System and method for optimizing a cut location
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsMo Wei, Michael Taylor, Thandava K. Edara, Timothy Felty, Matthew Tinker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for determining a cut location at a work surface includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller stores a final design plane of the work surface and determines an actual profile of the work surface. A plurality of target profiles extending along a path are determined, each corresponding to a cut location. The target profiles are based at least in part upon the cut location, a loading profile, slot parameters, and the actual profile of the work surface. The controller is further configured to determine a lowest cost target profile and the lowest cost target profile defines an optimized cut location. A method is also provided.
Claims21
A system for determining a lowest cost cut location for a work implement of a machine along a work surface, comprising:
- a position sensor associated with the machine for generating position signals indicative of a position of the work surface;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive position signals from the position sensor;
- determine the position of the work surface based upon the position signals to define an actual profile of the work surface;
- repeat the following for a plurality of cut locations along the work surface:
- determine a target profile extending along the path corresponding to the cut location, each target profile being based at least in part upon the cut location, a loading profile of the work implement, slot parameters along at least a portion of the path, and the actual profile of the work surface;
- and
- determine a cost associated with moving the work implement in a first direction along each target profile from an initial position to a dump location and in a second direction a predetermined distance;
- and
- select a lowest cost target profile, the lowest cost target profile defining the lowest cost cut location.
A controller implemented method for determining a lowest cost cut location for a work implement of a machine along a work surface, comprising:
- receiving position signals from a position sensor indicative of a position of the work surface
- determining a position of the work surface based upon the position signals to define an actual profile of the work surface;
- repeating the following for a plurality of cut locations along the work surface:
- determining a target profile extending along the path corresponding to the cut location, each target profile being based at least in part upon the cut location, a loading profile of the work implement, slot parameters along at least a portion of the path, and the actual profile of the work surface;
- and
- determining a cost associated with moving the work implement in a first direction along each target profile from an initial position to a dump location and in a second direction a predetermined distance;
- and
- selecting a lowest cost target profile, the lowest cost target profile defining the lowest cost cut location.
A machine comprising:
- a prime mover;
- a ground engaging work implement for engaging a work surface along a path;
- a position sensor for generating position signals indicative of a position of the work surface;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive position signals from the position sensor;
- determine the position of the work surface based upon the position signals to define an actual profile of the work surface;
- repeat the following for a plurality of cut locations along the work surface:
- determine a target profile extending along the path corresponding to the cut location, each target profile being based at least in part upon the cut location, a loading profile of the work implement, slot parameters along at least a portion of the path, and the actual profile of the work surface;
- and
- determine a cost associated with moving the work implement in a first direction along each target profile generally from an initial position to a dump location and in a second direction a predetermined distance;
- and
- select a lowest cost target profile, the lowest cost target profile defining the lowest cost cut location.
A system for determining a lowest cost set of implement paths for a work implement of a machine along a work surface, comprising:
- a position sensor associated with the machine for generating position signals indicative of a position of the work surface;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive position signals from the position sensor;
- determine the position of the work surface based upon the position signals to define an actual profile of the work surface;
- repeat the following for a plurality of implement paths along the work surface:
- determine a target profile extending along the path corresponding to each implement path, each target profile being based at least in part upon a cut location, a loading profile of the work implement, slot parameters along at least a portion of the path, and the actual profile of the work surface;
- and
- determine a cost associated with moving the work implement in a first direction along each target profile from an initial position to a dump location and in a second direction a predetermined distance;
- and
- select a lowest cost target profile, the lowest cost target profile defining the lowest cost set of implement paths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.