US 12,014,317 B2
Method and system for controlling unloading of a load-carrying vehicle
Calle Skillsäter, Torshälla (SE); and Andreas Norrman, Arboga (SE)
Assigned to Volvo Construction Equipment AB, Eskilstuna (SE)
Appl. No. 17/434,611
Filed by Volvo Construction Equipment AB, Eskilstuna (SE)
PCT Filed Mar. 4, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/055252
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 27, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/177847, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0147931 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. G06Q 10/0835 (2023.01); B60W 60/00 (2020.01); G01F 23/00 (2022.01)
CPC G06Q 10/08355 (2013.01) [G01F 23/0007 (2013.01); B60W 60/00256 (2020.02); B60W 2556/45 (2020.02)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Method for controlling unloading of at least a first load-carrying vehicle transporting a load of unprocessed material from a first location to a second location, wherein the second location comprises a first unloading target in the form of a material processing device and a second unloading target in the form of a local storage for unprocessed material, wherein the method comprises:
receiving a signal indicative of a current level of unprocessed material contained in the material processing device;
determining, based at least on the signal indicative of the current level of unprocessed material contained in the material processing device, whether an estimated level of unprocessed material contained in the material processing device is below or above a first threshold at an estimated time of arrival of the first load-carrying vehicle at the material processing device;
directing the first load-carrying vehicle towards the first unloading target for unloading at the material processing device when the estimated level of unprocessed material contained in the material processing device is below the first threshold; or
directing the first load-carrying vehicle towards the second unloading target for unloading at the local storage when the estimated level of unprocessed material contained in the material processing device is above the first threshold;
determining an estimated time of arrival for a third load-carrying vehicle at the material processing device, which third load-carrying vehicle also transports or is to transport a load of unprocessed material to the second location and which is the next load-carrying vehicle to arrive at the second location after the first load-carrying vehicle;
determining, when the load of the first load carrying vehicle is not unloaded at the material processing device, whether an estimated level of unprocessed material contained in the material processing device is below a second threshold at an estimated time of arrival of the third load-carrying vehicle at the material processing device; and
directing the first load-carrying vehicle towards the first unloading target for unloading at the material processing device when the estimated level of unprocessed material contained in the material processing device is below the second threshold at the estimated time of arrival of the third load-carrying vehicle at the material processing device even if the estimated level of unprocessed material contained in the material processing device is above the first threshold at the estimated time of arrival of the first load-carrying vehicle at the material processing device; or
directing the first load-carrying vehicle towards the second unloading target for unloading at the local storage when the estimated level of unprocessed material contained in the material processing device is above the second threshold at the estimated time of arrival of the third load-carrying vehicle at the material processing device.