Patent · US11155166B2 · B2 · US

Operator detection system

(11) Publication number

US11155166B2

(21) Application number

16/589,812

(22) Filing date

2019-10-01

(30) Priority date

2019-10-01

(43) Publication date

2021-10-26

(45) Date of grant

2021-10-26

(51) IPC

B60K 28/04; B60N 2/00; B60N 2/75; E02F 9/20; E02F 9/26; B60N 2/02

(52) CPC

B60K Arrangement or mounting of propulsion units or of transmissions in vehicles; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers in vehicles; auxiliary drives for vehicles; instrumentation or dashboards for vehicles; arrangements in connection with cooling, air intake, gas exhaust or fuel supply of propulsion units in vehicles: 28/04, 28/06
B60N Seats specially adapted for vehicles; vehicle passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for: 2/002, 2/753, 2/797, 2210/16, 2210/40
B60W Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function; control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles; road vehicle drive control systems for purposes not related to the control of a particular sub-unit: 2300/17
E02F Dredging; soil-shifting: 3/3417, 9/166, 9/2083, 9/2087, 9/24, 9/26, 9/268

(73) Assignee

Caterpillar Inc

(72) Inventors

Michael A. Cobo; Mark A. Robinson; Justin Ayers; Scott MARKS; Joshua Mason; Beau BERNING

(54) Title

Operator detection system

(57) Abstract

A work machine may include a steering system, a user interface, a detection device, and a control device. The user interface may generate an input signal corresponding to operator input. The detection device may generate a detection signal corresponding to a presence of an operator relative to the user interface. The control device may determine that the operator is unavailable based on the detection signal and the input signal, and enable a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable. The control device may determine, while the lockout mode is enabled, a readiness indicator. The readiness indicator may confirm a readiness of the operator based on determining that the detection signal satisfies a readiness criterion. The control device may disable the lockout mode based on determining that the readiness criterion is satisfied.

Full text

View on Google Patents

Claims (20)

