Land Leveller Type Patents (Class 172/4.5)
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Patent number: 12215475Abstract: A pile plan map indicating a plurality of locations in a geographic area at which piles are to be installed is accessed. A first set of locations is identified from the plurality of locations and a first set of piles to be driven into the ground at the first set of locations using the pile plan map is identified. An order for driving the first set of piles into the ground is identified and a pile type for each of the first set of piles is identified. Basket assembly instructions are generated for assembling the first set of piles into a basket based on the identified order and the identified pile types. The first set of piles are assembled autonomously or manually into the basket based on the generated basket assembly instructions.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2023Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: Built Robotics Inc.Inventors: Noah Austen Ready-Campbell, Andrew Xiao Liang, Gaurav Jitendra Kikani
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Patent number: 12195943Abstract: A shoe control system for a dozer blade assembly includes a controller having a processor and a memory. The controller is configured to determine a direction of travel of the dozer blade assembly. The controller is also configured to control an actuator to drive a shoe of the dozer blade assembly to disengage a ground surface in response to determining the direction of travel is rearward.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: John William Cloud
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Patent number: 12037767Abstract: A work machine comprises: a travel unit; a swing unit provided on the travel unit swingably; an angular velocity sensor that is attached to the swing unit and outputs an azimuthal angular velocity of the swing unit; a measurement device that measures an azimuth of the swing unit; and a controller that corrects the azimuthal angular velocity based on azimuth information measured by the measurement device and controls the swing unit based on the corrected azimuthal angular velocity.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2020Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Tomoki Konda, Kenjiro Shimada, Kazuhiro Hatake, Yusuke Saigo
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Patent number: 11974515Abstract: An agricultural machine, in particular self-propelled and/or towed agricultural machine and methods for proactively controlling an agricultural machine to maintain a positioning of a boom coupled to the machine over uneven terrain are described. The agricultural machine includes a chassis that bears components of the agricultural machine, a data processing apparatus, a sensor unit for detecting an inclination angle of the chassis relative to a reference plane, and a detection apparatus for detecting a travel speed and/or a travelled route, per time unit. Proactive control of the machine is achieved using the data processing apparatus which is configured to calculate a travelled route, in particular per time unit, using a travel speed and/or to calculate a terrain relief using a travelled route, per time unit, and using an inclination angle of the chassis which changes or remains constant along the route.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2020Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: HORSCH LEEB Application Systems GmbHInventor: Theodor Leeb
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Patent number: 11788247Abstract: A pile plan map indicating a plurality of locations in a geographic area at which piles are to be installed is accessed. A first set of locations is identified from the plurality of locations and a first set of piles to be driven into the ground at the first set of locations using the pile plan map is identified. An order for driving the first set of piles into the ground is identified and a pile type for each of the first set of piles is identified. Basket assembly instructions are generated for assembling the first set of piles into a basket based on the identified order and the identified pile types. The first set of piles are assembled autonomously or manually into the basket based on the generated basket assembly instructions.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: BUILT ROBOTICS INC.Inventors: Noah Austen Ready-Campbell, Andrew Xiao Liang, Gaurav Jitendra Kikani
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Patent number: 11685412Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Timothy O'Donnell, Nicholas A Oetken, Kyle Hendricks, Robert Jason McGee
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Patent number: 11596102Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine has a cutting apparatus formed as a header for cutting and picking up crop of a crop stand, an inclined conveyor downstream of the cutting apparatus and in which a temporal layer height flow is adjusted, and a driver assistance system for controlling the cutting apparatus. The driver assistance system has a computing device and a sensor arrangement with a crop sensor system for generating crop parameters of the crop stand and a layer height sensor for generating the temporal layer height flow. The computing device simultaneously generates the cutting apparatus parameters of the cutting table length, horizontal reel position and vertical reel position so as to be adapted to one another and conveys them to the cutting apparatus to implement a harvesting process strategy in ongoing harvesting operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Dennis Neitemeier, Joachim Baumgarten, Andreas Wilken, Bastian Bormann, Sebastian Spiekermann, Daniel Irmer
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Patent number: 11572669Abstract: A control system for a grading machine includes a circle angle sensor coupled to a circle. The circle is coupled to and supports a grading blade, and the circle angle sensor is configured to measure an angular position of the circle. The control system also includes a blade load sensor configured to measure a load on the grading blade. The control system also includes a circle drive system including a circle drive motor and a controller. The circle drive motor is configured to engage with and rotate the circle around a circle axis, and the controller is configured to control the rotation of the circle under a circle rotation command by monitoring the angular position of the circle and the load on the grading blade.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Nathaniel K. Harshman
