Patents by Inventor Ryan J. Howell

Ryan J. Howell 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).

  • System and method for controlling machines using operator alertness metrics
    Patent number: 10921139
    Abstract: A method includes determining a first task requiring one of a plurality of machines to traverse along a first route and determining a second task requiring the one of the plurality of machines to traverse along a second route. The method also includes determining a first route score for the first route, the first route score being at least in part indicative of a difficulty of traversing along the first route, and determining a second route score for the second route, the second route score being at least in part indicative of a difficulty of traversing along the second route. The method may also include receiving sensor data generated by a sensor associated with a first machine of the plurality of machines and determining, based at least in part on the sensor data, an alertness metric associated with an operator of the first machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David James Edwards, Scott Andrew Kirkman, Gregory Mark Wood, Andrew Thiel, Ryan J. Howell, Gregory Davis
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING MACHINES USING OPERATOR ALERTNESS METRICS
    Publication number: 20200080851
    Abstract: A method includes determining a first task requiring one of a plurality of machines to traverse along a first route and determining a second task requiring the one of the plurality of machines to traverse along a second route. The method also includes determining a first route score for the first route, the first route score being at least in part indicative of a difficulty of traversing along the first route, and determining a second route score for the second route, the second route score being at least in part indicative of a difficulty of traversing along the second route. The method may also include receiving sensor data generated by a sensor associated with a first machine of the plurality of machines and determining, based at least in part on the sensor data, an alertness metric associated with an operator of the first machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David James Edwards, Scott Andrew Kirkman, Gregory Mark Wood, Andrew Thiel, Ryan J. Howell, Gregory Davis