Agricultural Steering Calibration via Actuator Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Large and heavy agricultural machines, such as self-propelled sprayers, face calibration challenges due to excessive wear in components, leading to reduced responsiveness, requiring time-consuming and costly manual diagnostics and recalibration processes prone to human error.
Innovation Solution
An onboard logic controller uses feedback data from power actuators to automatically calibrate the steering system by determining precise electrical signal magnitudes for hydraulic actuator extension and retraction, utilizing a touchscreen Human Machine Interface for user input and sensor array measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual calibration methods are used by service personnel, then calibration can be performed, but it is time consuming, troublesome and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic self-calibration using the onboard controller and existing sensors. The controller automatically commands actuators to move through their full range of motion and uses feedback from position sensors to determine actual positions, eliminating the need for manual intervention by service personnel while reducing calibration time and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process uses feedback from position sensors on actuators to automatically determine calibration parameters. The controller commands actuators to specific positions, reads the actual positions from sensors, and uses this feedback to calculate calibration offsets, enabling automatic calibration without manual observation or marking.
2Measurement precision
If manual calibration by observing wheel speed or turn is used, then calibration can be performed, but it is labor intensive and leads to inaccurate results caused by human error
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual visual observation and marking methods with electronic sensor feedback and automated controller processing. Position sensors electronically track actuator positions, and the controller automatically processes this data to determine calibration parameters, eliminating human error while maintaining ease of operation through automated procedures.
3Reliability
If factory calibration is performed, then initial calibration is completed, but excessive wear on components causes systems to lose responsiveness over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automatic calibration checks and adjustments at scheduled intervals or when wear is detected, before significant performance degradation occurs. This proactive recalibration maintains system responsiveness and reliability over time, extending the effective calibration validity period by preventing cumulative wear effects.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the need for manual intervention, enhances calibration accuracy, and decreases the time and expense associated with recalibrating the steering system, improving the responsiveness and efficiency of agricultural machines.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic system configured to variably extend each of the power actuators
Data Source
AI summary
By using various feedback data on a sprayer system, such as sensed positions of power actuators for turning wheels, an onboard logic controller can be used to fine tune parameters of the steering system in an automatic calibration process. In one aspect, a controller can send an electrical signal to a coil of a hydraulic pump to fully extend a power actuator for turning a wheel in a first direction, then incrementally adjust the signal until a change in position of the power actuator is determined, thereby obtaining a precise magnitude for commanding a full extension of the power actuator. Similarly, the controller can change the signal to fully retract the power actuator for turning the wheel in a second direction, then incrementally adjust the signal until a change in position of the power actuator is determined, thereby obtaining a precise magnitude for commanding a full retraction of the power actuator.