Patents by Inventor Robert Catron

Robert Catron 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: 10712448
    Abstract: Methods and systems of correlating sensed position data with terrestrial features receive sensed position data from a position sensing system operatively associated with a moveable object; select a reduced set of snap point candidates from terrestrial data based on a sensed position point; choose a best snap point candidate from among the reduced set of snap point candidates based on a plurality of predictive variables and corresponding weighting factors for each snap point candidate in the reduced set of snap point candidates; and snap the sensed position point to the best snap point candidate to produce a snapped position point. The selecting, choosing, and snapping processes are performed in substantially real time so that the systems and methods correlate the sensed position data from the moveable object with terrestrial features in substantially real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Brian Vaughan, Hung Jung Lu
  • Publication number: 20200124741
    Abstract: Methods and systems of correlating sensed position data with terrestrial features receive sensed position data from a position sensing system operatively associated with a moveable object; select a reduced set of snap point candidates from terrestrial data based on a sensed position point; choose a best snap point candidate from among the reduced set of snap point candidates based on a plurality of predictive variables and corresponding weighting factors for each snap point candidate in the reduced set of snap point candidates; and snap the sensed position point to the best snap point candidate to produce a snapped position point. The selecting, choosing, and snapping processes are performed in substantially real time so that the systems and methods correlate the sensed position data from the moveable object with terrestrial features in substantially real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Brian Vaughan, Hung Jung Lu
  • Patent number: 10586408
    Abstract: A system for optimizing a travel speed of an off-road vehicle utilizes time-over-target values as a threshold indicator for diagnostics and subsequent remedial actions. A road used for haulage is divided into a plurality of predetermined road segments. A target transit time is defined for each of the predetermined segments to provide a target speed curve. An actual transit time values is measured for the off-road vehicle in transiting the road. A comparison outcome is generated by comparing the target transit time value with the actual transit time value. The comparison outcome is useful in adjusting the travel speed for the vehicle to minimize the time over target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Nicholas Hickson, Brian Vaughan, James Milne
  • Publication number: 20200034404
    Abstract: A method of correlating satellite position data with terrestrial features may include the steps of: Defining a two-dimensional grid comprising a plurality of grid points at defined locations; rounding the satellite position data to the nearest grid point of the defined two-dimensional grid to create an amplitude data table, each rounded satellite position data point in the amplitude data table defining a reference grid point value; matching the terrestrial survey data to at least four adjacent grid points of the defined two-dimensional grid to create a terrestrial coordinate table; merging the amplitude data table and the terrestrial coordinate table based on the reference grid point values to form a merged table; searching the merged table to identify the grid point with the minimum distance between an (x,y) location and an (rx, ry) location; and snapping the (x,y) location to a snapping point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Brian Vaughan, Hung Jung Lu
  • Patent number: 10474731
    Abstract: A method of correlating satellite position data with terrestrial features may include: Using a geometric snapping algorithm to correlate the satellite position data and terrestrial survey data and snap the satellite position data to the terrestrial features; determining whether the satellite position data can be snapped to unique terrestrial features; and using a hybrid space-time snapping algorithm to correlate the satellite position data and terrestrial survey data and snap the satellite position data to unique terrestrial features when the satellite position data cannot be snapped to unique terrestrial features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Brian Vaughan, Hung Jung Lu
  • Patent number: 10378160
    Abstract: A system for determining road quality includes a vehicle equipped with sensors to detect a position of the vehicle on the road and a suspension strut parameter indicative of road quality. The suspension strut parameter may be suspension strut pressure or suspension strut cylinder stroke. A threshold range is established outside of which an absolute value of the suspension strut parameter is associated with poor road quality. A computerized system generates a heat map to display relative quality of road segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Brian Vaughan, Hung Jung Lu
  • Patent number: 10210677
    Abstract: A method of determining a cause of a performance deficiency of a vehicle may include: Determining whether the vehicle is operating in a defined load condition; comparing an actual vehicle performance parameter with a predetermined baseline performance parameter for the defined load condition; comparing a plurality of key indicator values of the vehicle with a predetermined specification for each of the plurality of key indicator values; concluding that the performance deficiency is the result of a mechanical condition of the vehicle when at least one of the key indicator values is outside of the predetermined specification for a corresponding key indicator value and when the actual vehicle performance parameter is outside of the predetermined baseline performance parameter; and concluding that the performance deficiency is the result of an operational condition when none of the key indicator values is outside of the predetermined specification for the corresponding key indicator value and when the actual vehi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, D. Bradley Brown
  • Publication number: 20180267935
