Machine Interaction Detection for Accurate Work Cycle Counting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems inaccurately determine the quantity of work cycles performed by machines at a job site, leading to incorrect data generation and wastage of resources, as information about interacting machines may be unknown.

Innovation Solution

A system that detects interactions between machines using motion and location data to identify unregistered machines, registers them, and updates job site information, enabling accurate work cycle quantification and data collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the system determines work cycles based on available machine information, then productivity measurement is enabled, but measurement accuracy deteriorates when machine information is unknown

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework cycle measurement capabilityVSAvoidwork cycle accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary registration of machines at the job site before work cycle measurement begins. By establishing a registered machine list in advance, the system ensures that all machines involved in work cycles are identified and tracked, preventing accuracy loss from unknown machine information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors work cycle data and compares it against the registered machine list. When discrepancies are detected (such as unregistered machines performing work), the system generates alerts and updates the registration database, creating a feedback loop that maintains measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the system tracks all machine interactions to ensure accurate work cycle counting, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework cycle accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a universal machine registration database that serves multiple functions: tracking registered machines, validating work cycle participants, and generating alerts for unregistered machines. This multi-functional approach maintains accuracy without requiring separate complex subsystems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects unregistered machines through sensor data and work cycle information, generates alerts, and updates the registration database without manual intervention. This self-service capability reduces operational complexity while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the system uses inaccurate work cycle data for job site analysis, then data generation speed is maintained, but resource wastage increases due to incorrect computations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata generation efficiencyVSAvoidcomputing and network resource wastage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system validates machine registration status before incorporating work cycle data into job site analysis. By pre-screening data for accuracy, the system prevents wasteful computation and network transmission of incorrect information, maintaining efficiency while reducing resource waste

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4423687B1Detecting a missing asset based on amount of work cycles
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 CATERPILLAR INC
  • EP4423687B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4423687B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4423687B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device may receive, from one or more sensor devices associated with a first machine located at a job site, motion data of the first machine. The device may determine, based on the motion data, an amount of time the first machine spent performing one or more tasks by interacting with a second machine. The device may determine a quantity of work cycles performed by the first machine. The device may generate, based on the amount of time and the quantity of work cycles, a productivity value indicating a measure of productivity of the first machine. The device may determine, based on the productivity value, that the second machine is not registered as performing work at the job site. The device may perform an action to cause second machine information regarding the second machine to be associated with job site information.