Patents by Inventor Troy Kenneth Becicka

Troy Kenneth Becicka 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: 10858801
    Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a machine having a frame supported by ground engaging members and a work implement movably supported by the frame includes a machine position sensor and an implement position sensor to output data pertaining to a position and orientation of the machine and the work implement within a worksite. The system further includes a controller that receives the data output by the machine position sensor and the implement position sensor. The controller computes an amount of gap that is required for alignment of the machine and the work implement with a slot based on the received data. The controller then controls a movement of the ground engaging members for positioning the machine at the computed amount of gap from a cut point located within the slot prior to the work implement entering a cut position for performing a cut within the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Kenneth Becicka, Mo Wei
  • Publication number: 20190161938
    Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a machine having a frame supported by ground engaging members and a work implement movably supported by the frame includes a machine position sensor and an implement position sensor to output data pertaining to a position and orientation of the machine and the work implement within a worksite. The system further includes a controller that receives the data output by the machine position sensor and the implement position sensor. The controller computes an amount of gap that is required for alignment of the machine and the work implement with a slot based on the received data. The controller then controls a movement of the ground engaging members for positioning the machine at the computed amount of gap from a cut point located within the slot prior to the work implement entering a cut position for performing a cut within the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Kenneth Becicka, Mo Wei
  • 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: 9567731
    Abstract: A method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for calibrating an implement actuation sensor of a machine are disclosed. The method may include calculating a first elevation value of an implement of the machine. The method may include calculating a second elevation value of a ground-engaging device of the machine. The method may include, in response to determining that the machine is spreading, adjusting the second elevation value based on a compaction factor to determine an adjusted second elevation value. The method may further include determining a first elevation difference value based on a difference between the first elevation value and the adjusted second elevation value. The method may further include calibrating the implement actuation sensor based on the determined difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Carl P. Darukhanavala, Troy Kenneth Becicka
  • Publication number: 20160340872
    Abstract: A method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for calibrating an implement actuation sensor of a machine are disclosed. The method may include calculating a first elevation value of an implement of the machine. The method may include calculating a second elevation value of a ground-engaging device of the machine. The method may include, in response to determining that the machine is spreading, adjusting the second elevation value based on a compaction factor to determine an adjusted second elevation value. The method may further include determining a first elevation difference value based on a difference between the first elevation value and the adjusted second elevation value. The method may further include calibrating the implement actuation sensor based on the determined difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Carl P. DARUKHANAVALA, Troy Kenneth BECICKA
  • Patent number: 9297146
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically detecting a need for a ripping pass to be performed by a machine along a work surface is provided. The method may include monitoring one or more of machine parameters of the machine and profile parameters of the work surface, determining whether one or more predefined trigger conditions suggestive of the need for the ripping pass are met based on the machine parameters and the profile parameters, and generating a ripping pass request if one or more of the trigger conditions are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mo Wei, Thandava Krishna Edara, Michael Allen Taylor, Troy Kenneth Becicka, Seth J. Rodenbo, Matthew E. Kontz, Kenneth L. Stratton
  • Publication number: 20160069045
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically detecting a need for a ripping pass to be performed by a machine along a work surface is provided. The method may include monitoring one or more of machine parameters of the machine and profile parameters of the work surface, determining whether one or more predefined trigger conditions suggestive of the need for the ripping pass are met based on the machine parameters and the profile parameters, and generating a ripping pass request if one or more of the trigger conditions are satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mo Wei, Thandava Krishna Edara, Michael Allen Taylor, Troy Kenneth Becicka, Seth J. Rodenbo, Matthew E. Kontz, Kenneth L. Stratton
  • Patent number: 9279235
    Abstract: A method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for calibrating an implement actuation sensor of a machine are disclosed. The method may include calculating a first elevation value of an implement of the machine in a gravity reference frame of the machine. The method may further include calculating a second elevation value of a ground-engaging device of the machine in the gravity reference frame of the machine. The method may further include determining a difference between the first elevation value and the second elevation value. The method may further include calibrating the implement actuation sensor based on the determined difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Kenneth Becicka, Paul Russell Friend
  • Publication number: 20160060845
    Abstract: A method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for calibrating an implement actuation sensor of a machine are disclosed. The method may include calculating a first elevation value of an implement of the machine in a gravity reference frame of the machine. The method may further include calculating a second elevation value of a ground-engaging device of the machine in the gravity reference frame of the machine. The method may further include determining a difference between the first elevation value and the second elevation value. The method may further include calibrating the implement actuation sensor based on the determined difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Troy Kenneth BECICKA, Paul Russell FRIEND
  • Publication number: 20160054131
    Abstract: A method and system for determining an alignment error between sensors mounted to a machine is disclosed. The method may include calculating a first orientation value based on a signal received from a first sensor. The method may further include calculating a second orientation value based on a signal received from a second sensor. The method may further include calculating an alignment error between the first sensor and the second sensor based on a difference between the first orientation value and the second orientation value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Paul Russell FRIEND, Frank Arthur WILLIS, Troy Kenneth BECICKA
  • Patent number: 9250086
    Abstract: A method and system for determining an alignment error between sensors mounted to a machine is disclosed. The method may include calculating a first orientation value based on a signal received from a first sensor. The method may further include calculating a second orientation value based on a signal received from a second sensor. The method may further include calculating an alignment error between the first sensor and the second sensor based on a difference between the first orientation value and the second orientation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Russell Friend, Frank Arthur Willis, Troy Kenneth Becicka
  • 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