Patents by Inventor Andrew J. Vitale

Andrew J. Vitale has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230211698
    Abstract: Systems and methods can position or provide a mobile machine in a queue of a plurality of the mobile machines such that an estimated future amount of energy of an energy source if the mobile machine is at or above a required amount of energy of the energy source to complete a predetermined task after the mobile machine reaches an end of the queue. Such positioning or providing can include or be moving the mobile machine up or forward in the queue from a condition where the estimated future amount of energy of the energy source is less than the required amount of energy of the energy source to complete the predetermined task after the mobile machine reaches the end of the queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J. VITALE
  • Publication number: 20230106720
    Abstract: A system and method for charging a plug-in electric vehicle are disclosed. The system includes a plug-in electric vehicle having a frame, a rechargeable battery pack, a vehicle inlet, a positioning module, and a first communication module; and a battery charging station having a plurality of connectors, an actuation mechanism, and a second communication module. The battery charging station is in operative communication with the PEV, can anticipate an arrival of the PEV, and can ready a connector corresponding to the PEV's vehicle inlet type. The method includes monitoring one or more characterising parameters of a PEV, determining that the PEV needs charging, routing the PEV to a battery charging station, transmitting forecasting information and an identity of the PEV to the battery charging station, and charging the PEV at the battery charging station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery Othman, Perry D. Converse, Michael A. Brewer, William E. Barnickel, Andrew J. Vitale
  • Patent number: 11226627
    Abstract: A system for moving material from a first location to a second location includes a planning system to identify an initial spot location. A perception sensor is configured to generate perception signals indicative of whether an obstacle is in the path between a material carrying machine and the initial spot location. An alternate spot location is determined if an obstacle is in the path and a propulsion command is generated to move the material carrying machine from the current pose to the alternate spot location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Vitale, Bryan J. Everett, Mark H. Banham, Craig L. Koehrsen
  • Publication number: 20200401141
    Abstract: A system for moving material from a first location to a second location includes a planning system to identify an initial spot location. A perception sensor is configured to generate perception signals indicative of whether an obstacle is in the path between a material carrying machine and the initial spot location. An alternate spot location is determined if an obstacle is in the path and a propulsion command is generated to move the material carrying machine from the current pose to the alternate spot location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Vitale, Bryan J. Everett, Mark H. Banham, Craig L. Koehrsen
  • Patent number: 9970767
    Abstract: A method for controlling a mining truck travelling on a work site is disclosed. The method includes receiving payload information associated with a payload carried in a bed of the mining truck from sensors associated with the mining truck. The method further includes determining an imbalance of the payload based on the payload information. The method further includes receiving positioning data associated with the work site from a positioning system and determining an approaching terrain of the work site based on the positioning data. The method further includes planning a path for the mining truck based on the imbalance and the approaching terrain and controlling the mining truck based on the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Humphrey, Andrew J. Vitale, Joshua Struble, Bryan Everett
  • Publication number: 20170084171
    Abstract: A method for controlling a mining truck travelling on a work site is disclosed. The method includes receiving payload information associated with a payload carried in a bed of the mining truck from sensors associated with the mining truck. The method further includes determining an imbalance of the payload based on the payload information. The method further includes receiving positioning data associated with the work site from a positioning system and determining an approaching terrain of the work site based on the positioning data. The method further includes planning a path for the mining truck based on the imbalance and the approaching terrain and controlling the mining truck based on the path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Humphrey, Andrew J. Vitale, Joshua Struble, Bryan Everett
  • Patent number: 9298188
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a machine. The control system may have a communicating device, a locating device configured to generate a first signal indicative of a location of the machine, a sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of contact of the machine with a berm, and an onboard controller. The control system may also have an offboard controller configured to generate a first set of coordinates of a dump target, and to assign the first set of coordinates to the onboard controller for use in controlling the machine. The offboard controller may also be configured to detect contact of the machine with the berm based on the second signal during reverse travel toward the dump target, and to generate a second set of coordinates of the dump target to correspond with a location of the machine at a time of contact detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ananth P. Kini, Joshua C. Struble, Andrew J. Vitale, Craig L. Koehrsen, Bryan J. Everett, Mark H. C. Banham, Dean G. Povey, Matthew A. Holmes
  • Patent number: 9244464
