Machine Operation Classifier
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorKarl Kirsch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for developing machine classification systems includes using human experts to associate expected operations with various machine states including drawbar pull, tool position, tool commands, gear, and ground speed, among others, to create a classification system that can be used in a particular machine. The classification system operates in real time to infer operations such as dig, dump, travel, and push from machine state inputs and logs the operations for use in operational analysis and maintenance of the machine.
Claims20
A method of developing a machine operation classifier, the method comprising:
- i) identifying, via a user interface of a computer, an operation of a machine;
- ii) compiling, at the computer, a list of conditions that are associated with the operation of the machine;
- repeating, at the computer, steps i and ii for one or more operations that the machine is expected to perform;
- and
- generating, via the computer, a classifier algorithm, wherein the classifier algorithm outputs the operation of the machine selected from the identified operations of the machine in response to identification of conditions in the associated list of conditions when the classifier algorithm is executed on a processor of the machine, wherein the operation of the machine includes the operation of one of a construction machine, a mining machine, or an earthmoving machine.
A method of creating an operation classification algorithm for a machine, the method comprising:
- developing, at a computer, a catalog of operations performed by the machine;
- cataloging events associated with each of the operations, wherein the events include tool events, direction events, gear events, and load/power events;
- for each event, documenting, via a user interface of a computer, one or more machine conditions associated with the event;
- for each machine condition, developing, at the computer, a calculation used to determine the one or more conditions from one of a current machine state or a combination of current and previous machine states;
- and
- generating a classification algorithm that monitors, in the machine, the one or more machine conditions and outputs a current operation of the machine using the one or more conditions to identity events associated with the operation.
A computer for creating a classification algorithm for a machine, the computer comprising:
- a processor;
- a user interface coupled to the processor;
- and
- a memory storing instructions that when executed on the processor cause the computer to:
- receive, via the user interface, information about the machine, the information including a catalog of operations performed by the machine, one or more events associated with each of the operations, and information for determining when each of the one or more of events has occurred;
- and
- generate the classification algorithm that determines when one or more events has occurred in the machine and matches the one or more events to an operation from the catalog of operations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.