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Patent number: 11549238Abstract: A system includes a processor and a display. The processor acquires shape data indicative of a shape of the surroundings in a traveling direction of a work machine. The processor generates a guide line. The guide line is disposed spaced from the work machine. The guide line indicates the shape of the surroundings in the traveling direction of the work machine. The processor synthesizes a surrounding image and the guide line and generates an image including the surroundings image and the guide line. The display displays the image including the surroundings image and the guide line based on a signal from the processor. The system may further include the work machine, a camera that captures the surrounding image, and a sensor that measures the shape of surroundings.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Koichi Nakazawa, Osamu Yatsuda
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Patent number: 11486113Abstract: A grading machine includes a machine body, a grading blade, and at least one grading blade sensor configured to sense a position and orientation of the grading blade. The grading machine also includes a drawbar connecting the grading blade to the machine body, at least one drawbar sensor configured to sense a position and orientation of the drawbar, a user interface, and a control system. The control system may be configured to receive an input from the user interface and perform an automatic turnaround operation.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael C. Gentle, Ethan M. Tevis
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Patent number: 11409287Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a neural network-based task planner (TaskNet) for autonomous vehicle. Given a high-level task, the TaskNet planner decomposes it into a sequence of sub-tasks, each of which is further decomposed into task primitives with specifications. TaskNet comprises a first model for predicating the global sequence of working area to cover large terrain, and a second model for determining local operation order and specifications for each operation. The neural models may include convolutional layers for extracting features from grid map-based environment representation, and fully connected layers to combine extracted features with past sequences and predict the next sub-task or task primitive. Embodiments of the TaskNet are trained using an excavation trace generator and evaluate its performance using a 3D physically-based terrain and excavator simulator.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Baidu USA LLCInventors: Liangjun Zhang, Jinxin Zhao
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Patent number: 11408149Abstract: A work vehicle control system includes an actual topography acquisition device, a storage device, and a controller. The actual topography acquisition device acquires actual topography information, which indicates an actual topography of a work target. The storage device stores design topography information, which indicates a final design topography that is a target topography of the work target. The controller acquires the actual topography information from the actual topography acquisition device, and the design topography information from the storage device. The controller determines an intermediate design topography positioned above the actual topography and below the final design topography. The controller generates a command signal to move the work implement based on the intermediate design topography. The intermediate design topography includes a plurality of intermediate design surfaces divided in the traveling direction of the work vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Eiji Ishibashi, Akifumi Inamaru, Seiji Nagano, Kenji Yamamoto, Kazuyuki Kirino, Yasuhito Yonezawa, Yosuke Kogawa, Takahiro Shimojo
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Patent number: 11401697Abstract: A control system for a work vehicle includes a controller. The controller acquires actual topography data indicating an actual topography to be worked. The controller determines a target design topography indicating a target trajectory of a work implement based on the actual topography. The controller determines whether the actual topography is an upward gradient or a downward gradient based on the actual topography data. The controller changes the target design topography according to a result of determination of the gradient.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2018Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventor: Kazuhiro Hashimoto
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Patent number: 11384515Abstract: An image display system for a work machine includes an imaging device mounted to a work machine including a working unit having a working implement, an attitude detector detecting an attitude of the working unit, a distance detector determining information about distance to an object to be worked by the work machine, and a processor using information about position of the working implement obtained using an attitude of the working unit, and information about position of the object to be worked obtained from the information about distance from the work machine to an object to be worked, determined by the distance detector, generating an image of a portion corresponding to the working implement, on the object to be worked opposing the working implement, combining the generated image with an image of the object to be worked imaged by the imaging device, and displaying the combined image on a display device.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignees: Komatsu LTD., Osaka UniversityInventors: Hiroshi Yoshinada, Takanobu Tanimoto
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Patent number: 11346079Abstract: A work machine that has a blade that is positionable at a plurality of angles relative to the work machine, a positioning system coupled to the blade to transition the blade to any one of the plurality of angles, a user interface providing a user input, and a controller in communication with the positioning system and the user input. Wherein, when the controller receives a first user input signal from the user interface, the controller positions the blade in a first preset position with the positioning system.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2018Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Craig Christofferson, David A. Veasy, Nathan J. Horstman
