Adjustable control point for asphalt paver
AssigneeCaterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
InventorFrancisco Green
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for controlling a construction machine, such as an asphalt paver, having a tractor, an implement coupled to the tractor via at least one tow arm, and a mast. A position sensor mounted to the mast may detect a geospatial position of the mast. An angle sensor may detect at least one angle associated with the mast. A control point may be calculated based on the geospatial position and the at least one angle. The control point may be spatially offset from a vector formed by a lengthwise extension of the mast. The at least one tow arm may be moved based on a comparison between the control point and a target point.
Claims20
A construction machine comprising:
- a tractor;
- an implement coupled to the tractor via at least one tow arm;
- a mast mounted to the implement or to the at least one tow arm;
- a position sensor mounted to the mast and configured to detect a geospatial position;
- an angle sensor configured to detect at least one angle associated with the mast;
- and
- one or more processors configured to perform operations comprising:
- calculating a control point based on the geospatial position and the at least one angle, wherein the control point is spatially offset by an offset distance from a vector formed by a lengthwise extension of the mast;
- causing movement of the at least one tow arm to drive the control point toward a target point;
- and
- during operation of the construction machine, adjusting the control point in a forward or a backward longitudinal direction of the construction machine so as to increase or decrease the offset distance.
A machine control system comprising:
- a position sensor configured to be mounted to a mast of a construction machine and to detect a geospatial position;
- an angle sensor configured to detect at least one angle associated with the mast;
- and
- one or more processors configured to perform operations comprising:
- calculating a control point based on the geospatial position and the at least one angle, wherein the control point is spatially offset by an offset distance from a vector formed by a lengthwise extension of the mast;
- causing movement of at least one tow arm of the construction machine to drive the control point toward a target point;
- and
- during operation of the construction machine, adjusting the control point in a forward or a backward longitudinal direction of the construction machine so as to increase or decrease the offset distance.
A method comprising:
- detecting, by a position sensor mounted to a mast of a construction machine, a geospatial position;
- detecting, by an angle sensor, at least one angle associated with the mast;
- calculating a control point based on the geospatial position and the at least one angle, wherein the control point is spatially offset by an offset distance from a vector formed by a lengthwise extension of the mast;
- causing movement of at least one tow arm of the construction machine to drive the control point toward a target point;
- and
- during operation of the construction machine, adjusting the control point in a forward or a backward longitudinal direction of the construction machine so as to increase or decrease the offset distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.