Patents by Inventor Robert Jason McGee

Robert Jason McGee 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: 20240360633
    Abstract: A control system for a construction machine is disclosed. The control system may comprise a controller configured to: receive work parameters associated with working of the worksite surface by a surface-working member; generate an edge-to-edge work plan of the worksite surface, the edge-to-edge work plan comprising a plurality of paths each having a center-line-of-travel, wherein one of the plurality of paths includes a first outer edge defined by a first boundary side and another includes a second outer edge defined by a second boundary side; and activate the construction machine to traverse the center-line-of travel of each of the plurality of paths. The plurality of paths may comprise a first path and a second path that includes a second path overlap-section that overlaps the first path, wherein a width of the second path overlap-section varies along a length of the second path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Russell FRIEND, Mark Andrew Tarvin, Nathaniel Steven Doy, Robert Jason McGee, Joel Case Miller
  • Patent number: 11868114
    Abstract: A controller may configure the machine to operate in a plurality of modes including a manned control mode, a remote control mode, and an autonomous control mode. The controller may receive a request to cause the machine to perform an action; and determine a requested mode of operation of the machine associated with the request. The requested mode of operation may be one of the plurality of modes. The controller may selectively deny the request or enable the machine to perform the action based on a priority assigned to a current mode of operation of the machine and a priority assigned to the requested mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Jason McGee, Craig L. Koehrsen, Paul D Lenzen, Clarence Matthew Glover, Kyle Hendricks, Joshua Struble, Justin Peters, Sangameshwar Sonth
  • Patent number: 11693406
    Abstract: A machine is disclosed. The machine may include at least one of a propulsion system or a steering system configured to operate under automatic control in an autonomous mode of the machine; and a controller configured to obtain one or more parameters associated with a task that is to be performed in the autonomous mode, determine an estimated completion time for the task based on the one or more parameters associated with the task, and perform one or more actions based on the estimated completion time for the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Jason McGee, Sangameshwar Sonth, Timothy O'Donnell, Kristen Ann Gerstner
  • Patent number: 11685412
    Abstract: An autonomous machine control system is disclosed. The autonomous machine control system may include a controller configured to: cause an initiation of an autonomous mode of a machine, the autonomous mode providing automatic control of a propulsion operation, a steering operation, and a work operation of the machine; determine that automatic control of the work operation is to be disabled in the autonomous mode of the machine; and cause automatic control of the work operation to be disabled in the autonomous mode of the machine, while automatic control of the propulsion operation and the steering operation is enabled in the autonomous mode of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy O'Donnell, Nicholas A Oetken, Kyle Hendricks, Robert Jason McGee
  • Publication number: 20230134855
    Abstract: A system for controlling the travel of a work machine during an excavation operation includes one or more sensors to generate one or more position parameters of the work machine. The position parameter includes a machine orientation and a machine location. The system includes a controller communicably coupled with the sensor. The controller receives the position parameter, collects data indicative of a desired movement path, and determines one or more operating parameters of the work machine to reach the desired location. The operating parameter includes one or more of a desired travel distance of the work machine, a maximum velocity of the work machine, and a desired travel direction of the work machine. The controller generates a first control signal for controlling the travel of the work machine, such that one or more components of the work machine is in alignment with the desired movement path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Hodel, Robert Jason McGee
  • Publication number: 20230092561
    Abstract: A controller may configure the machine to operate in a plurality of modes including a manned control mode, a remote control mode, and an autonomous control mode. The controller may receive a request to cause the machine to perform an action; and determine a requested mode of operation of the machine associated with the request. The requested mode of operation may be one of the plurality of modes. The controller may selectively deny the request or enable the machine to perform the action based on a priority assigned to a current mode of operation of the machine and a priority assigned to the requested mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Jason MCGEE, Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Paul D LENZEN, Clarence Matthew GLOVER, Kyle HENDRICKS, Joshua STRUBLE, Justin PETERS, Sangameshwar SONTH
  • Patent number: 11513498
    Abstract: A controller may configure the machine to operate in a plurality of modes including a manned control mode, a remote control mode, and an autonomous control mode. The controller may receive a request to cause the machine to perform an action; and determine a requested mode of operation of the machine associated with the request. The requested mode of operation may be one of the plurality of modes. The controller may selectively deny the request or enable the machine to perform the action based on a priority assigned to a current mode of operation of the machine and a priority assigned to the requested mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Jason McGee, Craig L. Koehrsen, Paul D. Lenzen, Clarence Matthew Glover, Kyle Hendricks, Joshua Struble, Justin Peters, Sangameshwar Sonth
  • Publication number: 20220035337
    Abstract: A controller may configure the machine to operate in a plurality of modes including a manned control mode, a remote control mode, and an autonomous control mode. The controller may receive a request to cause the machine to perform an action; and determine a requested mode of operation of the machine associated with the request. The requested mode of operation may be one of the plurality of modes. The controller may selectively deny the request or enable the machine to perform the action based on a priority assigned to a current mode of operation of the machine and a priority assigned to the requested mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Jason MCGEE, Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Paul D. LENZEN, Clarence Matthew GLOVER, Kyle HENDRICKS, Joshua STRUBLE, Justin PETERS, Sangameshwar SONTH
  • Publication number: 20210276596
