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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Investigation of GPS/IMU Positioning System for Mining Equipment

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/890747· OSTI ID:890747
The objective of this project is to investigate the applicability of a combined Global Positioning System and Inertial Measurement Unit (GPS/IMU) for information based displays on earthmoving machines and for automated earthmoving machines in the future. This technology has the potential of allowing an information-based product like Caterpillar's Computer Aided Earthmoving System (CAES) to operate in areas with satellite shading. Satellite shading is an issue in open pit mining because machines are routinely required to operate close to high walls, which reduces significantly the amount of the visible sky to the GPS antenna mounted on the machine. An inertial measurement unit is a product, which provides data for the calculation of position based on sensing accelerations and rotation rates of the machine's rigid body. When this information is coupled with GPS it results in a positioning system that can maintain positioning capability during time periods of shading.
Research Organization:
Caterpillar Inc.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FC26-04NT42082
OSTI ID:
890747
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English