Worksite Management System Integrating Roadway and Machine Performance Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing roadway maintenance systems do not effectively consider the impact of roadway conditions on machine performance and long-term operating and repair costs, lacking integration of machine performance parameters and their effects on profitability.

Innovation Solution

A worksite management system equipped with onboard object detection, positioning, and performance sensors that generate signals for surface conditions and machine performance, communicating data to a central controller to create maps and determine optimal maintenance strategies based on machine-specific, operator-specific, and location-specific data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional mobile inspection apparatus is used to map roadway surfaces, then roadway surface conditions can be detected, but machine performance parameters and their impact on profitability are not considered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroadway surface condition detectionVSAvoidmachine performance data

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines traditional roadway inspection functions with machine performance monitoring by integrating object detection sensors, positioning devices, and performance sensors onto mobile machines. This merging allows the system to simultaneously capture roadway surface conditions and machine performance parameters, eliminating the information loss identified in the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile machine serves multiple functions: it acts as both a roadway inspection platform and a performance monitoring platform. The integrated system performs roadway mapping while simultaneously measuring machine performance parameters such as speed, load, and operational conditions, making the system universal for both infrastructure inspection and machine performance analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If roadway maintenance is managed through mobile inspection apparatus, then surface conditions can be mapped, but the relationship between roadway conditions and machine operating costs is not established

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroadway surface condition mappingVSAvoidmachine performance impact assessment

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes feedback loops by continuously monitoring machine performance parameters while traversing mapped roadway sections. The controller analyzes the relationship between roadway conditions and machine performance data, providing feedback that reveals how specific roadway features impact machine operating costs and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary that processes both roadway mapping data and machine performance data. It mediates between these two data streams to establish causal relationships, determining how roadway surface conditions translate into specific machine operating cost impacts and reliability effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If comprehensive sensor integration is implemented, then machine performance and roadway condition data can be correlated, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegrated data correlationVSAvoidsensor and controller integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the mobile machine into functional modules: object detection sensors for roadway mapping, positioning devices for location data, and performance sensors for machine parameters. Each module operates independently but feeds data to the controller, which integrates the information. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive data correlation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8688332B2Management system incorporating performance and detection data

Publication Date: 2014.04.01 CATERPILLAR INC

AI summary

A management system for use at a worksite is disclosed. The management system may have at least one object detection sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a feature of a roadway traversed by the mobile machine, a positioning device configured to generate a second signal indicative of a position of the mobile machine, and at least one performance sensor configured to generate a third signal indicative of a performance parameter of the mobile machine as the mobile machine traverses the feature. The management system may also have a controller configured to determine a surface condition of the roadway based on the first signal, index the surface condition to a particular location on the roadway based on the second signal, and generate a map of the roadway providing a representation of the surface condition and the performance parameter.