Abstract: An excavation system is disclosed for a machine having a work tool. The excavation system may have at least one sensor to generate a signal indicative of a load exerted on the work tool. The excavation system may also have a lift actuator and a tilt actuator. The excavation system may also have a controller configured to detect engagement of the work tool with a material pile based the signal. The controller may operate the work tool to load the work tool with an amount of material. The controller may determine whether loading of the work tool has been completed. The controller may lift the work tool when the loading has been completed. The controller may also operate the tilt actuator to shake the work tool. Additionally, the controller may cause the machine to withdraw from the material pile after shaking the work tool.

Abstract: An excavation system is disclosed for use with a mobile machine having a work tool. The excavation system may have a first sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a distance to an inclined face of the pile of material, and a controller in communication with the first sensor. The controller may be configured to determine a repose angle of the pile of material based on a known edge location of the pile of material and the distance.

Abstract: An excavation system is disclosed for a machine having a work tool. The excavation system may have first and second actuators configured to move the work tool in first and second directions, at least a first valve configured to regulate fluid flow through the first actuator, and at least a second valve configured to regulate fluid flow through the second actuator. The excavation system may also have at least one sensor to generate a first signal indicative of a performance of the first actuator, and a controller in communication with the at least a first valve, the at least a second valve, and the at least one sensor. The controller may be configured to make a first determination that the first actuator is experiencing a stall condition based on the first signal, and to selectively command neutralization of the powertrain and movement of the second actuator based on the first determination.

Abstract: An excavation system is disclosed for a machine having a work tool. The excavation system may have a speed sensor to detect a travel speed of the machine and a load sensor to detect loading of the work tool. The excavation system may also have a controller configured to detect engagement of the work tool with a material pile based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal. The controller may also be configured to select at least one tilt control parameter value for the work tool and operate the work tool based on the selected tilt control parameter value to load the work tool with an amount of material. The controller may be configured to determine whether the amount of material exceeds a target amount and to cause the machine to withdraw from the material pile when the amount exceeds the target amount.

Abstract: An excavation system is disclosed for use with a mobile machine having a work tool. The excavation system may have a first sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a distance to an inclined face of the pile of material, and a controller in communication with the first sensor. The controller may be configured to determine a repose angle of the pile of material based on a known edge location of the pile of material and the distance.

Abstract: An excavation system is disclosed as having first and second actuators configured to move a work tool in first and second directions. The second actuator may only be capable of full-range movement when the first actuator is positioned within a sub-range. The excavation system may also have first and second sensors configured to generate first and second signals indicative of first and second actuator movements, and a controller in communication with the first and second sensors. The controller may be configured to command movement of the first actuator to the sub-range, to confirm that the first actuator has moved to the sub-range based on the first signal, to command movement of the second actuator to an end-of-stroke position after the first actuator is confirmed to be within the sub-range, and to selectively record a current position of the second actuator as the end-of-stroke position based on the second signal.

Abstract: An excavation system is disclosed for a machine having a work tool. The excavation system may have first and second actuators configured to move the work tool in first and second directions, at least a first valve configured to regulate fluid flow through the first actuator, and at least a second valve configured to regulate fluid flow through the second actuator. The excavation system may also have at least one sensor to generate a first signal indicative of a performance of the first actuator, and a controller in communication with the at least a first valve, the at least a second valve, and the at least one sensor. The controller may be configured to make a first determination that the first actuator is experiencing a stall condition based on the first signal, and to selectively command neutralization of the powertrain and movement of the second actuator based on the first determination.

Abstract: An excavation system is disclosed for a machine having a work tool. The excavation system may have at least one sensor to generate a signal indicative of a load exerted on the work tool. The excavation system may also have a lift actuator and a tilt actuator. The excavation system may also have a controller configured to detect engagement of the work tool with a material pile based the signal. The controller may operate the work tool to load the work tool with an amount of material. The controller may determine whether loading of the work tool has been completed. The controller may lift the work tool when the loading has been completed. The controller may also operate the tilt actuator to shake the work tool. Additionally, the controller may cause the machine to withdraw from the material pile after shaking the work tool.

Abstract: An excavation system is disclosed for a machine having a work tool. The excavation system may have a speed sensor to detect a travel speed of the machine and a load sensor to detect loading of the work tool. The excavation system may also have a controller configured to detect engagement of the work tool with a material pile based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal. The controller may also be configured to select at least one tilt control parameter value for the work tool and operate the work tool based on the selected tilt control parameter value to load the work tool with an amount of material. The controller may be configured to determine whether the amount of material exceeds a target amount and to cause the machine to withdraw from the material pile when the amount exceeds the target amount.

Abstract: An excavation system is disclosed for use with a mobile machine having a work tool. The excavation system may have a speed sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a travel speed of the mobile machine, and at least one load sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of loading of the work tool. The excavation system may also have a controller configured to record values of the first signal during travel of the mobile machine toward a material, and to detect engagement of the work tool with the material based on the second signal. After engagement of the work tool with the material is detected, the controller may be further configured to determine an edge location of the material passed through by the work tool based on values of the first signal recorded prior to engagement detection of the work tool with the material.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for machine-to-machine coaching. According to certain embodiments, first operation data associated with a trainee machine is received. Second operation data associated with a trainer machine is also received. An operator of the trainee machine may be trained using the second operation data. Training the operator of the trainee machine may include demonstrating an operation of the trainer machine on the trainee machine using the second operation data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for coaching an operator of a machine. According to certain embodiments, data describing operation of the machine by the operator is received. At least one operation requiring improvement is identified based on the received data and demonstrated to the operator. Moreover, the operator is trained on the at least one operation requiring improvement.