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Patent number: 11332911Abstract: Provided is a construction machine that can prevent a machine body from being lowered since a blade is not put into a float state even where a misoperation is made by an operator when the machine body is in a jacked-up state, and that can perform a favorable leveling operation by putting the blade into the float state in accordance with an operator's operation when the machine body is not in the jacked-up state. A hydraulic excavator includes a controller 42 that determines whether or not the machine body is in a jacked-up state and controls a float valve 41. In the case where it is determined that the machine body is not in the jacked-up state, the controller 42 changes over the float valve 41 to a float position V and invalidates an operation of a blade control valve 22, in accordance with a float instruction.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Tierra Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshifumi Takebayashi, Hajime Yoshida, Natsuki Nakamura, Daisuke Oka
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Patent number: 11306447Abstract: A method for determining a change in an angle of attack of a screed on a paving machine includes determining a first angle of attack of the screed, determining a second angle of attack of the screed based on data from at least one sensor located on the screed and at least one sensor located on a frame of the paving machine, and determining a change in the angle of attack based on the first angle of attack and the second angle of attack. The method also includes providing a notification of at least one of the first angle of attack, the second angle of attack, or the change in the angle of attack.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventor: Reece A. Berns
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Patent number: 11305786Abstract: An example autonomous vehicle includes a body configured for movement along a surface, a sensor on the body to output a signal in a plane and to obtain information about an environment based on the signal, and a control system to use the information to determine a location of the autonomous vehicle in the environment. The sensor is configured to keep constant the plane of the signal for different positions of the body.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: AUTOGUIDE, LLC.Inventors: David Levasseur, Michael Cullinane
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Patent number: 11277966Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a machine for operating with an implement that is selectively coupleable to the machine. Both the implement and the machine have memories storing calibration data for machine-implement combinations. The machine and the implement are operated based on a calibration value stored to the machine memory corresponding to an identification of the specific implement that is coupled to the machine. If a calibration value for the specific implement is not already in the machine memory, the machine determines a calibration value for the implement based on other calibration data stored by the machine memory and/or the implement memory. In some embodiments, the calibration data stored by the machine and by the implement is synchronized when the implement is selectively coupled to the machine.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventor: Michael J. Hodson
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Patent number: 11274416Abstract: A work vehicle including a body, an operational frame movable relative to the body about a primary joint, a linkage arrangement configured to adjust a position of the operational frame relative to the body, and a working implement coupled to the operational frame and movable relative to the body. A first sensor is positioned on the body. A second sensor is positioned on at least one of the operational frame, the linkage arrangement, and the working implement. A processor is configured to receive a first signal from the first sensor, where the first signal is representative of a measurement sensed by the first sensor, receive a second signal from the second sensor, where the second signal is representative of a measurement sensed by the second sensor, and determine a measurement error of the first sensor based on the signals from the first sensor and the second sensor.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David A. Veasy, Craig Christofferson, Michael D. Peat, Lance R. Sherlock
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Patent number: 11274921Abstract: A system and method for measuring a payload including a surface, the system comprising a sensor and a processor. The sensor is configured to generate a signal constituting data representing an unobstructed portion of the surface and an obstacle obscuring a portion of the surface. The processor is communicatively coupled to the sensor and is configured to identify data points in the data corresponding to the unobstructed portion of the surface, identify data points in the data corresponding to the obstacle, interpolate between some of the data points corresponding to the unobstructed surface adjacent the data points corresponding to the obstacle, generate interpolation data points corresponding to the portion of the surface obscured by the obstacle, and determine a volume of the payload based on the data points corresponding to the unobstructed portion of the surface and the interpolation data points.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2021Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Walz ScaleInventors: Matthew Walz, Lars Pehrson
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Patent number: 11268259Abstract: A work vehicle includes a work implement. A control system for the work vehicle includes an input device and a controller. The controller is configured to communicate with the input device, receive an input signal indicating an input operation by an operator from the input device, acquire vehicle information including a position of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and orientation information of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and determine a target design surface indicating a target trajectory of the work implement based on the vehicle information and the orientation information when the input signal is received.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2018Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Junji Harada, Eiji Ishibashi, Yasuhito Yonezawa, Kazuyuki Kirino
