Sequencing machine work

Abstract

A method of determining work zones includes receiving work site data, determining an actual site model based on the work site data, determining a desired site model, and comparing the actual site model to the desired site model to determine a work plan, the work plan having work stages including a first work stage and a second work stage. The method further includes determining a first work zone of the first work stage of the work plan, including a first plurality of work locations, and determining a second work zone of the second work stage of the work plan, including a second plurality of work locations. The method further includes determining a safety zone, and determining a sequence for performing work for at least one of the first work zone, the first work locations, the second work zone, or the second work locations based on the safety zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of determining work zones, the method comprising: 
 receiving work site data representing points of a site in which work is to be performed;   determining an actual site model that is a representation of the site at a current time or at a previous time, the actual site model being based on the work site data;   determining a desired site model that is a representation of the site at a future time;   comparing the actual site model to the desired site model to determine a work plan, the work plan having work stages including a first work stage and a second work stage;   determining a first work zone of the first work stage of the work plan, the first work zone including a first plurality of work locations;    determining a second work zone of the second work stage of the work plan, the second work zone including a second plurality of work locations;    determining a safety zone in which one or more machine operations are restricted or limited; and   determining a sequence for performing work for at least one of the first work zone, the first work locations, the second work zone, or the second work locations based on the safety zone.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the safety zone is determined based on a slope of material, a material characteristic, or a presence of a tailing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including determining that the second work zone is a safety zone based on a change to: 
 a slope of material or a material characteristic.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein manually-operated machines are prohibited from the safety zone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including designating priorities of the first work zone and of the second work zone based on the machine data.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further including designating priorities of the first work locations based on the machine data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further including receiving an input from a user to modify the sequence. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 receiving an input from a user to change a size, location, or shape of the safety zone, or an input from a user to designate an additional safety zone; and   updating the sequence based on the input from the user.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 designating a position of the first work zone in the sequence; and    updating the sequence before completing work in the first work zone based on changes to at least one of: material density data, material type data, topology data, environmental data, or machine data.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 designating a sequence of the first work locations; and    updating the designated sequence based on changes to at least one of: material density data, material type data, topology data, environmental data, or machine data.    
     
     
         11 . A system for determining work zones, the system comprising: 
 one or more processors; and   at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising: 
 receiving work site data representing points of a site in which work is to be performed; 
 determining an actual site model that is a representation of the site at a current time or at a previous time, the actual site model being based on the work site data; 
 determining a desired site model that is a representation of the site at a future time; 
 determining a work plan based on the desired site model, the work plan having work stages including a first work stage and a second work stage; 
 determining a first work zone of the first work stage of the work plan;  
 determining a second work zone of the second work stage of the work plan;  
 determining a sequence for performing work at the first work zone and at the second work zone; and 
 updating the sequence based on a change in material data, topology data, or environmental data. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sequence is updated based on a change in material density data in the material data. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further include causing display of the work stages and display of a safety zone associated with the first work zone or the second work zone. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the safety zone is determined based on the material data, the topology data, or the environmental data. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the safety zone is determined based on likelihood of erosion. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further include causing display of a plurality of locations for performing work with multiple machines, the locations being determined based on the material data, the topology data, or the environmental data. 
     
     
         17 . A method of determining work zones, the method comprising: 
 receiving work site data representing points of a site in which work is to be performed;   determining a work plan, the work plan having work stages including a first work stage and a second work stage for performing work at the site;   determining a first work zone of the first work stage of the work plan, the first work zone including a first plurality of work locations;    determining a second work zone of the second work stage of the work plan, the second work zone including a second plurality of work locations;    determining a safety zone in which one or more machine operations are restricted or limited, the safety zone including the first work locations; and   determining a sequence for performing work at the first work locations based on the safety zone.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sequence for performing work is determined based on material data.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the safety zone prohibits one or more machine types from entering the safety zone. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further including designating a plurality of safety zones, the safety zones including the first work locations and the second work locations, the sequence being determined based on the safety zones.