Michael Louis Mcdaniel

US Patent:

8099205, Jan 17, 2012

Filed:

Jul 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/216582

Inventors:

Robert M. Coats - Peoria IL, US
Michael Sean McDaniel - Peoria IL, US
David J. Edwards - Dunlap IL, US
Ramkumar Subramanian - Peoria IL, US
Kenneth L. Stratton - Dunlap IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G06F 17/00
G05D 1/00

US Classification:

701 23, 701 27, 701 28, 701116

Abstract:

A guidance system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The guidance system may have a scanning device configured to generate a signal indicative of a lateral distance from the machine to a roadway marker, a locating device configured to determine a geographical location of the machine, and a controller in communication with the scanning device and the locating device. The controller may be configured to receive a desired lateral distance from the machine to the roadway marker, and to compare the desired lateral distance to the actual lateral distance. The controller may further be configured to implement a response to the comparison based on the geographical location.

US Patent:

8320627, Nov 27, 2012

Filed:

Jun 17, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/817530

Inventors:

Michael S. McDaniel - Peoria IL, US
Susmita Dutta - Waukesha WI, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
H04N 13/04

US Classification:

382104, 382274, 348 51

Abstract:

A control system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The control system may have a first sensor mounted on the mobile machine and configured to capture a first image of a region near the mobile machine, a second sensor mounted on the mobile machine and configured to capture a second image of the region, and a controller in communication with the first and second sensors. The controller may be configured to generate a stereo image from the first and second images, compute a disparity map of the stereo image, and generate an output to affect operation of the machine when a density of the disparity map is less than a threshold density.

US Patent:

7268671, Sep 11, 2007

Filed:

Jun 22, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/873875

Inventors:

Michael S. McDaniel - Peoria IL, US
David C. Copley - Peoria IL, US
Daniel E. Zimmermann - Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G08B 3/10
H03G 3/20

US Classification:

3403843, 340435, 340460, 381 57, 381107

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for providing an audible alarm signal. The method and apparatus includes creating a rectangular pulse signal having a desired period and a desired first amplitude, adding a shaped modulation component to the rectangular pulse signal from the desired first amplitude to a desired second amplitude to create a modulating waveform, creating a carrier signal, and combining the carrier signal and the modulating waveform to create the audible alarm signal.

US Patent:

20070255498, Nov 1, 2007

Filed:

Apr 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/412881

Inventors:

Michael McDaniel - Peoria IL, US
Dexter Travis - Hopedale IL, US
Robert Coats - Peoria IL, US

International Classification:

G06G 7/78
G06F 17/10

US Classification:

701301000, 701300000, 340436000

Abstract:

A method for determining a threshold distance for a collision warning system includes receiving, from at least one sensing device, data indicative of a change of position of a target object relative to a host machine. The method further includes receiving data indicative of a velocity of the host machine and determining a closing rate associated with a rate of change of distance between the host machine and the target object based on the data indicative of a change of position of the target object relative to the host machine. The method also includes calculating a velocity of the target object based on the velocity of the host machine and the closing rate. The method further includes determining a threshold distance between the host machine and the target object, wherein the threshold distance is a function of the velocity of the target object, the velocity of the host machine, and a reaction time associated with one or more of the host machine velocity, the target object velocity, or an environmental condition. The method also includes providing a signal indicative of the threshold distance to an alarm system associated with a collision warning system.

US Patent:

20110254833, Oct 20, 2011

Filed:

Feb 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/027411

Inventors:

Michael S. McDaniel - Peoria IL, US
Andrea Cappalunga - Parma, IT
Susmita Dutta - Waukesha WI, US
Alberto Broggi - Parma, IT
Stefano Cattani - Parma, IT

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G06T 15/00

US Classification:

345419

Abstract:

A method for generating a three dimensional grid of terrain includes receiving data representing a three-dimensional point cloud and generating a plurality of slices of the data. The method evaluates the slices using a swarm intelligence algorithm. The method is able to identify both terrain and objects. The terrain can also be identified as traversable terrain.

US Patent:

20120092486, Apr 19, 2012

Filed:

Dec 22, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/334867

Inventors:

Michael S. McDaniel - Peoria IL, US
Jeffrey E. Jensen - Dunlap IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

H04N 7/18

US Classification:

348118, 348E07085

Abstract:

The present disclosure is directed to a system for controlling a plurality of machines. The system includes a camera disposed on a second machine and configured to record at least one image of a first machine. A controller is configured to be in communication with the first machine and the second machine. The controller is configured to track information associated with the recorded image of the first machine. The controller is also configured to determine a direction of movement of the second machine based on an analysis of the tracked information.

US Patent:

20120299695, Nov 29, 2012

Filed:

May 26, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/116295

Inventors:

Michael Sean McDaniel - Peoria IL, US

International Classification:

G05B 23/02

US Classification:

340 31

Abstract:

A guidance system for a machine may include a scanning device configured to detect a presence of an object within a minimum desired distance of the machine, and a controller in communication with the scanning device. The controller may be configured to compare a number of times the object is detected during a time period to a number of times the object is permitted to be detected during the time period. The controller may be configured to adjust the number of times the object is permitted to be detected. Further, the controller may be configured to output an indication, when the number of times the object is detected is equal to or greater than the number of times the object is permitted to be detected, that the object is less than the minimum desired distance from the machine.

US Patent:

20130265189, Oct 10, 2013

Filed:

Apr 4, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/439113

Inventors:

Hong Chang - Peoria IL, US
Bradley Scott Kriel - Pittsburgh PA, US
Michael Sean McDaniel - Peoria IL, US

International Classification:

G01S 13/00

US Classification:

342 52

Abstract:

A system for determining a coverage region of a radar device is disclosed. The system may have one or more processors and a memory. The memory may store instructions that, when executed, enable the one or more processors to receive radar data generated by a radar device and lidar data generated by a lidar device. The radar data may include radar data points representing objects detected by the radar device and the lidar data may include lidar data points representing objects detected by the lidar device. The one or more processors may be further enabled to determine a radar coverage region for the radar device by comparing one or more radar data points to one or more lidar data points, and to generate data used to display a graphical representation of the radar coverage region.