Abstract: A packaging of a bottle (1) is provided by a re-useable thermoformed sheet (S) folded around the bottle (1) to totally enclose and contain the bottle within four mutually-hinged longitudinal wall-sections (11-14). The bottle (1) nests conformably in recesses (21) of each wall-section (11-14) for its shock protection, each recess (21) incorporating cavities (22,23) of tiered form that decrease in cross-section with depth to establish cushioning buffers (24, 25). The ends of each wall-sections (11-14) are moulded with an upstanding flange (16-19) configured with a pattern of ridges with intervening grooves that nests with the patterns of ridges with intervening grooves of each other flange (18-19) at that end. Ridges (27-29) project transversely upwards within the recesses (21) to provide resilience for cushioning the bottle (1), and the thermoformed sheet (S) when laid flat and open can receive four bottles (41) side-by-side for storage.

Abstract: A system for controlling a transmission throttle valve allows the transmission response to be correlated with changes in engine torque. The apparatus described herein solves the problem of older vehicles which utilize a fuel management device having a throttle lever that contains no ready attachment point for a throttle valve control device. The apparatus includes an eccentric mount which is installed on the rotatable throttle member of a the management device. The eccentric mount is positioned so as to have an axis of rotation nominally aligned with the axis of rotation of the throttle shaft. An eccentric having an attachment point for a throttle valve cable is installed on the eccentric mount, establishing a fixed mechanism so as to correlate the rate of the transmissions throttle valve travel via displacement of the cable as the throttle member rotates the eccentric.

Abstract: A question item comprising: textual, visual or auditory subject matter; a query or instruction pertaining to the subject matter; and a representation of a response mechanism for receiving a user response to the query or instruction, may be retrieved from a data store. The subject matter, query or instruction and response mechanism may be presented in a presentation sequence, wherein a presentation duration of each of the subject matter, query or instruction and response mechanism is controlled by user input. Based on the user input, a presentation duration of each of the subject matter, query or instruction, and response mechanism may be determined. Each of the three presentation durations may be stored. A completion time may be determined based on one or more of the presentation durations and may be stored along with response accuracy, for use in calculating a user competency measure for the question item.

Abstract: Systems for switching optical signals are disclosed. Such a system may include a splitter and a plurality of polarizing filters. The splitter may be configured to receive emitted light and duplicate the emitted light into a plurality of light copies. Each polarizing filter may have a polarization and may be operably connected to the splitter. In addition, each polarizing filter may be configured to receive at least one of the plurality of light copies, filter the at least one of the plurality of received light copies such that light having a similar polarization as that of the polarizing filter passes through the polarizing filter, and output one of a plurality of outputs.

Abstract: A question item comprising: textual, visual or auditory subject matter; a query or instruction pertaining to the subject matter; and a representation of a response mechanism for receiving a user response to the query or instruction, may be retrieved from a data store. The subject matter, query or instruction and response mechanism may be presented in a presentation sequence, wherein a presentation duration of each of the subject matter, query or instruction and response mechanism is controlled by user input. Based on the user input, a presentation duration of each of the subject matter, query or instruction, and response mechanism may be determined. Each of the three presentation durations may be stored. A completion time may be determined based on one or more of the presentation durations and may be stored along with response accuracy, for use in calculating a user competency measure for the question item.

Abstract: A system for controlling a transmission throttle valve allows the transmission response to be correlated with changes in engine torque. The apparatus described herein solves the problem of older vehicles which utilize a fuel management device having a throttle lever that contains no ready attachment point for a throttle valve control device. The apparatus includes an eccentric mount which is installed on the rotatable throttle member of a the management device. The eccentric mount is positioned so as to have an axis of rotation nominally aligned with the axis of rotation of the throttle shaft. An eccentric having an attachment point for a throttle valve cable is installed on the eccentric mount, establishing a fixed mechanism so as to correlate the rate of the transmissions throttle valve travel via displacement of the cable as the throttle member rotates the eccentric.

Abstract: A one-piece thermoformed packaging cap for article shock-protection which has two elongate wings integrally hinged and have upstanding shoulders which define a channel that receives part of the article. Ridges and grooves run along the shoulders of each wing such that when the wings are folded abut each other, the ridges and grooves of one wing nest within those of the other wing and provide cushioning and lateral interlocking between the wings. Caps can have four wings and wrap the entire perimeter of the article and may incorporate a locking tab to secure the wrap. Alternatively, an assembly of partial wrap-components can be locked via flap-tabs. For locking, a projection of one wing enters into a recess of another wing, and a locking flap of the latter wing is folded and a projection of the flap is snapped into the reverse recess of the thermoformed projection.

Abstract: A thermoformed packaging case has four wall-flanges which abut in ridge-within-groove nesting for interlocking and shock-absorbing closure of the case. Each edge has a pattern of ridges and grooves, and nesting of the edges of the flanges is enabled by a lateral shift in its ridge-groove pattern. Articles contained within the case are cushioned from shock by projections which protrude inwardly from inner surfaces of the walls to resiliently bear against the articles. Each buffer has a top surface surrounded by a valley and hump to provide shock-absorbing resilience. Locking of the case involves a flap hinged to a side-wall. To close a top-wall of the case onto the side-wall, projections of the top-wall enter recesses of the side-wall, and by folding the flap over to insert the projections into reverse recesses of the projections. The projections are snapped into recesses to effect triple-locking of the flap.