Back to results
US 11,897,448 B2Granted
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for machine control at worksite based on noise level
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorSean A. Randleman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system, method, and apparatus can provide control signaling to control one or more autonomous machines during a plurality of predefined periods of time. Each of the one or more autonomous machines can be controlled according to a maximized productivity level for each task performed by the autonomous machine while at the same time generating sound during performance of the task at the maximized productivity level no louder than respective maximum noise limit levels specific for the plurality of predefined periods of time.
Claims14
A system for controlling a plurality of mobile autonomous machines at a worksite comprising:
- non-transitory computer-readable memory to store time-specific maximum noise limit data specific to the worksite, the time-specific maximum noise limit data including maximum noise limit levels for different periods of time for the worksite;
- and
- control circuitry operatively coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable memory, the control circuitry being configured to
- set a continuous work period for the mobile autonomous machines at the worksite,
- when the continuous work period is in a first period of time of said different periods of time, control each of the mobile autonomous machines at all times in a first noise-optimized mode according to a first plurality of different sets of defined machine operation parameters each previously identified to yield different sound characteristics no louder than a first maximum noise limit level of said maximum noise limit levels stored in the non-transitory computer-readable memory, each of the different sets of defined machine operation parameters of the first plurality corresponding to respective first operational tasks performed by the mobile autonomous machine, and
- when the continuous work period is in a second period of time that is non-overlapping with the first time period of said different periods of time, control each of the mobile autonomous machines at all times in a second noise-optimized mode according to a second plurality of different sets of defined machine operation parameters each previously identified to yield different sound characteristics no louder than a second maximum noise limit level of said maximum noise limit levels stored in the non-transitory computer-readable memory, each of the different sets of defined machine operation parameters of the second plurality corresponding to respective second operational tasks performed by the mobile autonomous machine,
- wherein, for each said mobile autonomous machine, maximum productivity and sound output levels in the first noise-optimized mode are greater than maximum productivity and sound output levels in the second noise-optimized mode.
4 more elements
A method for enforcing noise level limits at a worksite comprising:
- accessing, in electronic memory, time-specific maximum noise limit data specific to the worksite, the time-specific maximum noise limit data including maximum noise limit levels for different periods of time for the worksite;
- providing, using one or more electronic processors, control signaling to control a plurality of autonomous working machines at the worksite during a continuous work period;
- and
- in response to said providing the control signaling, and depending upon whether in a first period of time or a second period of said different periods of time, either
- controlling each of the autonomous working machines in a first noise-optimized mode according to first defined machine operation parameters previously identified to yield different sound characteristics no louder than a first maximum noise limit level of said maximum noise limit levels, or
- controlling each of the autonomous working machines in a second noise-optimized mode according to second defined machine operation parameters previously identified to yield different sound characteristics no louder than a second maximum noise limit level of said maximum noise limit levels,
- wherein, for each said autonomous working machine, maximum productivity and sound output levels in the first noise-optimized mode are greater than maximum productivity and sound output levels in the second noise-optimized mode.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.