# US 12,602,065 B2 · Derating of remotely controlled work machines based on geocached connectivity information > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,602,065 B2 - Document ID: US12602065B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/417,450 - Filed: 2024-01-19 - Published: 2025-07-24 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2024-01-19 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: Aaron R. Shatters; Eric W. Cler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12602065B2 ## CPC - G05D 1/80: Arrangements for reacting to or preventing system or operator failure (handing over between remote control and on-board control, or handing over between remote control arrangements G05D1/227) - E02F 9/205: {Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles (E02F3/8866 takes precedence)} - G05D 1/221: Remote-control arrangements - G05D 1/2247: {providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras} - G05D 1/226: Communication links with the remote-control arrangements - G05D 1/82: Limited authority control, e.g. enforcing a flight envelope (limitation of acceleration or structural stress G05D1/83) - H04B 17/328: {Reference signal received power [RSRP]; Reference signal received quality [RSRQ]} - H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences - H04W 4/40: for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P] - G05D 2105/05: for soil shifting, building, civil engineering or mining, e.g. excavators - G05D 2107/70: Industrial sites, e.g. warehouses or factories - G05D 2107/90: Building sites; Civil engineering - G05D 2109/10: Land vehicles - G05D 2111/30: Radio signals - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract When a remotely controlled work machine loses a wireless connection on a work site, operation of the work machine should be terminated for safety purposes. However, if the work machine is moving when the wireless connection is lost, the work machine will continue moving for some time due to inertia. Accordingly, embodiments predict the signal quality of a wireless connection as a work machine approaches a new geographical location. When the predicted signal quality is low, the work machine may be proactively derated before it enters the geographical location. After entering the geographical location, if the actual signal quality is significantly better than the predicted signal quality, the work machine may be rerated. The predicted signal qualities may be determined based on a signal map that is independently maintained and updated by each work machine, so as to evolve over time with the work site and the work machine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising, by a controller in a work machine: maintaining a signal map within a memory of the controller; determining that the work machine is approaching a new geographical location; based on determining that the work machine is approaching the new geographical location, determining a predicted signal quality associated with the new geographical location by determining a signal quality in a vicinity of the new geographical location based on the signal map; determining whether the predicted signal quality satisfies one or more derating criteria; based on determining that the predicted signal quality satisfies at least one of the one or more derating criteria, derating at least one operational parameter of the work machine; determining that the work machine has entered the new geographical location; detecting an actual signal quality within the new geographical location; determining to adjust a rate of the work machine based on the actual signal quality; based on determining to adjust the rate of the work machine based on the actual signal quality, derating or rerating the at least one operational parameter of the work machine; and associating the actual signal quality with the new geographical location by modifying the signal map based on the actual signal quality. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the signal map defines a plurality of geographical locations using geofences. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the signal quality in the vicinity of the new geographical location comprises weighting more recently detected historical signal qualities in the signal map greater than less recently detected historical signal qualities in the signal map. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the actual signal quality comprises calculating the actual signal quality based on a time associated with a most recent command received from a remote operator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the new geographical location is a first new geographical location and the predicted signal quality is a first predicted signal quality, and wherein the method further comprises, by the controller: determining that the work machine is approaching a second new geographical location; based on determining that the work machine is approaching the second new geographical location, determining a second predicted signal quality associated with the second new geographical location; determining whether the second predicted signal quality satisfies one or more rerating criteria; and based on determining that the second predicted signal quality satisfies at least one of the one or more rerating criteria, rerating the at least one operational parameter of the work machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter limits movement of the work machine without stopping movement of the work machine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter comprises decreasing a maximum speed or propulsion of the work machine. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter comprises decreasing a maximum state of a throttle on an engine of the work machine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter comprises decreasing a maximum engine speed of the work machine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter comprises applying a braking system of the work machine. ### Claim 11 A method comprising, by a controller in a work machine: determining that the work machine is approaching a new geographical location; based on determining that the work machine is approaching the new geographical location, determining a predicted signal quality associated with the new geographical location; determining whether the predicted signal quality satisfies one or more derating criteria; and based on determining that the predicted signal quality satisfies at least one of the one or more derating criteria, derating at least one operational parameter of the work machine, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter comprises decreasing a maximum available gear of a transmission of the work machine. ### Claim 12 A method comprising, by a controller in a work machine: determining that the work machine is approaching a new geographical location; based on determining that the work machine is approaching the new geographical location, determining a predicted signal quality associated with the new geographical location; determining whether the predicted signal quality satisfies one or more derating criteria; and based on determining that the predicted signal quality satisfies at least one of the one or more derating criteria, derating at least one operational parameter of the work machine, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter comprises decreasing a maximum rim-pull of the work machine. ### Claim 13 A method comprising, by a controller in a work machine: determining that the work machine is approaching a new geographical location; based on determining that the work machine is approaching the new geographical location, determining a predicted signal quality associated with the new geographical location; determining whether the predicted signal quality satisfies one or more derating criteria; and based on determining that the predicted signal quality satisfies at least one of the one or more derating criteria, derating at least one operational parameter of the work machine, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter comprises decreasing a maximum hydraulic flow within a work implement of the work machine. ### Claim 14 A method comprising, by a controller in a work machine: determining that the work machine is approaching a new geographical location; based on determining that the work machine is approaching the new geographical location, determining a predicted signal quality associated with the new geographical location; determining whether the predicted signal quality satisfies one or more derating criteria; and based on determining that the predicted signal quality satisfies at least one of the one or more derating criteria, derating at least one operational parameter of the work machine, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter comprises decreasing a maximum hydraulic pressure within a work implement of the work machine. ### Claim 15 A method comprising, by a controller in a work machine: determining that the work machine is approaching a new geographical location; based on determining that the work machine is approaching the new geographical location, determining a predicted signal quality associated with the new geographical location; determining whether the predicted signal quality satisfies one or more derating criteria; and based on determining that the predicted signal quality satisfies at least one of the one or more derating criteria, derating at least one operational parameter of the work machine, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter comprises decreasing a velocity of a work implement of the work machine. ### Claim 16 A method comprising, by a controller in a work machine: maintaining a signal map within a memory of the controller; determining whether the work machine is approaching a new geographical location; based on determining that the work machine is approaching the new geographical location, derating at least one operational parameter of the work machine; determining that the work machine has entered the new geographical location; detecting an actual signal quality within the new geographical location; determining whether the actual signal quality satisfies one or more rerating criteria; based on determining that the actual signal quality satisfies at least one of the one or more rerating criteria, rerating the at least one operational parameter of the work machine; and modifying the signal map based on the actual signal quality. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter comprises decreasing a maximum available gear of a transmission of the work machine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter comprises decreasing a maximum speed or propulsion of the work machine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter comprises decreasing a maximum available gear of a transmission of the work machine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein derating the at least one operational parameter comprises decreasing a maximum rim-pull of the work machine.