Patents Assigned to Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11353881
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle is provided herein that includes a position sensor configured to identify a location of the vehicle and a heading of the vehicle. A human-machine interface (HMI) is operatively coupled with the vehicle. A controller is in electronic communication with the position sensor and the HMI. The controller is configured to access one or more databases to identify a first location, a first heading, and a first speed for the vehicle, and to identify a first aggregate heading value and a first aggregate speed value associated with the first location; determine that either the heading or the speed of the vehicle is outside of acceptable ranges; and issue a wave-off alert to the HMI when the vehicle is outside of acceptable ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Utter, Edward A. Branscombe
  • Patent number: 10168165
    Abstract: A system and method for driver guidance are presented. A position sensor is mounted to a vehicle. The position sensor is configured to identify a position of the vehicle and a heading of the vehicle. A device is configured to generate a plurality of outputs. A controller is connected to the position sensor and the display device. The controller is configured to access, via a wireless communications network, a database to identify a target loading location for the vehicle, determine a location and a heading of the target loading location for the vehicle, and modify at least one of the plurality of outputs of the display device based upon at least one of the location and the heading of the target loading location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Lucas Van Latum, Andree Röttig, William Casson
  • Patent number: 10062287
    Abstract: A system and method for navigating a vehicle through a mining environment to a target destination is presented. The system and method may be utilized to avoid contention in the mining environment. A route through the mining environment to the target destination for the vehicle is identified and a first speed profile for at least a portion of the route is determined. A potential contention condition associated with the route is identified and the potential contention condition along the route is used to determine a second speed profile for at least a portion of the route. An optimized speed profile is determined using the first speed profile and the second speed profile, and at least a portion of the optimized speed profile is communicated to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Casson, Lucas Van Latum, Michael Lewis
  • Patent number: 9644978
    Abstract: A system and method for target destination selection for a mining vehicle are present. A position sensor is mounted to a haul truck. The position sensor is configured to identify a position of the haul truck. A distributed objects database stores information describing hazards, boundaries and target destinations within a mining environment. A navigation aid is connected to the position sensor. The navigation aid is configured to access the distributed objects database to identify a plurality of potential target destinations for the haul truck using the position of the haul truck, identify at least one attribute of the haul truck, and filter the plurality of potential target destinations using the at least one attribute to generate a filtered list of target destinations. A user interface is configured to display the filtered list of target destinations for selection by an operator of the haul truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Andree Rottig, Lucas Van Latum
  • Patent number: 9441971
    Abstract: A system and method for navigating a vehicle through a mining environment to a target destination is presented. The system and method may be utilized to avoid contention in the mining environment. A route through the mining environment to the target destination for the vehicle is identified and a first speed profile for at least a portion of the route is determined. A potential contention condition associated with the route is identified and the potential contention condition along the route is used to determine a second speed profile for at least a portion of the route. An optimized speed profile is determined using the first speed profile and the second speed profile, and at least a portion of the optimized speed profile is communicated to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Casson, Lucas Van Latum, Michael Lewis
  • Patent number: 9157754
    Abstract: A navigation device and a method for navigation are disclosed. A display is provided and a processor is connected to the display. The processor is configured to communicate with a database. The database stores information describing a plurality of objects in a mining environment. The processor is configured to identify a heavy equipment in the database, and identify a loading envelope for the heavy equipment. The loading envelope is at least partially determined by a location of the heavy equipment. The processor is configured to display the loading envelope on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Andree Rottig, Lucas Van Latum
  • Patent number: 9046371
