US 11,868,114 B2
Transitioning between manned control mode and unmanned control mode based on assigned priority
Robert Jason McGee, Peoria, IL (US); Craig L. Koehrsen, East Peoria, IL (US); Paul D Lenzen, Peoria, IL (US); Clarence Matthew Glover, Edwards, IL (US); Kyle Hendricks, Saint Francis, MN (US); Joshua Struble, Chillicothe, IL (US); Justin Peters, Clayton, NC (US); and Sangameshwar Sonth, Dunlap, IL (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Nov. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/059,766.
Application 18/059,766 is a continuation of application No. 16/947,480, filed on Aug. 3, 2020, granted, now 11,513,498.
Prior Publication US 2023/0092561 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G05B 19/4155 (2006.01); H04L 67/12 (2022.01)
CPC G05B 19/4155 (2013.01) [H04L 67/12 (2013.01); G05B 2219/31384 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method performed by a controller of a machine, the method comprising:
configuring the machine to operate in a plurality of modes including a remote control mode and an autonomous control mode;
assigning a first priority to the remote control mode and a second priority to the autonomous control mode,
wherein the first priority is a higher priority than the second priority;
receiving a request to cause the machine to perform an action;
determining, based on receiving the request, a current mode of operation of the machine,
wherein the current mode of operation is one of the plurality of modes;
determining a requested mode of operation of the machine associated with the request,
wherein the requested mode of operation is one of the plurality of modes; and
selectively denying the request or enabling the machine to perform the action based on a priority assigned to the current mode of operation and a priority assigned to the requested mode of operation,
wherein the request is denied when the priority assigned to the current mode of operation is a higher priority than the priority assigned to the requested mode of operation, and
wherein the machine is enabled to perform the action when the priority assigned to the requested mode of operation is a higher priority than the priority assigned to the current mode of operation.