Patents by Inventor Lucas Van Latum

Lucas Van Latum 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).

  • Patent number: 11959753
    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 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Lucas Van Latum, Andree Röttig, William Casson
  • Publication number: 20220082396
    Abstract: A system and method includes accessing a road network database to identify a tire cost for a plurality of edges in a mining road network, identifying least-cost paths between each of a plurality of nodes on the mining road network using the tire cost for each of the plurality of edges, the nodes including a loading area and a dumping area for a plurality of haul trucks, accessing a distributed objects database to identify constraints for the nodes on the mining road network, determining a production plan using the constraints for the nodes on the mining road network, determining a task assignment for each of the plurality of haul trucks using the production plan as guide, and transmitting the task assignment for each of the plurality of haul trucks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Lucas Van Latum, Maria Brenda R. Rayco
  • Publication number: 20220026916
    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: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Lucas Van Latum, Andree Röttig, William Casson
  • Patent number: 11193774
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a path to a target destination are presented. 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 target destinations within a mining environment and performance characteristics of the haul truck. A navigation aid is connected to the position sensor. The navigation aid is configured to identify a target destination for the haul truck, retrieve a performance characteristic of the haul truck from the distributed objects database, and calculate a first path to the target destination using the performance characteristic of the haul truck. A user interface is connected to the navigation aid. The user interface is configured to display the first path for an operator of the haul truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Andree Röttig, Lucas Van Latum
  • Patent number: 11187547
    Abstract: A system and method includes accessing a road network database to identify a tire cost for a plurality of edges in a mining road network, identifying least-cost paths between each of a plurality of nodes on the mining road network using the tire cost for each of the plurality of edges, the nodes including a loading area and a dumping area for a plurality of haul trucks, accessing a distributed objects database to identify constraints for the nodes on the mining road network, determining a production plan using the constraints for the nodes on the mining road network by maximizing a function of the form ?f?(x)??g?(x), where f?(x) is a normalized measure of productivity, g?(x) is a normalized measure of impact on tire conditioning, and ? and ? are nonnegative constants with ?+?=1, subject to constraints on resource capacities and production requirements, with the material flow rates between each of the nodes on the mining road network specifying the production plan, determining a task assignment for each of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Lucas Van Latum, Maria Brenda R. Rayco
  • Patent number: 11143517
    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: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Lucas Van Latum, Andree Röttig, William Casson
  • Publication number: 20200141745
    Abstract: A system and method includes accessing a road network database to identify a tire cost for a plurality of edges in a mining road network, identifying least-cost paths between each of a plurality of nodes on the mining road network using the tire cost for each of the plurality of edges, the nodes including a loading area and a dumping area for a plurality of haul trucks, accessing a distributed objects database to identify constraints for the nodes on the mining road network, determining a production plan using the constraints for the nodes on the mining road network by maximizing a function of the form ?f?(x)??g?(x), where f?(x) is a normalized measure of productivity, g?(x) is a normalized measure of impact on tire conditioning, and ? and ? are nonnegative constants with ?+?=1, subject to constraints on resource capacities and production requirements, with the material flow rates between each of the nodes on the mining road network specifying the production plan, determining a task assignment for each of the
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Lucas Van Latum, Maria Brenda R. Rayco
  • Patent number: 10533866
    Abstract: A system and method includes accessing a road network database to identify a tire cost for a plurality of edges in a mining road network, identifying least-cost paths between each of a plurality of nodes on the mining road network using the tire cost for each of the plurality of edges, the nodes including a loading area and a dumping area for a plurality of haul trucks, accessing a distributed objects database to identify constraints for the nodes on the mining road network, determining a production plan using the constraints for the nodes on the mining road network by maximizing a function of the form ?f?(x)-?g?(x), where f?(x) is a normalized measure of productivity, g?(x) is a normalized measure of impact on tire conditioning, and ? and ?, are nonnegative constants with ?+?=1, subject to constraints on resource capacities and production requirements, with the material flow rates between each of the nodes on the mining road network specifying the production plan, determining a task assignment for each of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Lucas Van Latum, Maria Brenda R. Rayco
  • Publication number: 20190265051
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a path to a target destination are presented. 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 target destinations within a mining environment and performance characteristics of the haul truck. A navigation aid is connected to the position sensor. The navigation aid is configured to identify a target destination for the haul truck, retrieve a performance characteristic of the haul truck from the distributed objects database, and calculate a first path to the target destination using the performance characteristic of the haul truck. A user interface is connected to the navigation aid. The user interface is configured to display the first path for an operator of the haul truck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Andree Röttig, Lucas Van Latum
  • Patent number: 10330481
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a path to a target destination are presented. 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 target destinations within a mining environment and performance characteristics of the haul truck. A navigation aid is connected to the position sensor. The navigation aid is configured to identify a target destination for the haul truck, retrieve a performance characteristic of the haul truck from the distributed objects database, and calculate a first path to the target destination using the performance characteristic of the haul truck. A user interface is connected to the navigation aid. The user interface is configured to display the first path for an operator of the haul truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Andree Röttig, Lucas Van Latum
  • Publication number: 20190128680
    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: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Lucas Van Latum, Andree Röttig, William Casson
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20180330616
    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: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: William Casson, Lucas Van Latum, Michael Lewis
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20180038702
    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: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Lucas Van Latum, Andree Röttig, William Casson
  • Patent number: 9823082
    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: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Lucas Van Latum, Andree Röttig, William Casson
  • Publication number: 20170205241
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a path to a target destination are presented. 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 target destinations within a mining environment and performance characteristics of the haul truck. A navigation aid is connected to the position sensor. The navigation aid is configured to identify a target destination for the haul truck, retrieve a performance characteristic of the haul truck from the distributed objects database, and calculate a first path to the target destination using the performance characteristic of the haul truck. A user interface is connected to the navigation aid. The user interface is configured to display the first path for an operator of the haul truck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Andree Röttig, Lucas Van Latum
  • 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: 9562784
    Abstract: A system and method for guided navigation of a mining vehicle are presented. A position sensor is mounted to a haul truck. The position sensor is configured to identify a position of the haul truck. A navigation aid is configured to identify a target destination for the haul truck, calculate a path including the target destination, and use the position sensor to monitor a progress of the haul truck along the path. A user interface is configured to display at least a portion of the path to an operator of the haul truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Lewis, Andree Rottig, Lucas Van Latum
  • Publication number: 20170023372
    Abstract: A system and method includes accessing a road network database to identify a tire cost for a plurality of edges in a mining road network, identifying least-cost paths between each of a plurality of nodes on the mining road network using the tire cost for each of the plurality of edges, the nodes including a loading area and a dumping area for a plurality of haul trucks, accessing a distributed objects database to identify constraints for the nodes on the mining road network, determining a production plan using the constraints for the nodes on the mining road network by maximizing a function of the form ?f?(x)-?g?(x), where f?(x) is a normalized measure of productivity, g?(x) is a normalized measure of impact on tire conditioning, and ? and ?, are nonnegative constants with ?+?=1, subject to constraints on resource capacities and production requirements, with the material flow rates between each of the nodes on the mining road network specifying the production plan, determining a task assignment for each of th
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Lucas Van Latum, Maria Brenda R. Rayco