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Patent number: 11255059Abstract: A milling machine may have a frame, a milling drum attached to the frame, and ground engaging tracks that support the frame and propel the milling machine in a forward or rearward direction. The milling machine may have at least one actuator connecting the frame to at least one of the ground engaging tracks. The actuator may adjust a height of the frame relative to at least one of the tracks. The milling machine may also have a non-contact leg-height sensor attached to the frame. The sensor may generate a signal indicative of a height of the frame relative to at least one of the tracks. The milling machine may also have a controller configured to determine the height based on the signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Eric S. Engelmann, Conwell K. Rife, Jr., Joseph Forcash, Clayton Padgett, Andrew Whitten, Paul Friend
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Patent number: 11230826Abstract: A control device may obtain data related to at least one position of an implement of a work machine that has moved to a set position. The control device may identify one or more first noise amplitudes associated with the data and may determine, based on the one or more first noise amplitudes, a noise band related to the implement vibrating at the set position. The control device may identify one or more second noise amplitudes associated with the data and may determine, based on the noise band and the one or more second noise amplitudes, that the implement has settled at the set position. The control device may allow, based on determining that the implement has settled at the set position, the implement to move to another position.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Amit Sharma
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Patent number: 11225772Abstract: Systems and methods for providing grade control on a motor grader without the use of masts attached to the blade. Embodiments include a body angle sensor configured to detect movement of a construction machine's body, a front 3D positioning device configured to detect a geospatial position of the construction machine's body within a world space, a drawbar angle sensor configured to detect movement of the construction machine's drawbar, and a blade angle sensor configured to detect movement of the construction machine's blade. Two positions on the blade may be calculated first within a machine space and subsequently within the world space. Movement of at least one articulating connection may be caused based on the blade positions within the world space.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2020Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLCInventors: Nathan Ennis, Patrick Pecchio, Geoffrey Mills, Christopher Padilla, Yongliang Zhu, Jason Hill, Colin Daniell, Shawn Zeller
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Patent number: 11193253Abstract: A work vehicle is capable of readily knowing an amount of soil built up on a front surface of a blade. A motor grader includes a vehicular body frame, a blade, and an image pick-up apparatus. The blade is arranged between a front end of the vehicular body frame and a rear end of the vehicular body frame. The blade is supported on the vehicular body frame. The image pick-up apparatus is arranged in front of the blade. At least a part of the blade is included within an angle of view of the image pick-up apparatus. A revolving operation of the blade is automatically controlled based on the amount of soil built up on the front surface of the blade.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2017Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventor: Yutaka Ono
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Patent number: 11174619Abstract: When a current landscape includes an upward slope and a downward slope existing ahead of the upward slope, a controller determines a virtual design surface including a first design surface inclined at a smaller angle than the upward slope and a second design surface inclined with respect to the first design surface at a smaller angle than the downward slope. The controller generates a command signal that causes a work implement to move along the virtual design surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2017Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Eiji Ishibashi, Junji Harada, Akifumi Inamaru, Seiji Nagano, Yasuhito Yonezawa
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Patent number: 11168459Abstract: Provided is a hydraulic excavator (1) that performs work by operating an arm (9) after moving a bucket (10) to a work start position. An operation determination section (81c) determines, based on an operation performed on an operation device, whether a front work device (1A) is engaged in a work preparation operation for moving the bucket to the work start position. When the operation determination section determines that the front work device is engaged in the work preparation operation at the time of operation of the operation device, an actuator control section (81) controls a bucket cylinder (7) such that the angle of a work tool with respect to a target surface coincides with a preset target angle (?TGT).Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2017Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.Inventors: Ryu Narikawa, Manabu Edamura, Hiroshi Sakamoto, Shiho Izumi, Hidekazu Moriki
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Patent number: 11169689Abstract: A control system for an autonomous agricultural system includes a display configured to display at least one control function associated with at least one operation. The display is configured to output a first signal indicative of a first input. The control system includes a controller comprising a processor and a memory. The controller is communicatively coupled to the display and configured to receive the first signal indicative of the first input and to send a second signal to the display indicative of instructions to display a second control in an unlocked state. The display is configured to output a third signal to the controller indicative of the second input. The controller is configured to receive the third signal and to output a fourth signal indicative of instructions to control the at least one operation of the autonomous agricultural system.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Alan Foster, John Henry Posselius, Bret Todd Turpin, Daniel John Morwood, Brandon Chamberlain Adams, James Allen Bradford, Kim Richardson Barker