A method, comprising: determining, by a device, that an operator, of a work machine, is unavailable; enabling, by the device, a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable, the lockout mode being configured to restrict operator control of at least one function of the work machine; determining, by the device, while the lockout mode is enabled, that the operator is ready to operate the work machine based on an indication that the operator is seated and one or more of: an indication that an arm rest, of the work machine, has been cycled, or an indication regarding a depression of a pedal of the work machine; and disabling, by the device, the lockout mode based on determining that the operator is ready to operate the work machine.
The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the operator is unavailable comprises: determining that the operator is unavailable based on determining that the operator is not present relative to a user interface of the work machine and not providing operator input to the user interface.
The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the lockout mode comprises one or more of: engaging a parking brake of the work machine; and one or more of: restricting operator control of a steering function of the work machine, the lockout mode disabling communication between a steering control lever and a steering system of the work machine; or restricting operator control of an implement function of the work machine, the lockout mode disabling communication between an implement control lever and an implement system of the work machine.
The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the indication that the arm rest has been cycled based on an arm rest latch of the work machine, the arm rest latch being installed in the arm rest and configured to detect a motion of the arm rest, and the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicating that the arm rest was raised and lowered while the lockout mode is enabled.
The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the indication regarding the depression of the pedal based on determining that the pedal is depressed a threshold amount.
The method of claim 1, wherein disabling the lockout mode comprises one or more of: enabling communication between a steering control lever and a steering system of the work machine; enabling communication between an implement control lever and an implement system of the work machine; or enabling operator control of a parking brake of the work machine.
The method of claim 1, wherein the indication that the operator is seated is from a pressure sensor of a seat of the work machine, wherein the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicates that the arm rest has been raised and lowered in association with the lockout mode, and wherein the indication regarding the depression of the pedal indicates that a brake control pedal is depressed one or more of a threshold amount or for a threshold duration.
A device, comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors, communicatively coupled to the one or more memories, configured to: determine that an operator, of a work machine, is unavailable; enable a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable, the lockout mode being configured to restrict operator control of a function of the work machine; determine, while the lockout mode is enabled, that the operator is ready to operate the work machine based on an indication that the operator is seated and one or more of: an indication that an arm rest, of the work machine, has been cycled, or an indication regarding a depression of a pedal of the work machine; and cause an action to be performed in connection with one or more of the lockout mode or the operator being ready to operate the work machine.
The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are configured to, when determining that the operator is unavailable: determine that the operator is unavailable based on determining that the operator is not seated in a seat of the work machine, not operating the work machine in a drive mode, and not pressing the pedal.
The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine the indication that the arm rest has been cycled based on an arm rest latch of the work machine, the arm rest latch being installed in the arm rest and configured to detect a motion of the arm rest, and the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicating that the arm rest was raised and lowered while the lockout mode is enabled.
The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine the indication regarding the depression of the pedal based on determining that the pedal is depressed a threshold amount.
The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are configured to, when causing the action to be performed: enable communication between a steering control lever and a steering system of the work machine.
The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are configured to, when causing the action to be performed: generate a lockout event based on determining that the lockout mode was enabled; and generate one or more of a record or a notification of the lockout event.
The device of claim 8, wherein the indication that the operator is seated is from a pressure sensor of a seat of the work machine, wherein the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicates that the arm rest has been raised and lowered in association with the lockout mode, and wherein the indication regarding the depression of the pedal indicates that a brake control pedal is depressed one or more of a threshold amount or for a threshold duration.
A work machine, comprising: a steering system; a user interface configured to generate an input signal corresponding to operator input; a detection device configured to generate a detection signal corresponding to a presence of an operator relative to the user interface; and a control device in communication with the steering system, the user interface, and the detection device, the control device being configured to: determine that the operator is unavailable based on the detection signal and the input signal, enable a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable, the lockout mode restricting operator control of the steering system, determine, while the lockout mode is enabled, that the operator is ready to operate the work machine based on an indication that the operator is seated and one or more of: an indication that an arm rest, of the work machine, has been cycled, or an indication regarding a depression of a pedal of the work machine, and disable the lockout mode based on determining that the operator is ready to operate the work machine.
The work machine of claim 15, wherein the detection device includes one or more of a seat sensor, an arm rest sensor, or an arm rest latch, the seat sensor being installed in a seat of the work machine and configured to detect a weight of the operator, the arm rest sensor being installed in an arm rest of the work machine and configured to detect a position of the arm rest, and the arm rest latch being installed in the arm rest and configured to detect a motion of the arm rest.
The work machine of claim 15, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine the indication that the arm rest has been cycled based on an arm rest latch of the work machine, the arm rest latch being installed in the arm rest and configured to detect a motion of the arm rest, and the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicating that the arm rest was raised and lowered while the lockout mode is enabled.
The work machine of claim 15, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine the indication regarding the depression of the pedal based on determining that the pedal is depressed a threshold amount.
The work machine of claim 15, wherein the control device is configured to, when enabling the lockout mode: engage a parking brake of the work machine, and restrict operator control of a steering function of the work machine, the lockout mode disabling communication between a steering control lever and the steering system of the work machine.
The work machine of claim 15, wherein the indication that the operator is seated is from a pressure sensor of a seat of the work machine, wherein the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicates that the arm rest has been raised and lowered in association with the lockout mode, and wherein the indication regarding the depression of the pedal indicates that a brake control pedal is depressed one or more of a threshold amount or for a threshold duration.

Description

The present disclosure relates generally to work machines and, for example, to an operator detection system for work machines.

A work machine may be provided with a steering system that allows the work machine to shift, lean, pivot, rotate, articulate, and/or otherwise move when stationary. A work machine may also be provided with an implement system that allows an implement to be manipulated and/or moved relative to the work machine when stationary. The steering system and the implement system may be manually controlled by an operator via a user interface provided within an operator cab of the work machine. The user interface may include an input device that enables the operator to control a steering function, an implement function, a propulsion function, a transmission function, and/or another function of the work machine. When not in use, one or more functions of the work machine may be disabled by the operator to avoid inadvertent steering input and/or implement input. In some cases, an operator may neglect to disable a function of the work machine prior to exiting the operator cab and inadvertently input a command (e.g., while exiting, entering, or moving about the operator cab) that causes the work machine and/or the implement to move and potentially collide with a nearby object.

Some work machines may be provided with an automated control mechanism that detects when the operator is not present in the operator cab, disables a function of the work machine if the operator is not present, and enables a function of the work machine if the operator is present.