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a machine at a worksite. The control system may have an offboard controller. The offboard controller may be configured to receive information regarding a berm at the worksite, determine starting and ending points spaced apart along an edge of the berm based on the information, and determine a maximum orthogonal distance from a virtual line extending between the starting and ending points to the edge of the berm. The offboard controller may be further configured to selectively validate the starting and ending points based on the maximum orthogonal distance, and to designate a center of the virtual line between validated starting and ending points as a dump target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ananth P. Kini, Joshua C. Struble, Andrew J. Vitale, Craig L. Koehrsen, Bryan J. Everett, Mark H. C. Banham, Dean G. Povey, Matthew A. Holmes
  • Patent number: 9097520
    Abstract: A system includes a position sensing system for determining a position of a machine and a work implement configured to engage material to form a raised contour. A controller determines a plurality of positions of the machine as the machine moves about the work site and the work implement forms the raised contour, determines a plurality of reference positions along an edge of the raised contour as the work implement forms the raised contour, and generates a map of the edge of the raised contour based upon the plurality of reference positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Stratton, Andrew J. Vitale, Craig L. Koehrsen
  • Patent number: 8930043
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a plurality of mobile machines operating at a worksite having a resource. The control system may have a worksite controller configured to divide a common travel path into a plurality of segments, including at least a spot segment at the resource and a stage segment. The worksite control may further be configured to receive a first input indicative of a desire for a first of the plurality of mobile machines to leave the spot segment, and to direct the first of the plurality of mobile machines out of the spot segment based on the first input. The worksite controller may be further configured to receive first location information for the first of the plurality of mobile machines, and to direct the second of the plurality of mobile machines from the stage segment into the spot segment based on the first location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Everett, Michael Siemer, Craig L. Koehrsen, Andrew J. Vitale, John R. Ellwood
  • Patent number: 8924067
    Abstract: An autonomous control system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The autonomous control system may have a plurality of system modules each configured to monitor a status of at least one machine component and generate a corresponding recommended machine action based on the status, and a control module configured to control operations of the mobile machine. The autonomous control system may also have a health supervisor module in communication with the plurality of system modules and the control module. The health supervisor module may be configured to arbitrate each of the recommended machine actions from the plurality of system modules to determine an overall machine response, and to command the control module to implement the overall machine response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bibhrajit Halder, Andrew J. Vitale
  • Publication number: 20140371947
    Abstract: A system includes a position sensing system for determining a position of a machine and a work implement configured to engage material to form a raised contour. A controller determines a plurality of positions of the machine as the machine moves about the work site and the work implement forms the raised contour, determines a plurality of reference positions along an edge of the raised contour as the work implement forms the raised contour, and generates a map of the edge of the raised contour based upon the plurality of reference positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Stratton, Andrew J. Vitale, Craig L. Koehrsen
  • Patent number: 8880334
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a plurality of machines operating at a worksite. The control system may have a plurality of communicating devices, and a plurality of onboard controllers, each mountable to the plurality of machines. The control system may also have an offboard controller in communication with the plurality of onboard controllers via the plurality of communicating devices. The offboard controller may be configured to selectively assign each of a plurality of sequentially arranged dump targets for use by each of the plurality of machines based on an order in which the plurality of machines arrive at a dump location. The offboard controller may be further configured to make a determination that lanes extending to two dump targets of the plurality of sequentially arranged dump targets overlap, and selectively skip assignment of one of the two dump targets based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anath P. Kini, Joshua C. Struble, Andrew J. Vitale, Craig L. Koehrsen, Bryan J. Everett, Mark H. C. Banham, Dean G. Povey, Matthew A. Holmes
  • Patent number: 8868302
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a mobile loading machine operating at a first location and a plurality of mobile haul machines configured to move material received at the first location to a second location. The control system may have a plurality of control modules, each associated with one of the mobile loading machine and the plurality of mobile haul machines, and a worksite controller. The worksite controller may be configured to make a determination that a position of the mobile loading machine has changed, and to generate a new travel path for the plurality of mobile haul machines based on the determination. The worksite controller may also be configured to selectively communicate the new travel path to each of the plurality of control modules. The new travel path between the first and second locations may be automatically determined in accordance with at least one user-selected goal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Everett, Andrew J. Vitale, Craig L. Koehrsen, James D. Humphrey
  • Publication number: 20140214237
