Automated rollover prevention system
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsFu Pei Yuet, Jamie Shults, Jean-Jacques Clar, Kenneth L. Stratton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control system for a machine is disclosed. The control system may have at least one sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an inclination of the machine. The control system may also have a controller in communication with the at least one sensor. The controller may be configured to stop operation of the machine in response to the signal.
Claims26
A control system for a machine, comprising:
- at least one sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an inclination of the machine;
- and
- a controller in communication with the at least one sensor and configured to:
- stop operation of the machine in response to the inclination signal indicating an excessive incline;
- determine a travel path taken by the machine prior to receiving the inclination signal indicating the excessive incline;
- and
- autonomously control the machine to backtrack through the travel path.
A method of reducing machine rollover risk, comprising:
- detecting a machine inclination;
- determining a rollover risk value based on the machine inclination;
- stopping machine operation in response to the rollover risk value;
- determining a travel path of the machine prior to stopping the machine in response to the rollover risk;
- and
- autonomously reversing operation of the machine according to the tracked movement, until the rollover risk has reduced below a predetermined value.
A machine, comprising:
- a power source;
- a traction device driven by the power source to propel the machine;
- a sensor configured to detect machine inclination;
- and
- a controller in communication with the sensor and the traction device, the controller configured to:
- warn an operator of the machine when the detected inclination falls within a predetermined range;
- stop operation of the traction device in response to the detected inclination exceeding the predetermined range;
- determine a travel path taken by the machine prior to encountering an incline exceeding the predetermined threshold;
- and
- autonomously control the machine to backtrack through the travel path.
A method of monitoring machine rollover conditions, comprising:
- detecting a machine inclination;
- determining a rollover risk value based on the machine inclination;
- determining changes in loading of the machine during travel of the machine, including continuously determining changes in a lateral or longitudinal location of a center of gravity of the machine;
- and
- continuously dynamically updating the rollover risk value based on the continuously determined changes in the lateral or longitudinal location of the center of gravity of the machine.
A method of monitoring machine rollover conditions, comprising:
- detecting a machine inclination;
- determining a rollover risk value based on the machine inclination during travel of the machine;
- tracking a location of the machine;
- and
- generating a map based on the tracked location of the machine that includes indications of at least three levels of the rollover risk value for different tracked locations the machine has traversed.
A method of reducing rollover risk of a machine having a braking system, a steering system, and at least one movable machine tool, the method comprising:
- detecting a machine inclination;
- determining a rollover risk value based on the machine inclination during travel of the machine;
- and
- moving the machine tool in response to the detected machine inclination to reduce the rollover risk value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.