Citations (13)

US6856873B2
US6135230A
US6186260B1
US6062331A
US6577909B1
US6226902B1
US20040073792A1
US7757806B2
US20070203630A1
US7899597B2
US8485301B2
US20150159613A1
US20190331761A1

Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US11155166B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Operator detection system",
  "abstract": "A work machine may include a steering system, a user interface, a detection device, and a control device. The user interface may generate an input signal corresponding to operator input. The detection device may generate a detection signal corresponding to a presence of an operator relative to the user interface. The control device may determine that the operator is unavailable based on the detection signal and the input signal, and enable a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable. The control device may determine, while the lockout mode is enabled, a readiness indicator. The readiness indicator may confirm a readiness of the operator based on determining that the detection signal satisfies a readiness criterion. The control device may disable the lockout mode based on determining that the readiness criterion is satisfied.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method, comprising: determining, by a device, that an operator, of a work machine, is unavailable; enabling, by the device, a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable, the lockout mode being configured to restrict operator control of at least one function of the work machine; determining, by the device, while the lockout mode is enabled, that the operator is ready to operate the work machine based on an indication that the operator is seated and one or more of: an indication that an arm rest, of the work machine, has been cycled, or an indication regarding a depression of a pedal of the work machine; and disabling, by the device, the lockout mode based on determining that the operator is ready to operate the work machine.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the operator is unavailable comprises: determining that the operator is unavailable based on determining that the operator is not present relative to a user interface of the work machine and not providing operator input to the user interface.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the lockout mode comprises one or more of: engaging a parking brake of the work machine; and one or more of: restricting operator control of a steering function of the work machine, the lockout mode disabling communication between a steering control lever and a steering system of the work machine; or restricting operator control of an implement function of the work machine, the lockout mode disabling communication between an implement control lever and an implement system of the work machine.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the indication that the arm rest has been cycled based on an arm rest latch of the work machine, the arm rest latch being installed in the arm rest and configured to detect a motion of the arm rest, and the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicating that the arm rest was raised and lowered while the lockout mode is enabled.",
    "5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the indication regarding the depression of the pedal based on determining that the pedal is depressed a threshold amount.",
    "6. The method of claim 1, wherein disabling the lockout mode comprises one or more of: enabling communication between a steering control lever and a steering system of the work machine; enabling communication between an implement control lever and an implement system of the work machine; or enabling operator control of a parking brake of the work machine.",
    "7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication that the operator is seated is from a pressure sensor of a seat of the work machine, wherein the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicates that the arm rest has been raised and lowered in association with the lockout mode, and wherein the indication regarding the depression of the pedal indicates that a brake control pedal is depressed one or more of a threshold amount or for a threshold duration.",
    "8. A device, comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors, communicatively coupled to the one or more memories, configured to: determine that an operator, of a work machine, is unavailable; enable a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable, the lockout mode being configured to restrict operator control of a function of the work machine; determine, while the lockout mode is enabled, that the operator is ready to operate the work machine based on an indication that the operator is seated and one or more of: an indication that an arm rest, of the work machine, has been cycled, or an indication regarding a depression of a pedal of the work machine; and cause an action to be performed in connection with one or more of the lockout mode or the operator being ready to operate the work machine.",
    "9. The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are configured to, when determining that the operator is unavailable: determine that the operator is unavailable based on determining that the operator is not seated in a seat of the work machine, not operating the work machine in a drive mode, and not pressing the pedal.",
    "10. The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine the indication that the arm rest has been cycled based on an arm rest latch of the work machine, the arm rest latch being installed in the arm rest and configured to detect a motion of the arm rest, and the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicating that the arm rest was raised and lowered while the lockout mode is enabled.",
    "11. The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine the indication regarding the depression of the pedal based on determining that the pedal is depressed a threshold amount.",
    "12. The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are configured to, when causing the action to be performed: enable communication between a steering control lever and a steering system of the work machine.",
    "13. The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are configured to, when causing the action to be performed: generate a lockout event based on determining that the lockout mode was enabled; and generate one or more of a record or a notification of the lockout event.",