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Patent number: 11162244Abstract: An excavator includes a lower traveling body; an upper turning body mounted so as to turn with respect to the lower traveling body; a hydraulic pump connected to an engine; a front work machine including an end attachment, an arm, and a boom that are driven by hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump; a front work machine orientation detection part configured to detect an orientation of the front work machine; and a control unit configured to control a power of the hydraulic pump according to the orientation of the front work machine within a work area, based on a value detected by the front work machine orientation detection part.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: SUMITOMO(S.H.I.) CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.Inventor: Hiroyuki Tsukamoto
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Patent number: 11149412Abstract: A controller for a work machine acquires current topography data indicating a current topography to be worked. The controller determines a target design topography based on the current topography. The target design topography indicates a target trajectory of a work implement. The controller generates a command signal to operate the work implement to excavate the current topography according to the target design topography. The controller acquires excavated topography data indicating a current topography that has been excavated. The controller modifies the target design topography to move the target design topography upwardly based on the excavated current topography.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2018Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Yukihisa Takaoka, Kazuki Kure
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Patent number: 11145007Abstract: A system for implementing a trial in one or more fields is provided. In an embodiment, a system receives field data for a plurality of agricultural fields, identifies one or more target agricultural fields, and sends, to a field manager computing device associated with the one or more target agricultural fields, a trial participation request. The server receives data indicating acceptance of the trial participation request from the field manager computing device. The server determines one or more locations on the one or more target agricultural fields for implementing a trial and sends data identifying the one or more locations to the field manager computing device. When the system receives application data, the system determines whether the one or more target agricultural fields are in compliance with the trial. The system receives result data for the trial and computes a benefit value for the trial.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: The Climate CorporationInventors: Thomas Gene Ruff, Jason Kendrick Bull, Nicholas Charles Cizek, Brandon Rinkenberger, Doug Sauder
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Patent number: 11136742Abstract: A controller calculates a virtual design surface including a first design surface extending from an excavation start position in a traveling direction of a work vehicle and a second design surface further extending from the first design surface in the traveling direction. The controller generates a command signal that causes the work implement to move along the virtual design surface. The controller changes a position of the first design surface so that the first design surface extends along the current landscape or is located below the current landscape when the first design surface is located above the current landscape.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2017Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Eiji Ishibashi, Akifumi Inamaru, Yosuke Kogawa
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Patent number: 11136021Abstract: An over actuated system capable of controlling wheel parameters, such as speed (e.g., by torque and braking), steering angles, caster angles, camber angles, and toe angles, of wheels in an associated vehicle. The system may determine the associated vehicle is in a rollover state and adjust wheel parameters to prevent vehicle rollover. Additionally, the system may determine a driving state and dynamically adjust wheel parameters to optimize driving, including, for example, cornering and parking. Such a system may also dynamically detect wheel misalignment and provide alignment and/or corrective driving solutions. Further, by utilizing degenerate solutions for driving, the system may also estimate tire-surface parameterization data for various road surfaces and make such estimates available for other vehicles via a network.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Funke, Johannes Edren, Ali Javidan, Jacob Lee Askeland, Vasumathi Raman
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Patent number: 11119481Abstract: A system and method are provided for setting parameters in an autonomous working device. The autonomous working device can be controlled based on a plurality of parameters. For each of a plurality of different working environments a set of sensor values is generated. The plurality of sets is partitioned into categories, each category corresponding to a prototypical working environment. The parameters for each category are optimized to find an optimized parameter set for each prototypical working environment. For an individual working environment, an individual set of sensor values that the sensors of the autonomous working device produce is generated. Based at least on the individual set of sensor values, the prototypical working environment showing highest similarity to the individual environment is determined, and the parameters in the autonomous working device are set according to the optimized parameter set corresponding to the determined prototypical working environment.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2018Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE EUROPE GMBHInventors: Sebastian Schmitt, Markus Olhofer, Hideaki Shimamura, Yuki Matsui
