US 12,404,654 B2
System and method for generating work plan for autonomous operation of compactor
Manivannan Deenathayalan, Coimbatore (IN); Vinay Verma, Ghaziabad (IN); and Amit Nanaware, Pune (IN)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/081,268.
Claims priority of application No. 202111058477 (IN), filed on Dec. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0183944 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. E02F 9/20 (2006.01); E02D 3/02 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01)
CPC E02F 9/2054 (2013.01) [E02D 3/02 (2013.01); E02F 9/205 (2013.01); G05D 1/0214 (2013.01); G05D 1/0297 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for generating a work plan for autonomous operation of a compactor in tandem with an earthmoving machine, the system comprising:
a first controller associated with the earthmoving machine, wherein the first controller receives information pertaining to a work area on which the earthmoving machine is required to perform at least one operation; and
a central controller coupled in communication with the first controller, wherein the central controller is configured to:
receive, from the first controller, the information pertaining to the work area on which the earthmoving machine is required to perform the at least one operation;
analyze the work area for virtually segmenting the work area into a plurality of virtual work areas based on a receipt of the information pertaining to the work area;
receive, from the first controller, data indicative of a movement of the earthmoving machine through each virtual work area from the plurality of virtual work areas;
determine an optimal direction of movement for the compactor on at least one virtual work area from the plurality of virtual work areas based on the data indicative of the movement of the earthmoving machine, such that the compactor is configured to move along the optimal direction of movement during the autonomous operation of the compactor, the optimal direction being generated by taking into consideration the movement patterns of the earthmoving machine, and by taking into consideration the geometry of the work area including determining an orientation of passes of the earthmoving machine;
generate a virtual fence around the at least one virtual work area from the plurality of virtual work areas based on generation of the optimal direction of movement for the compactor;
transmit information pertaining to the optimal direction of movement to the compactor when the earthmoving machine is outside the virtual fence generated around the at least one virtual work area; and
control the compactor to move in the optimal direction.