceiver adapted to receive instructions regarding the digging surface, said wireless transceiver communicatively coupled to said processor, said processor adapted to use the instructions to determine the first electric mining shovel digging procedure.

17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a wireless transceiver adapted to receive instructions regarding a pocket of material to be removed by the electric mining shovel, said wireless transceiver communicatively coupled to said processor, said processor adapted to use the instructions to determine the first electric mining shovel digging procedure.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a sensor adapted to determine a machine positional limit of the electric mining shovel, said sensor communicatively coupled to said processor, said processor adapted to use the machine positional limit to determine the first electric mining shovel digging procedure.

19. A system for controlling an electric mining shovel, comprising: a processor adapted to:

determine a profile of a digging surface responsive to a scan of the digging surface;

identify a predetermined bank profile from a plurality of predetermined bank profiles, the identified predetermined bank profile a closest match of the plurality of predetermined bank profiles to the profile of the digging surface;

determine a first electric mining shovel digging procedure based upon the identified predetermined bank profile;

execute an optimization routine to determine a second electric mining shovel digging procedure;

compare the first electric mining shovel digging procedure to the second electric mining shovel digging procedure to determine an preferred electric mining shovel digging procedure;

execute the preferred electric mining shovel digging procedure at the electric mining shovel, the preferred electric mining shovel digging procedure adapted to, responsive to an automatic relocation of the electric mining shovel, automatically control a cable reel to change an extended length of an electrical cable utilized to provide power to the electric mining shovel; and

execute a confusion routine responsive to a determination that a bank of said digging surface is unstable, said confusion routine adapted to request at least partial operator control of said electric mining shovel.

20. A system for controlling an electric mining shovel, comprising: a processor adapted to:

determine a profile of a digging surface responsive to a scan of the digging surface;

identify a predetermined bank profile from a plurality of predetermined bank profiles, the identified predetermined bank profile a closest match of the plurality of predetermined bank profiles to the profile of the digging surface;

determine a first electric mining shovel digging procedure based upon the identified predetermined bank profile;

execute an optimization routine to determine a second electric mining shovel digging procedure;

compare the first electric mining shovel digging procedure to the second electric mining shovel digging procedure to determine an preferred electric mining shovel digging procedure;

wirelessly transmit the preferred electric mining shovel digging procedure to the electric mining shovel, the preferred electric mining shovel digging procedure adapted to, responsive to an automatic relocation of the electric mining shovel, automatically control a cable reel to change an extended length of an electrical cable utilized to provide power to the electric mining; and

execute a confusion routine responsive to a determination that a bank of said digging surface is unstable, said confusion routine adapted to request at least partial operator control of said electric mining shovel.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said confusion routine is adapted to request at least partial operator remote control of said electric mining shovel.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 13, 2023
From: SIEMENS LARGE DRIVES LLC
To: INNOMOTICS LLC
Reel/Frame 065225/0389 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2023
From: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
To: SIEMENS LARGE DRIVES LLC.
Reel/Frame 065191/0604 →
MERGER Recorded May 18, 2010
From: SIEMENS ENERGY AND AUTOMATION AND SIEMENS BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
Reel/Frame 024411/0223 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2006
From: FUREM, KEN
To: SIEMENS ENERGY & AUTOMATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 017446/0111 →