An excavation system may include a base unit, a boom mounted on the base unit, a pair of drag ropes coupled with the boom, and a robotic bucket mechanism attached to the pair of drag ropes. The robotic bucket mechanism may include an undercarriage drive, a chassis mounted on the undercarriage drive, an excavating bucket mounted on the chassis, a pair of hydraulic lift actuators coupled between the chassis and the excavating bucket at pivot points on both sides of the excavating bucket, and a hydraulic tilt actuator mounted between the chassis and a rear side of the excavating bucket.

A system for controlling an engagement operation between first and second movable machines includes a separation sensor, a relative speed sensor and a controller. The separation sensor determines a separation distance between the first and second machines. The relative speed sensor determines a relative difference in speed between the first and second machines. The controller determines the separation distance between the first and second machines, decelerates the first movable machine when the separation distance is within a deceleration zone, determines a relative difference in speed between the first and second machines, and generates an engagement speed command to operate the first movable machine at a first ground speed equal to a second ground speed of the second movable machine plus a relative engagement speed when the separation distance is within a buffer zone.

A control method to operate a scraper over ground, the control method comprising: receiving a signal indicative of a desired attack angle between a cutting edge of the scraper and the ground; receiving a height control signal to control a cutting edge height; receiving one or more measuring signals from one or more sensors, calculating a measured attack angle based on the one or more measuring signals; comparing the measured attack angle and the desired attack angle; and outputting at least one control signal commanding movement of a bowl of the scraper based on the height control signal and a result of the comparing the measured attack angle and the desired attack angle.

An electrical drive system that modifies operation between that of a generator and a motor based on changes in operation of a tractor and machine scraper in order to charge the electrical drive system when the machine scraper is empty or being unloaded and to power the drive of the machine scraper when the machine scraper is cutting and loading a bowl of the machine scraper and during the transport of the load from the location of the cutting and loading.

A dirt scooping, moving, and dumping apparatus for attachment to a tractor, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a dirt scoop defining a volume, a frame pivotably supporting the dirt scoop for rotation of the dirt scoop between a scooping angle and a dumping angle, and an interconnection assembly cooperative with the dirt scoop and the frame. When the dirt scoop is at a scooping elevation, the interconnection assembly is configured to maintain the dirt scoop at the scooping angle while the tractor moves to scoop a material into the volume of the dirt scoop. The interconnection assembly is further configured to automatically release the dirt scoop to allow the dirt scoop to pivot from the scooping angle to the dumping angle when the frame reaches a dumping elevation, thereby automatically dumping the material from the volume upon reaching the dumping elevation.

A hybrid power train system for a tractor scraper is provided. The hybrid power train system may include a primary power source coupled to a first set of traction devices, a generator coupled to the primary power source, a first electric motor coupled to a second set of traction devices, an inverter circuit coupled to the generator and the first electric motor, an energy storage device coupled to the inverter circuit, and a controller operatively coupled to the inverter circuit. The controller may be configured to engage a first operation mode enabling electrical energy, supplied by the generator and the first electric motor, to be stored in the energy storage device, and engage a second operation mode enabling electrical energy, stored in the energy storage device, to be supplied to the first electric motor to drive the second set of traction devices.

A speed measurement system for use with a machine having a component rotationally mounted inside a housing may have a first sensing element configured to be mounted to the housing adjacent the component, and a second sensing element configured to be mounted to the housing. The first sensing element may be configured to generate a first signal indicative of a rotational velocity of the component. The second sensing element may be configured to generate a second signal indicative of a rotational rate of the housing. The speed measurement system may also have a controller in communication with the first and second sensing elements. The controller may be configured to determine a rotational speed of the component relative to an offboard reference based on the first and second signals.

An earth moving implement incorporating left and right rails; a bucket between the left and right rails; left and right pivot axles interconnecting the bucket and the left and right rails for rotating the bucket between earth scooping and blading position; left and right arms extending leftwardly and rightwardly from the bucket's left and right ends, the arms' proximal ends underlying the left and right rails; left and right linear motion actuators respectively positioned leftwardly and rightwardly from the left and right rails, the actuators having bucket ends pivotally attached to the left and right arms; left and right columns rigidly positioned at the rails' rearward ends, the actuators' base ends being pivotally attached to the left and right columns for rotating the bucket; a plurality of wheels rollably mounted to the rails' rearward ends; and a towing tongue rigidly extending from the rails' forward ends.

Various embodiments of a mining vehicle are disclosed. The embodiments provide mining vehicles that are battery powered rather than diesel powered. The embodiments also provide vehicles that have relatively high hauling capacity relative to their length and footprint (area). The embodiments also provide vehicles with improved forward and rearward ground visibility. In addition, the mining vehicles have a higher density compared to traditional vehicles, which helps to improve traction, as well as better vehicle handing and power density because of increased power relative to diesel powered vehicles.

A work vehicle is disclosed. The work vehicle comprises an attachment comprising a cutting edge. The attachment is configured to move from an operating position to a dump position. An operator input device is configured to receive a grade command. A grade control system is communicatively coupled to an operator input device and configured to receive the grade command and define a cutting plane. A controller is configured to receive a boom position signal, an attachment position signal, and the grade command. The controller is configured to maintain the cutting edge on the cutting plane in both the operating position and the dump position.