Abstract:
A method and apparatus for operating compacting machinery such as landfill, earth or asphalt compactors relative to a work site to compact the site material toward a desired degree of compaction. A first model (420) representing the desired degree of compaction of the site (12) and a second model (430) representing the actual degree of compaction of the site (12) are stored in a digital data storage facility (126). The machine (10) is equipped with a position receiver to determine in three-dimensional space the location of the compacting portions of the machine (10) relative to the site (12). A dynamic database (124) receives the machine positon information, determines the difference between the degree of compaction of the first and second site models (420, 430) and generates representational signals of that difference for directing the operation of the machine (10) to bring the actual degree of compaction of the site (12) into conformity with the desired degree of compaction. In one embodiment, the signals representing the machine position and the difference between the first and second site models (420, 430) are used to generate an operator display (22) which is updated in real time as the machine (10) operates over the site (12). Alternately, the signals representing the difference between the first and second site models (420, 430) can be supplied to automatic machine controls for automatic or semi-automatic operation of the machine (10).
Abstract:
A system and method for delivering fluid to a site (100) using a mobile fluid delivery machine (106) are disclosed. The method includes determining a value of a parameter associated with the site using a sensor (500), and determining a fluid delivery rate based on the value of the site parameter. The method further includes delivering the fluid to a surface of the site at the location of the mobile fluid delivery machine, at the determined fluid delivery rate,
Abstract:
An apparatus (702, 704, 706, 708, 802, 804, 806) is provided for determining the location of a digging implement (120) at a work site. The apparatus (702, 704, 706, 708, 802, 804, 806) includes an undercarriage (106), a car body (104) rotatably connected to the undercarriage (106), a receiver (125) connected to the car body (104), a positioning system (704, 805, 806) for determining the location of the receiver (125) in three dimensional space, the positioning system (704, 804, 806) determining the location of the receiver (125) at a plurality of points along an arc, and a processor (704, 818, 824) for determining the location and orientation of the car body (104) in response to the location of the plurality of points.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for controlling fluid delivery on a site (100) using at least one fluid delivery machine (106) are disclosed. An exemplary such method includes identifying at least one path (104) on the site based on map information (360) associated with the site (step 802), calculating a fluid delivery requirement of the at least one path based on environmental information (362) associated with the site (step 716), and dispatching a fluid delivery machine (106) on a mission to treat the at least one path with fluid based on the fluid delivery requirement (step 820).
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for operating geography-altering machinery such as a track-type tractor, road grader, paver or the like relative to a work site to alter the geography of the site toward a desired condition. A first digital three-dimensional model (104) of the desired site geography, and a second digital three-dimensional model (106) of the actual site geography are stored in a digital data storage facility (126). The machine (10) is equipped with a position receiver to determine in three-dimensional space the location of the machine (10) relative to the site (12). A dynamic database (400) receives the machine position information, determines the difference between the first and second site models (104, 106) and generates representational signals of that difference for directing the operation of the machine (10) to bring the actual site geography into conformity with the desired site geography. In one embodiment, the signals representing the machine position and the difference between the first and second site models (104, 106) used to generate an operator display (108) which is updated in real time. Alternately, the signals representing the difference between the first and second site models (104, 106) can be supplied to automatic machine controls (128) for autonomous or semi-autonomous operation of the machine (10).
Abstract:
An apparatus (102) determines the payload carried in a work vehicle (104) by monitoring the pressure of a fluid contained within front and rear suspension struts (106, 108). The struts are connected in supporting relation between a load carrying portion (110) and a ground engaging portion (122) of the work vehicle (104) such that a compression condition of the strut (106, 108) is detected while the work vehicle (104) is in motion. Moreover, a pressure differential corresponding to the compression condition is indicative of the magnitude of the payload supported by the strut (106, 108).
Abstract:
A pair of loop antennas (40, 44) mounted internal to an extensible coaxial cavity (20) respectively transmit and receive electromagnetic signals in the radio frequency range exciting a transverse electromagnetic field in the cavity (20) when the frequency of the signal corresponds to the resonant frequency of the cavity (20). The resonant frequency of the cavity (20) is primarily dependent upon the longitudinal length of the cavity (20). Therefore, a voltage controlled oscillator (36) acts under the control of a sawtooth voltage waveform of a function generator (28) to controllably deliver a variable frequency signal to the first loop antenna (40). An RF detector (47) monitors the second loop antenna (44) for an indication that the resonant frequency has been reached. At resonance a microprocessor (68) samples the output of the VCO (36) and correlates the resonant frequency to the length of the coaxial cavity (20).
Abstract:
Systems and methods for executing a fluid delivery mission are disclosed. In one embodiment a mobile fluid delivery machine (106) for delivering fluid to a site (100) has a tank (200) storing fluid, and at least one spray head (202) configured to spray the stored fluid onto the site. In addition, the mobile fluid delivery machine has a communication device (318) configured to receive fluid delivery mission instructions (900) from a site computing system (112), the mission instructions identifying a sequence of path segments (902) on the site and corresponding fluid delivery amounts (904) allocated to the path segments, and a location device (324) configured to determine the location of the mobile fluid delivery machine on the site. The mobile fluid delivery machine also has a fluid delivery system (326) configured to determine whether the location of the fluid delivery machine corresponds to a path segment of the sequence, and when it is determined that the location of the fluid delivery machine corresponds to a path segment in the sequence, to identify the fluid delivery amount allocated to that path segment based on the mission instructions.
Abstract:
An avoidance system (40) is disclosed for operating a vehicle (38) on a pile (18) of material (16) on a worksite (10), the material (16) being released through an opening (20) at the worksite (10) and causing a disturbance zone (32) to form on a surface (30) of the pile (18). The system (40) has a sensor (42) positioned at the worksite (10) and configured to sense the surface (30) of the pile (18), and a processor (50) in communication with the sensor (42) and the vehicle (38). The processor (50) is configured to identify the disturbance zone (32) based on the sensed surface and a known location of the opening (20), and to transmit a signal indicative of the disturbance zone (32) to the vehicle (38).
Abstract:
An apparatus (40, 50, 60) and method (100, 101, 102, 104, 106, 108, 108a, 109, 110) for directing the operations of multiple geography-altering machines (14) on a common work site (12) relative to one another. Position information from several machines (14) is shared to generate a common, dynamically-updated site database (66) showing the machines' relative positions and site progress in real time. The common site database (66) is used to direct the operation of one machine (14) with respect to another machine or machines (14), for example by generating an operator display (22) of the site (12) showing relative machine position and total machine work on the site (12). The operator can accordingly adjust the machine's operation to avoid interference with other machines (14) or unnecessary overlap of work on the site (12). The information can also be used to coordinate the operations of several machines (14) in complementary fashion. Machine position information can be broadcast from the machines (14) to the site database (66) to create a common, dynamically-updated database (66) which is then shared with one or more of the machines (14). In a particular embodiment each machine (14) is provided with its own dynamically-updated database (66) and operator display (22), and machine position information is shared on a continuous, real-time basis between the machines (14) so that they effectively share a common site database (66).