Patent ID: 11892836
Assignee: LIEBHERR MINING EQUIPMENT NEWPORT NEWS CO.
Field: Control (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B  E | IPC B  E  G

Claim 6:
7. A system for controlling a plurality of autonomous vehicles on a mine site, the system comprising:
a centralized platform comprising a processor and memory storing an inventory list of the plurality of autonomous vehicles travelling on the mine site and configured to communicate missions to the plurality of autonomous vehicles;
the plurality of autonomous vehicles, each autonomous vehicle comprising:
a first transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate with the centralized platform for receiving a predetermined mission,
a vehicle controller comprising a processor and memory configured to autonomously control the autonomous vehicle according to the predetermined mission; and
a portable device comprising:
a second transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the centralized platform and the plurality of autonomous vehicles,
a user interface comprising a display and configured for identifying at least a subset of autonomous vehicles of the plurality of autonomous vehicles on the display for selection, wherein the subset of autonomous vehicles is determined based on a distance with respect to the portable device, the user interface being further configured for specifically receiving a selection from a user selecting an autonomous vehicle out of the subset of autonomous vehicles identified on the display for selection and for receiving an input from the user of an inhibit command for at least one of inhibiting and stopping motion of the selected autonomous vehicle, and
a pairing function for pairing and unpairing the portable device to the system, wherein the centralized platform monitors connection to all portable devices paired to the system and initiates a global emergency stop if a connection to any portable device is lost for a predetermined time, the global emergency stop configured to inhibit motion of all vehicles out of the plurality of autonomous vehicles.