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Patent number: 11116132Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting machine for harvesting a crop field has a ground drive including multiple working units, a control system and a sensor system. The sensor system periodically emits transmitted pulses of electromagnetic transmission beams in at least one transmission direction onto the crop field and the transmitted pulses are reflected on the crop field and are received as echo pulses by the sensor system. For at least one portion of the transmitted pulses, different partial beams of a single transmission beam are reflected by plants of the crop field lying one behind the other with a time offset, so the particular resultant echo pulse is composed of time-offset partial echo pulses. The control system determines a value for the crop density on the basis of a time correlation within the resultant echo pulse, and controls the ground drive and/or the working units on the basis of the determined crop density.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBHInventors: Thilo Krause, Jannik Redenius
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Patent number: 11111647Abstract: This description provides an autonomous or semi-autonomous excavation vehicle that is capable of navigating through a dig site and carrying out an excavation routine using a system of sensors physically mounted to the excavation vehicle. The sensors collects any one or more of spatial, imaging, measurement, and location data representing the status of the excavation vehicle and its surrounding environment. Based on the collected data, the excavation vehicle executes instructions to carry out an excavation routine. The excavation vehicle is also able to carry out numerous other tasks, such as checking the volume of excavated earth in an excavation tool, and helping prepare a digital terrain model of the site as part of a process for creating the excavation routine.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Built Robotics Inc.Inventors: Noah Austen Ready-Campbell, Andrew Xiao Liang, Linus Page Chou, Edward Stephen Walker, Jr., Christian John Wawrzonek, Cyrus McMann Ready-Campbell
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Patent number: 11105071Abstract: A work vehicle control system includes an actual topography acquisition device, a storage device, and a controller. The actual topography acquisition device acquires actual topography information which indicates an actual topography of a work target. The storage device stores design topography information which indicates a final design topography which is a target topography of the work target. The controller acquires the actual topography information from the actual topography acquisition device. The controller acquires the design topography information from the storage device. The controller generates a command signal to move the work implement along a first locus that follows a slope of the actual topography, and a second locus positioned above the actual topography and below the final design topography in front of the first locus.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Eiji Ishibashi, Akifumi Inamaru, Seiji Nagano, Kenji Yamamoto, Kazuyuki Kirino, Yasuhito Yonezawa, Yosuke Kogawa
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Patent number: 11077732Abstract: Disclosed is an automotive road construction machine, particularly a recycler or a cold stripping machine, comprising an engine frame that is supported by a chassis, a working roller which is stationarily or pivotally mounted on the engine frame and is used for machining a ground surface or road surface. The chassis is provided with wheels or tracked running gears which are connected to the engine frame via lifting column and are vertically adjustable relative to the engine frame. Each individually vertically adjustable lifting column is equipped with a device for measuring the actual vertical state of the lifting column.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Wirtgen America, Inc.Inventors: Peter Busley, Gunter Tewes
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Patent number: 11072906Abstract: This description provides an autonomous or semi-autonomous excavation vehicle that is capable of navigating through a dig site and carrying out an excavation routine using a system of sensors physically mounted to the excavation vehicle. The sensors collect any one or more of spatial, imaging, measurement, and location data representing the status of the excavation vehicle and its surrounding environment. Based on the collected data, the excavation vehicle executes instructions to carry out an excavation routine. The excavation vehicle is also able to carry out numerous other tasks, such as checking the volume of excavated earth in an excavation tool, and helping prepare a digital terrain model of the site as part of a process for creating the excavation routine.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Built Robotics Inc.Inventors: Noah Austen Ready-Campbell, Andrew Xiao Liang, Linus Page Chou, Edward Stephen Walker, Jr., Christian John Wawrzonek, Cyrus McMann Ready-Campbell
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Patent number: 11041276Abstract: An implement with a ground-engaging tool may include a frame supported above a surface of a ground by a ground-engaging portion and a suspension, a tool supported by and adjustable relative to the frame and configured for working the ground, a housing arranged around portions of the tool and secured to the frame, and a monitor system configured for identifying an exposed condition of the tool. A method of managing an exposed condition of a ground-engaging tool and a method of operating an implement with a ground-engaging tool are also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, Lee M. Hogan, Jason W. Muir, Hyppolite Kuissi, Jacob M. Saari
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Patent number: 11041289Abstract: A controller acquires an excavation start position at which a work implement starts excavation. When a current landscape includes an upward slope and a downward slope existing ahead of the upward slope and the excavation start position is on the upward slope, the controller determines a first virtual design surface including a first design surface located below the current landscape and inclined at a smaller angle than the upward slope. The controller generates a command signal that causes the work implement to move along the first virtual design surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2017Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Eiji Ishibashi, Junji Harada, Akifumi Inamaru, Seiji Nagano, Yasuhito Yonezawa
