Method and apparatus for real-time monitoring and coordination of multiple geography altering machines on a work site

An apparatus for monitoring and coordinating the operations of multiple mobile geography-altering machines on a work site, comprising:

• at least two mobile geography-altering machines, each equipped with means for generating signals representing in real time an instantaneous three-dimensional site coordinate position of the machine as it traverses the site;
• digital data storage and retrieval means on each machine for storing a site model representing geography of the site;
• dynamically updated site database means on each machine for receiving that machine's position signals and for updating the site model in real time in accordance therewith to reflect alterations made to the geography of the site by that machine;
• means on each machine for transmitting that machine's position signals to another machine, and for receiving position signals from another machine;
• means for additionally updating the site database on each machine in accordance with the position signals from another machine to create a dynamically updated common site database comprising the real time updated geography of the site as it has been altered by the machines and the real time position of the machines with respect to the real time updated geography of the site;
• and
• means for directing the operation of each machine relative to the other machines in accordance with the real time updated geography of the common site database.

A method of directing the operation of a mobile geography-altering machine on a work site relative to other such machines operating on the work site, comprising:

• producing and storing in a digital data storage and retrieval means a site database including a site model representing a geography of the site;
• generating signals representing in real time an instantaneous three-dimensional site coordinate position of a first machine and a second machine as they traverse and alter the site;
• updating the site database in accordance with the position signals from the first and second machines to create a dynamically updated common site database comprising a real time updated geography of the site as it has been altered by the machines and the real time position of the machines with respect to the real time updated geography of the site;
• and
• directing the operation of the first machine relative to the second machine in accordance with the real time updated geography of the common site database.

A method of directing the operations of a mobile geography-altering machine on a work site relative to other such machines operating on the work site, comprising:

• equipping two mobile geography-altering machines with means for generating signals representing in real time instantaneous three-dimensional site coordinate positions of the machines as they traverse and alter the site;
• providing digital storage and retrieval means on each machine for storing a site model representing the geography of the site;
• providing a dynamically-updated site database on each machine for receiving the position signals from that machine and for updating the site model in real time in accordance therewith to reflect alterations made to the geography of the site by that machine;
• providing means on each machine for transmitting its position signals to the other machine, and for receiving the other machine's position signals;
• additionally updating the site database on each machine in accordance with the position signals from the other machine to create a common, dynamically-updated site database comprising the real time updated geography of the site as it has been altered by the machines and the real time position of the machines with respect to the real time updated geography of the site;
• and
• directing the operation of each machine relative to the other machine in accordance with the real time updated geography of the common site database.