Automated load and unload detection system for bulk material hauler vehicles

Abstract

A system for automatically detecting an operational event for a bulk material hauler vehicle. The system includes a sensor mounted on the bulk material hauler vehicle, which is adapted for hauling a bulk material such as an aggregate. The system further includes a telematics system provided on the bulk material hauler vehicle. The telematics system includes a processor running software (or executing instructions or code) for detecting the operational event (e.g., providing functions of a load and unload detection module or discriminator as described herein). During vehicle operations, the sensor transmits sensor data to the telematics system, and the detecting of the operational event includes retrieving a signature definition for the operational event and then verifying the sensor data meets requirements of the signature definition. In some embodiments of the system, the operational event is loading the bulk material on or unloading the bulk material from the vehicle.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for automatically detecting an unloading event of a bulk material hauler vehicle, the system comprising:
 a sensor mounted on the bulk material hauler vehicle, the sensor configured to generate a signal having a waveform indicative of a vibration of a portion of the vehicle; and   an unload detection module positioned on the bulk material hauler vehicle, the unload detection module configured to receive the signal, compare the waveform to an unload definition, and generate an event signal indicative of an unloading event based on the results of the comparison.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a telematics system positioned on the bulk material hauler vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the telematics system is configured to communicate the event signal indicative of the unloading event to a dispatch system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the telematics system displays information to the driver the bulk material hauler indicative of the generation of an event signal. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the telematics system is configured to receive ticket information from a dispatch system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory positioned on the bulk material hauler vehicle, the memory configured to store the unload definition. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the unload detection module is provided in the form of a program with computer readable instructions accessible by a processor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the unload detection module includes a discriminator module configured to validate whether a true unload event was detected by the unload detection module. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the discriminator module is configured to receive an additional input of at least one of a location data, an additional sensor data, a power take-off signal, a vehicle velocity signal, a geofence status and ticket information. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the event signal indicative of the unloading event generated by the unload detection module further includes at least one of the location data, a material type, a bed status, and a gate status. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method of detecting an event of a bulk material hauler vehicle, comprising:
 receiving a signal having a waveform indicative of a vibration of a portion of the bulk material hauler vehicle;   determining whether the waveform matches an unload definition; and   generating a signal indicative of an unloading event contingent upon said waveform matching the unload definition.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining whether the waveform of the signal matches a load definition; and   generating a signal indicative of a load event contingent upon said waveform matching the load definition.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving location data indicative of a location of the bulk material hauler at a time of the event. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 comparing the location data with at least one expected location; and   generating a flag signal contingent on the location data not corresponding to the at least one expected location.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one expected location is provided by ticket information. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one expected location is a geofence zone. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving a velocity signal indicative of a velocity of the bulk material hauler at a time of the unloading event. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein the generating the signal indicative of an unloading event is further contingent upon the velocity being below a maximum velocity. 
     
     
         19 . The computer implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving a material signal indicative of a type of material causing the vibration of the portion of the bulk material hauler vehicle; and   verifying the type of material corresponds to an expected type of material.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , wherein the expected type of material is provided by ticket information. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving a bed position state status signal, wherein generating the signal indicative of an unloading event is further contingent upon the bed position state status being raised. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving a gate status signal, wherein generating the signal indicative of an unloading event is further contingent upon the gate status being open. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising generating a signal indicative of a false unloading event contingent upon said waveform not matching the unload definition.