Tether tracking system and method for mobile machine

• Main Authors: CLAR, JEAN-JACQUES, POLITICK, MARTIN, YUET, FU P
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.07.2016
• Subjects: DREDGING; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FOUNDATIONS; HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; SOIL SHIFTING

A tether tracking system (28) for a mobile machine (12) is disclosed. The tether tracking system may have a spool (26) located on the mobile machine to selectively dispense and reel in a tether (16) extending from the mobile machine to a stationary source (14) as the mobile machine travels about a worksite. The tether tracking system may also have at least one sensor (32) associated with the spool to generate a first signal indicative of a spool parameter, a locating system (33) associated with the mobile machine to generate a second signal indicative of a location of the mobile machine, and a controller (34) in communication with the at least one sensor and the locating system. The controller may be configured to determine a tether avoidance zone (24) based on the first and second signals.