Patent ID: 11884518
Assignee: CATERPILLAR INC.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 8:
9. A method of automatically regulating distance between a pipelayer machine and at least one adjacent pipelayer machine, the method comprising:
determining, based on a load sensing system, a load distribution between the pipelayer machine and the at least one adjacent pipelayer machine;
determining a first distance that the pipelayer machine is to maintain between the pipelayer machine and the at least one adjacent pipelayer machine based at least in part on the load distribution;
determining, via one or more sensors of the pipelayer machine, a second distance between the pipelayer machine and the at least one adjacent pipelayer machine;
determining whether the second distance is within an acceptable range of the first distance;
monitoring, via communication between a first controller of the pipelayer machine and a second controller of the at least one adjacent pipelayer machine, operation of the at least one adjacent pipelayer machine; and
modifying, via the first controller of the pipelayer machine and based at least in part on monitoring the operation of the at least one adjacent pipelayer machine, output of a propulsion system of the pipelayer machine to adjust a position of the pipelayer machine relative to the at least one adjacent pipelayer machine.