Machine, system and method for road construction

Abstract

A method of building a road is disclosed. The method may include moving a machine over a surface on which the road is to be built, and generating a signal indicative of a texture of the surface during movement of the machine over the surface. The method may also include detecting a location of the texture on the surface, and determining, using a specially programmed processor, an amount of a material to be applied to the location of the texture on the surface based on the signal. The method may further include automatically applying the amount of material to the location of the texture on the surface to build the road.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of building a road, comprising:
 moving a machine over a surface on which the road is to be built;   applying a first material to the surface during the moving:   applying a second material on top of the first material;   detecting a parameter of the second material during application of the second material; and   selectively adjusting a non-zero amount of the first material being applied based on the detected parameter of the second material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the second material includes applying the second material during the moving. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the machine is a first machine;   the method includes moving a second machine over the surface;   applying the first material includes applying the first material with the first machine; and   applying the second material on top of the first material includes applying the second material with the second machine.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein detecting includes generating a signal with at least one sensor mounted to the second machine. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 applying the first material includes applying the first material with the first machine; and   applying the second material on top of the first material includes applying the second material with the first machine during the moving.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein detecting includes generating a signal with at least one sensor mounted to the first machine. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first material is a binder; and   the second material is a reinforcement.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the binder is asphalt; and   the reinforcement is aggregate.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the parameter is at least one of a size or a shape of the aggregate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the parameter is an amount of the aggregate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the parameter is at least one of a size or a shape of the second material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the parameter is an amount of the second material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting and the adjusting are performed in real time. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the first material includes causing the machine to automatically apply the adjusted non-zero amount of the first material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 collecting at least one of environmental data and historical data for locations along the surface on which the road is to be built; and   selectively adjusting a base application rate of the first material according to the at least one of environmental data or historical data.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including selectively causing the machine to automatically apply at least one of a primer or a hardener to the surface based on the at least one of environmental data or historical data. 
     
     
         17 . A method of building a road, comprising:
 moving a machine over a surface on which the road is to be built;   applying a first material to the surface during the moving:   applying a second material on top of the first material;   detecting a parameter of one of the first material or the second material during application; and   selectively adjusting a non-zero amount of another of the first material or the second material being applied based on the detected parameter of the one of the first material or the second material.   
     
     
         18 . A method of building a road, comprising:
 moving a machine over a surface on which the road is to be built;   applying a binder to the surface during the moving:   applying a reinforcement on top of the binder;   using at least one machine-mounted sensor to generate a signal indicative of a parameter of the reinforcement detected as the reinforcement is being applied on top of the binder; and   using a specially programmed processor to selectively and automatically adjust in real or near-real time a non-zero amount of the binder being applied based on the signal.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the machine is a distributor;   the binder is asphalt prayed on to the surface from nozzles mounted on the distributor;   the reinforcement is aggregate; and   the aggregate is applied by a spreader machine moving along the surface behind the distributor.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the parameter is one of a size, a shape, or an amount of the aggregate.