    Abstract: A system and method for navigating a vehicle through a mining environment to a target destination is presented. The system and method may be utilized to avoid contention in the mining environment. A route through the mining environment to the target destination for the vehicle is identified and a first speed profile for at least a portion of the route is determined. A potential contention condition associated with the route is identified and the potential contention condition along the route is used to determine a second speed profile for at least a portion of the route. An optimized speed profile is determined using the first speed profile and the second speed profile, and at least a portion of the optimized speed profile is communicated to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Casson, Lucas Van Latum, Michael Lewis
  • Patent number: 8816883
    Abstract: A system and method for GPS based navigation and hazard avoidance in a mining environment are described. The system includes a central application that has a dynamic roadmap definition module adapted to at least allow a user to arbitrarily define features in a geographical information systems database and import overhead imaging data corresponding to a geographical area in which said features are defined. The central application includes a remote position and attitude reception module adapted to at least receive data concerning the position of at least one remote vehicle, a transceiver module adapted for exchanging data with at least one remote vehicle; and a logging and tracking module adapted for at least logging said position of at least one remote vehicle over time. The system also has a remote application; and a communications link adapted for exchanging data between the central application and the remote application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Andree Röttig, Mario Leonel Rearte, Paulo Rogério Andrade
  • Patent number: 8732260
    Abstract: An Interactive Maintenance Management System (“IMMS”) (10) is an alarm handling system (FIG. 2) for handling alarms (102) that indicate present or imminent equipment failure. The IMMS (10) may be utilized in industrial situations, such as strip-mines (14), to reduce equipment (12) downtime and reduce or prevent equipment failure. The IMMS (10) utilizes a flexible response system to track, analyze, and improve performance of the alarm handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael W. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20140100782
    Abstract: A navigation device and a method for navigation are disclosed. A display is provided and a processor is connected to the display. The processor is configured to communicate with a database. The database stores information describing a plurality of objects in a mining environment. The processor is configured to identify a heavy equipment in the database, and identify a loading envelope for the heavy equipment. The loading envelope is at least partially determined by a location of the heavy equipment. The processor is configured to display the loading envelope on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Andree Rottig, Lucas Van Latum
  • Patent number: 8583361
    Abstract: A system and method for navigating a first heavy equipment to a target destination is provided. A location of the target destination is retrieved from a distributed objects database. The location of the target destination is at least partially determined by a position of a second heavy equipment. A position sensor identifies a current position and orientation of the first heavy equipment, and a path from the current position of the first heavy equipment to the location of the target destination is calculated. The calculated path is selected to avoid hazards. A progress of the first heavy equipment along the calculated path is monitored using the position sensor. When the first heavy equipment deviates from the calculated path, a message is outputted to an operator of at least one of the first heavy equipment and the second heavy equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Andree Röttig, Lucas Van Latum
  • Publication number: 20130021150
    Abstract: An Interactive Maintenance Management System (“IMMS”) (10) is an alarm handling system (FIG. 2) for handling alarms (102) that indicate present or imminent equipment failure. The IMMS (10) may be utilized in industrial situations, such as strip-mines (14), to reduce equipment (12) downtime and reduce or prevent equipment failure. The IMMS (10) utilizes a flexible response system to track, analyze, and improve performance of the alarm handling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8275847
    Abstract: An Interactive Maintenance Management System (“IMMS”) (10) is an alarm handling system (FIG. 2) for handling alarms (102) that indicate present or imminent equipment failure. The IMMS (10) may be utilized in industrial situations, such as strip-mines (14), to reduce equipment (12) downtime and reduce or prevent equipment failure. The IMMS (10) utilizes a flexible response system to track, analyze, and improve performance of the alarm handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael W. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8095248
    Abstract: A system and method for GPS based navigation and hazard avoidance in a mining environment are described. The system includes a central application that has a dynamic roadmap definition module adapted to at least allow a user to arbitrarily define features in a geographical information systems database and import overhead imaging data corresponding to a geographical area in which said features are defined. The central application includes a remote position and attitude reception module adapted to at least receive data concerning the position of at least one remote vehicle, a transceiver module adapted for exchanging data with at least one remote vehicle; and a logging and tracking module adapted for at least logging said position of at least one remote vehicle over time. The system also has a remote application; and a communications link adapted for exchanging data between the central application and the remote application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Andree Röttig, Mario Leonel Rearte, Paulo Rogério Andrade