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Patent number: 11028554Abstract: This description provides an autonomous or semi-autonomous excavation vehicle that is capable of navigating through a dig site and carrying out an excavation routine using a system of sensors physically mounted to the excavation vehicle. The sensors collects any one or more of spatial, imaging, measurement, and location data representing the status of the excavation vehicle and its surrounding environment. Based on the collected data, the excavation vehicle executes instructions to carry out an excavation routine. The excavation vehicle is also able to carry out numerous other tasks, such as checking the volume of excavated earth in an excavation tool, and helping prepare a digital terrain model of the site as part of a process for creating the excavation routine.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2020Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Built Robotics Inc.Inventors: Noah Austen Ready-Campbell, Andrew Xiao Liang, Linus Page Chou, Edward Stephen Walker, Jr., Christian John Wawrzonek, Cyrus McMann Ready-Campbell
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Patent number: 11015319Abstract: A shovel includes an arm rotatably attached to a boom rotatably attached to a revolving body; a bucket rotatably attached to the arm; a tilt mechanism configured to support the bucket that can be tilted to the arm; a bucket tilt angle sensor configured to detect a tilt angle of the bucket; and a tilt angle controller configured to control adjusting the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle controller adjusts the tilt angle by automatic control so that a bucket line of the bucket becomes parallel to a target excavation surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2017Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: SUMITOMO(S.H.I.) CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.Inventor: Takeya Izumikawa
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Patent number: 11008716Abstract: A method is provided for measuring the milling depth of a road milling machine, the machine being operative to mill a ground surface with a milling roller lowered to a milling depth to create a milling track, the machine including at least one side plate located to at least one side of the milling roller to engage an untreated ground surface, and the machine including a stripping plate operative to be lowered onto the milling track generated by the milling roller. The method includes measuring the milling depth of the milling track, the measuring including detecting a measurement value of a ground engaging sensor engaging the milling track.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Simons
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Patent number: 10995472Abstract: An earthmoving system includes a blade, a controller, and a blade control system configured to control the positioning of the blade. While grading, the earthmoving system is configured to simultaneously position the blade according to each of a fixed slope grading mode, a design driven control grading mode, and an fixed load grading mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2018Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignees: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC, Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Bruce J. Wiewel, Tony R. Metzger, Robert L. Powers, Richard R. Evenson
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Patent number: 10995473Abstract: Provided is a construction machine that can prevent a machine body from being lowered without placing a blade in a floating state when the machine body is jacked up, even if the operator performs an erroneous operation, and that can perform favorable leveling work by placing the blade in the floating state when the machine body is not jacked up. A hydraulic excavator includes a pressure sensor that detects the pressure in a bottom-side oil chamber of a blade cylinder, and a controller that switches between validation and invalidation of a floating command and a lowering command for a blade operation device. In the case where the pressure detected by the pressure sensor is less than a predetermined value, the controller switches a solenoid selector valve to an interruption position to invalidate the floating command when a forward stroke of the operation lever is equal to or more than a reference value.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Tierra Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshifumi Takebayashi, Hajime Yoshida, Natsuki Nakamura, Daisuke Oka
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Patent number: 10968597Abstract: A shovel may include a lower travelling body, an upper swinging body mounted on the lower travelling body, an excavation attachment attached to the upper swinging body, an orientation detecting device configured to detect an orientation of the excavation attachment, and a controller. The controller may have a ground surface shape information obtaining part that obtains information relating to a current shape of an excavation target ground surface based on a transition of the orientation of the excavation attachment detected by the orientation detecting device, and an excavation controlling part that controls the excavation attachment based on the information relating to the current shape of the excavation target ground surface obtained by the ground surface shape information obtaining part.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Chunnan Wu
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Patent number: 10961685Abstract: A motor grader includes a blade between a front wheel and a rear wheel, the blade being attached to a swing circle which adjusts a blade angle. A control method performed in the motor grader includes obtaining current topography in front of the motor grader and adjusting the blade angle to an angle in accordance with the current topography by revolving the swing circle.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2017Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventor: Yutaka Ono
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Patent number: 10954651Abstract: A terrain information acquisition device acquires terrain information about a work site. A controller is configured to decide an inclination angle of the current terrain along a travel direction of the work vehicle from the terrain information. The controller is configured to decide a virtual design surface that is inclined at an inclination angle smaller than the inclination angle of the current terrain. The controller is configured to generate a command signal to a work implement of the work vehicle to move the work implement along the inclined virtual design surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2017Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Kazuhiro Hashimoto, Kenjiro Shimada