Patents by Inventor Scott Andrew Kirkman

Scott Andrew Kirkman 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: 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10115225
    Abstract: A system and method of onboard and offboard visualization of material characteristics in mining is provided. According to one aspect, the method includes a step of providing a voxel representation of a mining area. The voxel representation includes a plurality of voxels. At least one voxel of the plurality of voxels is compared to a geological model of the mining area, and at least one material characteristic is assigned to the at least one voxel based on the geological model of the mining area. In another aspect, the method includes calculating a volume of extracted material, assigning at least one quantified material characteristic to the volume of extracted material based on a geological model, and displaying a visual representation of the volume of extracted material and at least one quantified material characteristic using a visualization tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kiriaco Rodrigo Dario Jarami Orellana, John Steven Harpour, Scott Andrew Kirkman, Thomas Frank Doherty
  • Publication number: 20180075543
    Abstract: A system and method of optimizing fleet operation at a mining site is provided. The system includes a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute steps of identifying a forthcoming dig area including material to be extracted by a digging tool, assigning at least one quantified material characteristic to the material to be extracted, and assigning a truck movement based on the at least one quantified material characteristic. The at least one quantified material characteristic of the extracted material is used to assign truck movement, including material flow to processors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kiriaco Rodrigo Dario Jarami Orellana, John Steven Harpour, Scott Andrew Kirkman, Thomas Frank Doherty
  • Publication number: 20180068484
    Abstract: A system and method of onboard and offboard visualization of material characteristics in mining is provided. According to one aspect, the method includes a step of providing a voxel representation of a mining area. The voxel representation includes a plurality of voxels. At least one voxel of the plurality of voxels is compared to a geological model of the mining area, and at least one material characteristic is assigned to the at least one voxel based on the geological model of the mining area. In another aspect, the method includes calculating a volume of extracted material, assigning at least one quantified material characteristic to the volume of extracted material based on a geological model, and displaying a visual representation of the volume of extracted material and at least one quantified material characteristic using a visualization tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Kiriaco Rodrigo Dario Jarami Orellana, John Steven Harpour, Scott Andrew Kirkman, Thomas Frank Doherty