    Abstract: An autonomous machine control system is disclosed. The autonomous machine control system may include a controller configured to: cause an initiation of an autonomous mode of a machine, the autonomous mode providing automatic control of a propulsion operation, a steering operation, and a work operation of the machine; determine that automatic control of the work operation is to be disabled in the autonomous mode of the machine; and cause automatic control of the work operation to be disabled in the autonomous mode of the machine, while automatic control of the propulsion operation and the steering operation is enabled in the autonomous mode of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy O'DONNELL, Nicholas A OETKEN, Kyle HENDRICKS, Robert Jason MCGEE
  • Publication number: 20210278841
    Abstract: A machine is disclosed. The machine may include at least one of a propulsion system or a steering system configured to operate under automatic control in an autonomous mode of the machine; and a controller configured to obtain one or more parameters associated with a task that is to be performed in the autonomous mode, determine an estimated completion time for the task based on the one or more parameters associated with the task, and perform one or more actions based on the estimated completion time for the task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Jason MCGEE, Sangameshwar SONTH, Timothy O'DONNELL, Kristen Ann GERSTNER
  • Patent number: 9651381
    Abstract: A terrain mapping system is disclosed for a machine having at least one traction device. The system may have a sensor associated with the machine and configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the machine. The system may also have at least one controller in communication with the sensor. The at least one controller may be configured to receive the signal from the sensor, and divide an area between the at least one traction device and a work surface into a plurality of virtual tracking features based on the signal and known geometry of the machine. The at least one controller may also be configured to track movement of the plurality of virtual tracking features, and update an electronic terrain map of a worksite based on the movement of the plurality of virtual tracking features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Clar, Troy Kenneth Becicka, Michael Allen Taylor, Robert Jason McGee
  • Patent number: 9560692
    Abstract: A system for controlling a machine may include a remote control (RC) input device configured to remotely initiate a RC enabled mode on the machine. The RC input device may subsequently establish a communication link with the machine when no other RC input device currently has a communication link with the machine. The RC input device may transition the machine to a RC reserved mode in which the machine is reserved for control by the RC input device, and transition a mode of control for the machine to a RC active mode from the RC reserved mode. The RC input device may selectively control the machine when in the RC active mode. The RC input device may also transition the mode of control for the machine to an autonomous mode from the RC active mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Jason McGee, Jean-Jacques Clar, Craig L. Koehrsen, Brian Gerard Funke, Brett Andrew Eisenmenger, Deepa Jeyamani, Kent James Chesko, Clarence Matthew Glover, Shahul Hameed Mohammed
  • Patent number: 9483863
    Abstract: A terrain mapping system is disclosed for use with an excavation machine at a worksite. The terrain mapping system may have a locating device mountable onboard the excavation machine and configured to generate a first signal indicative of a position of the excavation machine at the worksite, and a sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of a load on the excavation machine. The terrain mapping system may also have a controller in communication with the locating device and the sensor. The controller may be configured to update a surface contour of the worksite contained in an electronic map based on the first signal as the excavation machine traverses the worksite, and to determine an amount of material moved by the excavation machine based on the second signal. The controller may also be configured to generate a representation of the material moved by the excavation machine in the electronic map when the excavation machine ceases to move the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Clar, Michael Allen Taylor, Robert Jason McGee, Kyle Adam Edwards
  • Publication number: 20160163088
    Abstract: A terrain mapping system is disclosed for use with an excavation machine at a worksite. The terrain mapping system may have a locating device mountable onboard the excavation machine and configured to generate a first signal indicative of a position of the excavation machine at the worksite, and a sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of a load on the excavation machine. The terrain mapping system may also have a controller in communication with the locating device and the sensor. The controller may be configured to update a surface contour of the worksite contained in an electronic map based on the first signal as the excavation machine traverses the worksite, and to determine an amount of material moved by the excavation machine based on the second signal. The controller may also be configured to generate a representation of the material moved by the excavation machine in the electronic map when the excavation machine ceases to move the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques CLAR, Michael Allen TAYLOR, Robert Jason MCGEE, Kyle Adam EDWARDS
  • Publication number: 20150198736
    Abstract: A terrain mapping system is disclosed for a machine having at least one traction device. The system may have a sensor associated with the machine and configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the machine. The system may also have at least one controller in communication with the sensor. The at least one controller may be configured to receive the signal from the sensor, and divide an area between the at least one traction device and a work surface into a plurality of virtual tracking features based on the signal and known geometry of the machine. The at least one controller may also be configured to track movement of the plurality of virtual tracking features, and update an electronic terrain map of a worksite based on the movement of the plurality of virtual tracking features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Clar, Troy Kenneth Becicka, Michael Allen Taylor, Robert Jason McGee
  • Publication number: 20150198936
    Abstract: A system for controlling a machine may include a remote control (RC) input device configured to remotely initiate a RC enabled mode on the machine. The RC input device may subsequently establish a communication link with the machine when no other RC input device currently has a communication link with the machine. The RC input device may transition the machine to a RC reserved mode in which the machine is reserved for control by the RC input device, and transition a mode of control for the machine to a RC active mode from the RC reserved mode. The RC input device may selectively control the machine when in the RC active mode. The RC input device may also transition the mode of control for the machine to an autonomous mode from the RC active mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Robert Jason McGEE, Jean-Jacques CLAR, Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Brian Gerard FUNKE, Brett Andrew EISENMENGER, Deepa JEYAMANI, Kent James CHESKO, Clarence Matthew GLOVER, Shahul Hameed MOHAMMED