    Abstract: A method of correlating satellite position data with terrestrial features may include: Using a geometric snapping algorithm to correlate the satellite position data and terrestrial survey data and snap the satellite position data to the terrestrial features; determining whether the satellite position data can be snapped to unique terrestrial features; and using a hybrid space-time snapping algorithm to correlate the satellite position data and terrestrial survey data and snap the satellite position data to unique terrestrial features when the satellite position data cannot be snapped to unique terrestrial features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Brian Vaughan, Hung Jung Lu
  • Publication number: 20180268625
    Abstract: A system for optimizing a travel speed of an off-road vehicle utilizes time-over-target values as a threshold indicator for diagnostics and subsequent remedial actions. A road used for haulage is divided into a plurality of predetermined road segments. A target transit time is defined for each of the predetermined segments to provide a target speed curve. An actual transit time values is measured for the off-road vehicle in transiting the road. A comparison outcome is generated by comparing the target transit time value with the actual transit time value. The comparison outcome is useful in adjusting the travel speed for the vehicle to minimize the time over target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Nicholas Hickson, Brian Vaughan, James Milne
  • Patent number: 10013820
    Abstract: A system for optimizing a travel speed of an off-road vehicle utilizes time-over-target values as a threshold indicator for diagnostics and subsequent remedial actions. A road used for haulage is divided into a plurality of predetermined road segments. A target transit time is defined for each of the predetermined segments to provide a target speed curve. An actual transit time values is measured for the off-road vehicle in transiting the road. A comparison outcome is generated by comparing the target transit time value with the actual transit time value. The comparison outcome is useful in diagnosing causes of operation trouble and in scheduling remedial action to address the operational trouble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Nicholas Hickson, Brian Vaughan, James Milne
  • Patent number: 10002109
    Abstract: A method of correlating satellite position data with terrestrial features may include: Using a geometric snapping algorithm to correlate the satellite position data and terrestrial survey data and snap the satellite position data to the terrestrial features; determining whether the satellite position data can be snapped to unique terrestrial features; and using a hybrid space-time snapping algorithm to correlate the satellite position data and terrestrial survey data and snap the satellite position data to unique terrestrial features when the satellite position data cannot be snapped to unique terrestrial features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Brian Vaughan, Hung Jung Lu
  • Publication number: 20170371837
    Abstract: A method of correlating satellite position data with terrestrial features may include: Using a geometric snapping algorithm to correlate the satellite position data and terrestrial survey data and snap the satellite position data to the terrestrial features; determining whether the satellite position data can be snapped to unique terrestrial features; and using a hybrid space-time snapping algorithm to correlate the satellite position data and terrestrial survey data and snap the satellite position data to unique terrestrial features when the satellite position data cannot be snapped to unique terrestrial features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Brian Vaughan, Hung Jung Lu
  • Publication number: 20170236341
    Abstract: A method of determining a cause of a performance deficiency of a vehicle may include: Determining whether the vehicle is operating in a defined load condition; comparing an actual vehicle performance parameter with a predetermined baseline performance parameter for the defined load condition; comparing a plurality of key indicator values of the vehicle with a predetermined specification for each of the plurality of key indicator values; concluding that the performance deficiency is the result of a mechanical condition of the vehicle when at least one of the key indicator values is outside of the predetermined specification for a corresponding key indicator value and when the actual vehicle performance parameter is outside of the predetermined baseline performance parameter; and concluding that the performance deficiency is the result of an operational condition when none of the key indicator values is outside of the predetermined specification for the corresponding key indicator value and when the actual vehi
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, D. Bradley Brown
  • Publication number: 20170169631
    Abstract: A system for optimizing a travel speed of an off-road vehicle utilizes time-over-target values as a threshold indicator for diagnostics and subsequent remedial actions. A road used for haulage is divided into a plurality of predetermined road segments. A target transit time is defined for each of the predetermined segments to provide a target speed curve. An actual transit time values is measured for the off-road vehicle in transiting the road. A comparison outcome is generated by comparing the target transit time value with the actual transit time value. The comparison outcome is useful in diagnosing causes of operation trouble and in scheduling remedial action to address the operational trouble.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Nicholas Hickson, Brian Vaughan, James Milne
  • Publication number: 20170167088
    Abstract: A system for determining road quality includes a vehicle equipped with sensors to detect a position of the vehicle on the road and a suspension strut parameter indicative of road quality. The suspension strut parameter may be suspension strut pressure or suspension strut cylinder stroke. A threshold range is established outside of which the suspension strut parameter is associated with poor road quality. A computerized system implementing this method is capable of automating requests for inspection and maintenance of the road, as well as generating maps indicating sections of the road according to their relative quality. The system may be implemented for use by heavy equipment type commonly used in mining operations, or in context of other operations utilizing fleets of vehicles that commonly traverse publicly or privately maintained roads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Mary Amelia Walker, Robert Catron, Brian Vaughan, Hung Jung Lu