Abstract: A communication system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The communication system may include a plurality of radio transceivers, each of the plurality of radio transceivers including positioning device configured to generate a respective machine position signal. The communication system may further include a processor in communication with each of the plurality of radio transceivers and configured to receive the respective machine position signal generated by the positioning device of each of the plurality of radio transceivers, determine a combined machine position based collectively on the machine position signal generated by the positioning device of each of the plurality of radio transceivers, and communicate the combined machine position to each of the plurality of radio transceivers. Each of the plurality of radio transceivers may be configured to broadcast the combined machine position.

Abstract: A method for sorting among a plurality of potential route plans for operating an autonomous ground based machine includes a step of creating a virtual model of a terrain of a work site. A first virtual lane having at least one measurable lane constraint is created within the virtual model. A first virtual machine footprint is created and has a first virtual movement profile corresponding to an actual autonomous movement profile of the autonomous machine. The first virtual machine footprint is moved from a starting position along the first virtual lane to an ending position according to the first virtual movement profile. During the moving step, the first virtual machine footprint is compared to the at least one measurable lane constraint. The first proposed route plan is then designated as either viable or unacceptable based on the comparison.

Abstract: A control system for a work site including an autonomous machine includes a central control system that includes a cluster of servers configured to execute an autonomous control server application on exactly one of the cluster of servers. A RAID system is in communication with the cluster of servers. A first switch interconnects a first network with the cluster of servers, and a second switch interconnects a second network with the cluster of servers. A UPS system interconnects a power source with the cluster of servers, the RAID system, and the first and second switches. The machine control system is communicatively coupled with the central control system via a wireless network and one of the first and second networks. The machine control system transmits machine position information to the autonomous control server application and receives a route plan generated by the autonomous control server application.

Abstract: A system including a mobile machine and a central control station is provided. The mobile machine includes a communication device and a position monitoring system including a receiver configured to receive position data from a positioning satellite and generate a position signal. The position monitoring system also includes an inertial navigation unit including a sensor configured to measure a parameter of the mobile machine and generate a movement signal. The position monitoring system also includes a controller configured to receive the position signal and the movement signal, detect an unavailability of the position signal, calculate a position parameter, determine whether a difference between a first and a second value of a parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold, and generate a warning signal. The central control station is configured to communicate with the controller, receive the position signal and/or the movement signal, and monitor the position of the mobile machine.

Abstract: A method of managing movement of an electric cable that is configured to provide power to a mobile machine. The method includes determining an initial boundary of an isolation zone in which the cable lies, for a first location of the machine. The initial boundary is divided into a first static boundary and a first dynamic boundary. The first static boundary surrounds a static isolation sub-zone of the isolation zone, and the first dynamic boundary surrounds a dynamic isolation sub-zone of the isolation zone. A second dynamic boundary surrounding the dynamic isolation sub-zone is determined, based on a second location of the machine when the machine moves from the first location to the second location, such that the cable lies within the second dynamic boundary. The first static boundary is maintained when the machine is in the second location.

Abstract: A system for controlling operation of at least one machine at a worksite includes controls operable under the control of a first entity to operate a first machine to perform one or more tasks at the worksite. The system may also include a portable communication device having a user interface operable to receive a machine-stop command from a second entity. The portable communication device may be operable to transmit a machine-stop signal in response to receiving the machine-stop command from the second entity. The system may also include at least one information processor configured to stop the first machine in response to the transmission of the machine-stop signal from the portable communication device.

Abstract: A method of managing movement of an electric cable that is configured to provide power to a mobile machine. The method includes determining an initial boundary of an isolation zone in which the cable lies, for a first location of the machine. The initial boundary is divided into a first static boundary and a first dynamic boundary. The first static boundary surrounds a static isolation sub-zone of the isolation zone, and the first dynamic boundary surrounds a dynamic isolation sub-zone of the isolation zone. A second dynamic boundary surrounding the dynamic isolation sub-zone is determined, based on a second location of the machine when the machine moves from the first location to the second location, such that the cable lies within the second dynamic boundary. The first static boundary is maintained when the machine is in the second location.

Abstract: A system including a mobile machine and a central control station is provided. The mobile machine includes a communication device and a position monitoring system including a receiver configured to receive position data from a positioning satellite and generate a position signal. The position monitoring system also includes an inertial navigation unit including a sensor configured to measure a parameter of the mobile machine and generate a movement signal. The position monitoring system also includes a controller configured to receive the position signal and the movement signal, detect an unavailability of the position signal, calculate a position parameter, determine whether a difference between a first and a second value of a parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold, and generate a warning signal. The central control station is configured to communicate with the controller, receive the position signal and/or the movement signal, and monitor the position of the mobile machine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sharing terrain data among one or more machines include a communications system associated with the one or more machines in electronic communication with each other and to a communications system associated with a remote location. The terrain data may be determined from information received from satellite positioning systems. New information comprising alterations to a worksite by one or more machines may be stored as a snippet. Collected snippets may be combined to form a data block which is sent to one or more identified machines. A bitmap, corresponding to each snippet, is sent to the one or more identified machines in order to locate the new information in the data block. Using the new information, the one or more identified machines may update a composite model of the worksite located at each of the one or more identified machines.

Abstract: A display system and method for a work machine is provided. A terrain map indicative of a current surface configuration for a geographic location is displayed. The display of the terrain map includes a plurality of elevation segments. Each of the plurality of elevation segments has an actual surface elevation value for a discrete area of the geographic location. A position of a ground engaging tool operatively connected to the work machine is monitored. A current elevation of the ground engaging tool is identified. The display of the elevation segment corresponding to the location of the ground engaging tool is updated when the current elevation of the ground engaging tool indicates a change in the actual surface elevation value for the elevation segment corresponding to the location of the ground engaging tool.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a position of a work tool of a work machine is provided. A desired surface configuration for a geographic location is identified. A mode of operation for the work machine is selected from one of a first mode and a second mode depending on surface configurations. The position of a work tool mounted on the work machine is sensed and the rotational angle of a swing assembly mounting the work tool is sensed. The location of the work tool is determined relative to the surface configuration based on the sensed position of the work tool when the work machine is operating in the first mode. The location of the work tool is determined relative to the desired surface configuration based on the sensed position of the work tool and the sensed rotational angle of the swing assembly when operating in the second mode.

Abstract: A method is provided for providing a work machine with information about a processing machine. Information about a processing machine is determined. The determined information is sent to the work machine. The work machine then communicates the determined information to a controller of the work machine.