System for communication between plant and machine

Abstract

A system for controlling a paving system includes a plurality of supply machines, a paving machine, and a plant. A first controller determines the position of each supply machine. A second controller determines the rate at which paving material is being applied to a work surface and transmits the rate at which the paving material is being applied. A temperature sensor is associated with one of the plurality of supply machines and the paving machine for determining a temperature of paving material at the paving machine. The plant is configured to produce a batch of paving material and a third controller determines a batch temperature, and generates instructions indicative of a desired route for each supply machine between the plant and the paving machine based upon the position of each supply machine, traffic information data, the batch temperature, and the temperature of paving material at the paving machine.

1 . A system for controlling a paving system, comprising:
 a plurality of supply machines, each of the supply machines including:
 a first ground engaging drive mechanism for propulsion; 
 a material transport unit in which a load of paving material may be transported; and 
 a first position sensor for determining a position of the supply machine; and 
   a paving machine including:
 a second ground engaging drive mechanism for propulsion; 
 a material receiving unit for receiving paving material from the supply machines; and 
 a material application system for applying the paving material to a work surface; 
   a temperature sensor for determining a temperature of paving material at the paving machine; and   a plant for producing a batch of paving material;   a wireless communications system allowing the supply machines, the paving machine, the plant, and a controller to communicate; and   the controller configured to:
 receive the position of each of the supply machines; 
 receive traffic information data indicative of traffic conditions between the plant and the paving machine; 
 receive the temperature of paving material at the paving machine; and 
 generate instructions indicative of a desired route for each of the supply machines between the plant and the paving machine based upon the position of each of the supply machines, the traffic information data, and the temperature of paving material at the paving machine. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the supply machines further includes a ground speed sensor for determining a ground speed and heading for the supply machine, the controller is further configured to receive the ground speed and heading signals indicative of a ground speed and heading of each of the supply machines, and to generate the instructions indicative of the desired route for each of the supply machines between the plant and the paving machine based further upon the ground speed and heading of each of the supply machines. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the paving machine further includes a second position sensor for determining a position of the paving machine, and the controller is configured to generate the instructions indicative of the desired route for each of the supply machines between the plant and the paving machine based further upon the position of the paving machine. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate instructions indicative of a timing plan for loading each of the supply machines at the plant based upon the position of each supply machine, the traffic information data, and the temperature of paving material at the paving machine. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine an amount of paving material remaining from the batch of paving material and the timing plan is further based upon the amount of paving material remaining. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate instructions indicative of an arrival timing plan for each of the supply machines at the plant based upon the position of each supply machine, the traffic information data, and the temperature of paving material at the paving machine. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate instructions indicative of a speed for each of the supply machines between the plant and the paving machine based upon the position of each supply machine, the traffic information data, and the temperature of paving material at the paving machine. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plant includes a batch temperature sensor for determining a batch temperature of the batch of paving material, the controller is further configured to generate the instructions indicative of the desired route for each of the supply machines between the plant and the paving machine based further upon the batch temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the paving machine further includes a second sensor for determining a rate at which the paving material is being applied to the work surface, the controller is further configured to generate the instructions indicative of the desired route for each of the supply machines between the plant and the paving machine based on the rate at which the paving material is being applied to the work surface. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the supply machines further includes a load monitoring system for determining an amount of material within each supply machine, the controller is further configured to determine the amount of material within the supply machine and to generate the instructions indicative of the desired route for each of the supply machines between the plant and the paving machine based further upon the amount of material within each supply machine. 
     
     
         11 . A paving machine, comprising:
 a ground engaging drive mechanism mover to propel the paving machine;   a material receiving unit for receiving paving material from a plurality of supply machines;   a material application system for applying the paving material to a work surface;   a temperature sensor for determining a temperature of paving material at the paving machine;   a wireless communications system allowing the paving machine, the supply machines, and a plant to communicate; and   a controller configured to:
 receive signals indicative of a position of each of the supply machines; 
 receive traffic information data indicative of traffic conditions between the plant and the paving machine; 
 receive signals indicative of the temperature of paving material at the paving machine; and 
 generate instructions indicative of a desired route for each of the supply machines between the plant and the paving machine based upon the position of each supply machine, the traffic information data, and the temperature of paving material at the paving machine. 
   
     
     
         12 . The paving machine of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive from each of the supply machines a ground speed and heading signal indicative of a ground speed and heading of the supply machine, and to generate the instructions indicative of the desired route for each supply machine between the plant and the paving machine based further upon the ground speed and heading of each of the supply machines. 
     
     
         13 . The paving machine of  claim 11 , wherein the paving machine further includes a position sensor for determining a position of the paving machine, and the controller is configured to generate the instructions indicative of the desired route for each of the supply machines between the plant and the paving machine based further upon the position of the paving machine. 
     
     
         14 . The paving machine of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate instructions indicative of a timing plan for loading each of the supply machines at the plant based upon the position of each supply machine, the traffic information data, and the temperature of paving material at the paving machine. 
     
     
         15 . The paving machine of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate instructions indicative of an arrival timing plan for each of the supply machines at the plant based upon the position of each supply machine, the traffic information data, and the temperature of paving material at the paving machine. 
     
     
         16 . The paving machine of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate instructions indicative of a speed for each of the supply machines between the plant and the paving machine based upon the position of each supply machine, the traffic information data, and the temperature of paving material at the paving machine. 
     
     
         17 . The paving machine of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive from the supply machines an amount of material within each supply machine and to generate the instructions indicative of the desired route for each supply machine between the plant and the paving machine based further upon the amount of material within each supply machine. 
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling a paving system, comprising:
 propelling a plurality of supply machines, each of the supply machines having a material transport unit in which a load of paving material may be transported;   determining a position of each of the plurality of supply machines;   propelling a paving machine, the paving machine including a material receiving unit for receiving paving material from the supply machines and a material application system for applying a paving material to a work surface;   determining a rate at which the paving material is being applied to the work surface by the material application system;   determining a temperature of paving material at the paving machine;   producing a batch of paving material at a plant and holding the batch of paving material at a holding location;   receiving traffic information data indicative of traffic conditions between the plant and the paving machine; and   generating instructions indicative of a desired route for each supply machine between the plant and the paving machine based upon the position of each supply machine, the traffic information data, and the temperature of paving material at the paving machine.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further including determining a ground speed and heading of each of the supply machines, and generating the instructions indicative of the desired route for each supply machine between the plant and the paving machine based further upon the ground speed and heading of each of the plurality of supply machines. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further including determining an amount of material within each supply machine, and generating the instructions indicative of the desired route for each supply machine between the plant and the paving machine based further upon the amount of material within each supply machine.