  • Publication number: 20090062971
    Abstract: A system and method for GPS based navigation and hazard avoidance in a mining environment are described. The system includes a central application that has a dynamic roadmap definition module adapted to at least allow a user to arbitrarily define features in a geographical information systems database and import overhead imaging data corresponding to a geographical area in which said features are defined. The central application includes a remote position and attitude reception module adapted to at least receive data concerning the position of at least one remote vehicle, a transceiver module adapted for exchanging data with at least one remote vehicle; and a logging and tracking module adapted for at least logging said position of at least one remote vehicle over time. The system also has a remote application; and a communications link adapted for exchanging data between the central application and the remote application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Andree Rottig, Mario Leonel Rearte, Paulo Rogerio Andrade
  • Patent number: 7269174
    Abstract: A Dynamically Reconfigurable Dynamic Wireless Network for connecting a local area network (“LAN”) to wireless Mobile Stations. Backbone Access Points (“Backbone APs”) are physically connected to the LAN. Levels of Wireless Access Points (“Wireless APs”) are daisy-chained together and connected to the Backbone AP, providing an extended area of network coverage. Mobile stations are connected to either Backbone APs or Wireless APs. Dynamic Reconfiguration prevents single point failures. Each AP contains a router, Address Resolution Protocol (“ARP”) cache, and Distributed Routing Table (“DR Table”). The DR Table maintains the Media Access Control (“MAC”) address and the Internet Protocol (“IP”) address of each AP below it in the Distributed Routing Tree. Additionally, each DR Table also maintains the IP address for the device each AP is connected. The Distributed Routing Tree is dynamically reconfigured to minimize transmission hops or to maximize signal strength between Mobile Stations and the LAN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Olson, Kevin R. Bentley
  • Patent number: 7139651
    Abstract: A three-dimensional and a two-dimensional GPS unit periodically provide coordinate positions of points on the work machine and are combined with a Kalman filter to produce a point of reference on a work machine. The point of reference is improved by combining the position with an inertial position derived from accelerometer data in another Kalman filter. Additionally, the two-dimensional GPS unit provides a heading that is combined with an inertial orientation derived by the angular rate from a gyroscope in another Kalman filter to produce a precise orientation estimate. Inclinometers provide pitch and roll of the work machine. With the point of reference, orientation estimate, pitch, roll and known geometry of the work machine, the GPS unit calculates the location and orientation of machine components and continuously tracks its movement throughout the mine. Additionally, the accelerometers and gyroscope provide position and orientation when the GPS units are inoperable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Knowlton, Kenneth W. Gay
  • Patent number: 6934298
    Abstract: A group of wireless APs, including an active primary AP and one or more inactive backup APs, responds to the failure of the active AP. Backup APs passively detect the absence of the primary AP from a coverage area and become active. If more than one Backup AP attempts to assume the role of the primary AP, contention is resolved by applying a conflict resolution algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin R. Bentley
  • Publication number: 20050179537
    Abstract: An Interactive Maintenance Management System (“IMMS”) (10) is an alarm handling system (FIG. 2) for handling alarms (102) that indicate present or imminent equipment failure. The IMMS (10) may be utilized in industrial situations, such as strip-mines (14), to reduce equipment (12) downtime and reduce or prevent equipment failure. The IMMS (10) utilizes a flexible response system to track, analyze, and improve performance of the alarm handling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Applicant: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Lewis
  • Patent number: 6863351
    Abstract: A bi-directional autonomous truck. The truck includes a drive-train including one or more drive wheels, the drive-train having drive characteristics that are substantially the same whether the drive wheels rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. The drive characteristics may consist of the ability to reach a maximum rotational speed of the drive wheels, but may include other characteristics, such as the ability to steer corresponding pairs of drive wheels that are situated at opposite ends of the truck. Preferably, the truck includes a dump bed that is adapted for dumping in either of two opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Baker, Randall J. Omdahl