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a machine. The control system may have a communicating device, a locating device configured to generate a first signal indicative of a location of the machine, a sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of contact of the machine with a berm, and an onboard controller. The control system may also have an offboard controller configured to generate a first set of coordinates of a dump target, and to assign the first set of coordinates to the onboard controller for use in controlling the machine. The offboard controller may also be configured to detect contact of the machine with the berm based on the second signal during reverse travel toward the dump target, and to generate a second set of coordinates of the dump target to correspond with a location of the machine at a time of contact detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ananth P. KINI, Joshua C. STRUBLE, Andrew J. VITALE, Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Bryan J. EVERETT, Mark H. C. BANHAM, Dean G. POVEY, Matthew A. HOLMES
  • Publication number: 20140214236
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a machine at a worksite. The control system may have an offboard controller. The offboard controller may be configured to receive information regarding a berm at the worksite, determine starting and ending points spaced apart along an edge of the berm based on the information, and determine a maximum orthogonal distance from a virtual line extending between the starting and ending points to the edge of the berm. The offboard controller may be further configured to selectively validate the starting and ending points based on the maximum orthogonal distance, and to designate a center of the virtual line between validated starting and ending points as a dump target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Ananth P. KINI, Joshua C. STRUBLE, Andrew J. VITALE, Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Bryan J. EVERETT, Mark H. C. BANHAM, Dean G. POVEY, Matthew A. HOLMES
  • Publication number: 20140214235
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a plurality of machines operating at a worksite. The control system may have a plurality of communicating devices, and a plurality of onboard controllers, each mountable to the plurality of machines. The control system may also have an offboard controller in communication with the plurality of onboard controllers via the plurality of communicating devices. The offboard controller may be configured to selectively assign each of a plurality of sequentially arranged dump targets for use by each of the plurality of machines based on an order in which the plurality of machines arrive at a dump location. The offboard controller may be further configured to make a determination that lanes extending to two dump targets of the plurality of sequentially arranged dump targets overlap, and selectively skip assignment of one of the two dump targets based on the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Ananth P. KINI, Joshua C. STRUBLE, Andrew J. VITALE, Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Bryan J. EVERETT, Mark H. C. BANHAM, Dean G. POVEY, Matthew A. HOLMES
  • Publication number: 20120136524
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a mobile loading machine operating at a first location and a plurality of mobile haul machines configured to move material received at the first location to a second location. The control system may have a plurality of control modules, each associated with one of the mobile loading machine and the plurality of mobile haul machines, and a worksite controller. The worksite controller may be configured to make a determination that a position of the mobile loading machine has changed, and to generate a new travel path for the plurality of mobile haul machines based on the determination. The worksite controller may also be configured to selectively communicate the new travel path to each of the plurality of control modules. The new travel path between the first and second locations may be automatically determined in accordance with at least one user-selected goal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Bryan J. EVERETT, Andrew J. Vitale, Craig L. Koehrsen, James D. Humphrey
  • Publication number: 20120136509
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a plurality of mobile machines operating at a worksite having a resource. The control system may have a worksite controller configured to divide a common travel path into a plurality of segments, including at least a spot segment at the resource and a stage segment. The worksite control may further be configured to receive a first input indicative of a desire for a first of the plurality of mobile machines to leave the spot segment, and to direct the first of the plurality of mobile machines out of the spot segment based on the first input. The worksite controller may be further configured to receive first location information for the first of the plurality of mobile machines, and to direct the second of the plurality of mobile machines from the stage segment into the spot segment based on the first location information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Bryan J. Everett, Michael Siemer, Craig L. Koehrsen, Andrew J. Vitale, John R. Ellwood
  • Publication number: 20120089293
    Abstract: An autonomous control system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The autonomous control system may have a plurality of system modules each configured to monitor a status of at least one machine component and generate a corresponding recommended machine action based on the status, and a control module configured to control operations of the mobile machine. The autonomous control system may also have a health supervisor module in communication with the plurality of system modules and the control module. The health supervisor module may be configured to arbitrate each of the recommended machine actions from the plurality of system modules to determine an overall machine response, and to command the control module to implement the overall machine response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Bibhrajit HALDER, Andrew J. Vitale