| Patent holder | Caterpillar Inc |
| Patent link | View patent |
| Category | Harvesting & Extraction › Quality & optimisation |
Image based productivity tracking system
This patent concept describes an integrated data acquisition and processing device designed for forestry and logging worksites, capable of ingesting multiple streams of operational productivity data — including machine telemetry, GPS positional logs, cycle time records, and visual imagery — and synthesising them into actionable performance insights for operators and managers. In modern harvesting operations, machines such as harvesters, forwarders, and skidders generate continuous data streams through onboard computers (commonly running StanForD or StanForD 2010 protocols), capturing variables like engine load, cutting head movements, log length and diameter measurements, and fuel consumption. Coupling this machine data with georeferenced imagery from cab-mounted cameras, site cameras, or UAV overflights enables a richer understanding of worksite conditions, bottlenecks, and safety events. The device envisioned in such a patent would function as an edge computing node or ruggedised industrial tablet, aggregating data locally with connectivity to cloud platforms for fleet-level analysis. In the Australian forestry context, such devices are relevant to both the plantation sector — where high-utilisation continuous harvesting operations demand close productivity monitoring — and to native forest operations where regulatory compliance (e.g., harvesting outside retained areas) must be demonstrated through spatial records. Integration of imagery with productivity data also supports post-harvest auditing, allowing managers to correlate visual evidence of site disturbance with machine operational records. Commercial platforms such as Timber Manager, Timberlink, and various OEM telematics systems already approach aspects of this concept, and ongoing development is pushing toward real-time dashboards that merge machine data with drone and satellite imagery for unified worksite intelligence. Such systems are increasingly seen as foundational infrastructure for precision forestry and automated harvesting workflows.
Helps improve efficiency through better operational visibility, with moderate risk-reduction value due to reduced planning and maintenance uncertainty.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Caterpillar Inc |
| Type | Patent |
| Year | 15/9/20 |
| Status | Active |
| FWPA RD&E | 4.4 |
| Inventors | Subramanian Gautham |
| Patent No. | WO 2021/055301 A1 |