    "14. The device of claim 8, wherein the indication that the operator is seated is from a pressure sensor of a seat of the work machine, wherein the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicates that the arm rest has been raised and lowered in association with the lockout mode, and wherein the indication regarding the depression of the pedal indicates that a brake control pedal is depressed one or more of a threshold amount or for a threshold duration.",
    "15. A work machine, comprising: a steering system; a user interface configured to generate an input signal corresponding to operator input; a detection device configured to generate a detection signal corresponding to a presence of an operator relative to the user interface; and a control device in communication with the steering system, the user interface, and the detection device, the control device being configured to: determine that the operator is unavailable based on the detection signal and the input signal, enable a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable, the lockout mode restricting operator control of the steering system, determine, while the lockout mode is enabled, that the operator is ready to operate the work machine based on an indication that the operator is seated and one or more of: an indication that an arm rest, of the work machine, has been cycled, or an indication regarding a depression of a pedal of the work machine, and disable the lockout mode based on determining that the operator is ready to operate the work machine.",
    "16. The work machine of claim 15, wherein the detection device includes one or more of a seat sensor, an arm rest sensor, or an arm rest latch, the seat sensor being installed in a seat of the work machine and configured to detect a weight of the operator, the arm rest sensor being installed in an arm rest of the work machine and configured to detect a position of the arm rest, and the arm rest latch being installed in the arm rest and configured to detect a motion of the arm rest.",
    "17. The work machine of claim 15, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine the indication that the arm rest has been cycled based on an arm rest latch of the work machine, the arm rest latch being installed in the arm rest and configured to detect a motion of the arm rest, and the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicating that the arm rest was raised and lowered while the lockout mode is enabled.",
    "18. The work machine of claim 15, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine the indication regarding the depression of the pedal based on determining that the pedal is depressed a threshold amount.",
    "19. The work machine of claim 15, wherein the control device is configured to, when enabling the lockout mode: engage a parking brake of the work machine, and restrict operator control of a steering function of the work machine, the lockout mode disabling communication between a steering control lever and the steering system of the work machine.",
    "20. The work machine of claim 15, wherein the indication that the operator is seated is from a pressure sensor of a seat of the work machine, wherein the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicates that the arm rest has been raised and lowered in association with the lockout mode, and wherein the indication regarding the depression of the pedal indicates that a brake control pedal is depressed one or more of a threshold amount or for a threshold duration."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates generally to work machines and, for example, to an operator detection system for work machines.\n\nA work machine may be provided with a steering system that allows the work machine to shift, lean, pivot, rotate, articulate, and/or otherwise move when stationary. A work machine may also be provided with an implement system that allows an implement to be manipulated and/or moved relative to the work machine when stationary. The steering system and the implement system may be manually controlled by an operator via a user interface provided within an operator cab of the work machine. The user interface may include an input device that enables the operator to control a steering function, an implement function, a propulsion function, a transmission function, and/or another function of the work machine. When not in use, one or more functions of the work machine may be disabled by the operator to avoid inadvertent steering input and/or implement input. In some cases, an operator may neglect to disable a function of the work machine prior to exiting the operator cab and inadvertently input a command (e.g., while exiting, entering, or moving about the operator cab) that causes the work machine and/or the implement to move and potentially collide with a nearby object.\n\nSome work machines may be provided with an automated control mechanism that detects when the operator is not present in the operator cab, disables a function of the work machine if the operator is not present, and enables a function of the work machine if the operator is present.",
  "cpc": [
    "B60K 28/04",
    "B60K 28/06",
    "B60N 2/002",
    "B60N 2/753",
    "B60N 2/797",
    "B60N 2210/16",
    "B60N 2210/40",
    "B60W 2300/17",
    "E02F 3/3417",
    "E02F 9/166",
    "E02F 9/2083",
    "E02F 9/2087",
    "E02F 9/24",
    "E02F 9/26",
    "E02F 9/268"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60K 28/04",
    "B60N 2/00",
    "B60N 2/75",
    "E02F 9/20",
    "E02F 9/26",
    "B60N 2/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Caterpillar Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Michael A. Cobo",
    "Mark A. Robinson",
    "Justin Ayers",
    "Scott MARKS",
    "Joshua Mason",
    "Beau BERNING"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-10-01",
  "publication_date": "2021-10-26",
  "grant_date": "2021-10-26",
  "priority_date": "2019-10-01",
  "application_number": "US-201916589812-A",
  "family_id": "74872685",
  "cited_by_count": 5,
  "citations": [
    "US6856873B2",
    "US6135230A",
    "US6186260B1",
    "US6062331A",
    "US6577909B1",
    "US6226902B1",
    "US20040073792A1",
    "US7757806B2",
    "US20070203630A1",
    "US7899597B2",
    "US8485301B2",
    "US20150159613A1",
    "US20190331761A1"
  ]
}

Record 1,435 of 8,000 in Patents full text (MLC-0201). Request the full dataset.