Auto-Steer Work Vehicle Direction Detection at Very Low Speeds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods struggle to accurately determine the traveling direction of work vehicles at very low speeds, such as less than 0.2 km/h, which hinders reliable automatic steering and control.
Innovation Solution
A work vehicle system that uses a toggling switch, such as a shuttle lever, in conjunction with chronological position data from a high-accuracy positioning device like RTK-GNSS, to determine the traveling direction, especially at low speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional methods (gear sensor or GNSS position data) are used to detect traveling direction, then the system is simple, but the detection accuracy deteriorates at very low speeds (less than 0.2 km/h)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection methods (gear rotation sensor, GNSS position data, and toggling switch state) into a unified traveling direction detection system. The controller integrates signals from all three sources and determines traveling direction based on their combined information, particularly when vehicle speed is below the threshold. This merging approach maintains detection accuracy at low speeds while avoiding excessive system complexity by selectively using available sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The toggling switch acts as an intermediary element that provides additional information about the driver's intended traveling direction. The controller uses the switch state as a mediator to resolve ambiguities in traveling direction detection at low speeds, where conventional sensors become unreliable. This intermediary approach enhances detection accuracy without requiring major system overhauls.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the work vehicle travels at very low speed, then energy consumption is reduced, but the ability to accurately detect traveling direction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors vehicle speed and adjusts the traveling direction detection method based on the current speed condition. When speed drops below the threshold, the controller switches to using toggling switch state combined with GNSS data, providing feedback-based adaptation that maintains reliability during low-speed operation while allowing normal operation at higher speeds where conventional methods suffice.
3Productivity
If automatic steering is implemented, then productivity is improved, but the system fails to operate reliably at very low speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation of the traveling direction detection strategy based on real-time vehicle speed conditions. The system automatically adjusts which sensors and methods to use depending on whether the vehicle is operating above or below the speed threshold. This dynamic approach ensures automatic steering reliability across the full operating range, including low-speed scenarios that were previously problematic.
Data Source
AI summary
A work vehicle that performs auto-steer driving in forward travel and backward travel includes a position sensor to output chronological position data of the work vehicle, a controller configured or programmed to, in an automatic steering mode, perform steering control for the work vehicle based on the chronological position data and a target path that is previously set, and a toggling switch to switch between forward travel and backward travel of the work vehicle. In the automatic steering mode, when a moving speed of the work vehicle is lower than a first speed, the controller is configured or programmed to determine a traveling direction of the work vehicle based on the chronological position data and a state of the toggling switch.