Method of managing a worksite

Abstract

A method is disclosed for calibrating a vehicle model used to autonomously control a machine on a worksite. The method may include measuring a first value indicative of an operating condition of the machine, predicting a second value, using the vehicle model, corresponding to the first value and indicative of the operating condition, and determining a difference between the first value and the second value. The method may also include autonomously directing the machine to a calibration site of the worksite in response to determining that the difference between the first value and the second value is greater than a predetermined threshold, wherein the calibration site is automatically selected from a plurality of locations at the worksite based on a suitability index of the calibration site.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for calibrating a vehicle model used to autonomously control a machine on a worksite, the system comprising:
 a sensor disposed on the machine, the sensor configured to determine a first value indicative of at least one operating condition of the machine and to generate a first signal indicative of the first value;   a controller disposed on the machine and in communication with the sensor, the controller configured to:
 receive the first signal from the sensor; 
 predict a second value, using the vehicle model, corresponding to the first value and indicative of the operating condition; and 
 generate a second signal indicative of an aspect of the vehicle model in need of calibration based on a difference between the first value and the second value; and 
   a worksite management system disposed remote from the machine and in communication with the controller, the worksite management system configured to autonomously direct the machine to a calibration site of the worksite in response to receipt of the second signal from the controller,   wherein the worksite management system automatically selects the calibration site from a plurality of locations at the worksite based on a suitability index of the calibration site.   
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the sensor includes one of a speed sensor, a steering angle sensor, a load weight sensor, a load distribution sensor, an orientation sensor, and a location and heading sensor. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the worksite management system is configured to automatically select the calibration site by identifying the calibration site that has a suitability index within the predetermined threshold, and that has the closest match to a calibration requirement of the machine. 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the worksite management system determines that no calibration site matching a calibration requirement of the machine exists within the worksite, and
 determining whether a site within the worksite would match the calibration requirement of the machine if modifications were made to the site.   
     
     
         25 . A system for managing calibration of a vehicle model used to autonomously control a machine on a worksite, the system comprising:
 a controller disposed on the machine and configured to identify a calibration need associated with the vehicle model;   a worksite management system disposed remote from the machine and in communication with the controller, the worksite management system configured to identify a calibration route within the worksite, the calibration route extending from the machine to a calibration site; and   a map displaying available calibration routes within the worksite for calibrating the calibration need of the vehicle model, and displaying calibration exclusion zones while the machine travels the calibration route within the worksite.   
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the worksite management system is configured to autonomously plan the calibration route of the machine, and to generate the map displaying the autonomously planned calibration route. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the calibration exclusion zones include loading areas, dump areas, intersections, high traffic areas, areas already designed for calibration of other machines, areas a manager of the worksite selects, and areas that pose a safety risk. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the worksite management system is configured to plan the calibration route within the worksite, and search the worksite for a calibration route that would be sufficient if modifications were made to it. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the worksite management system dispatches a work machine to make modifications to the calibration route within worksite  11 . 
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 25  wherein the map is color coded, such that recommended calibration routes are identified as a first color, recommended calibration paths in need of modification are identified as a second color, and calibration exclusion zones are identified as a third color.