Bulldozer Blade Control Below Grade With Threshold Auto Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing earthmoving systems, such as bulldozers, face challenges in accurately controlling the position of the cutting blade to follow complex terrain contours, especially when the blade is beneath the contour design, due to movements of the bulldozer frame affecting blade position and orientation.
Innovation Solution
The system employs GPS receivers, gyroscopic sensors, and accelerometers to determine the blade's position and movement, allowing for independent control of the blade beneath the terrain contour design, and automatic adjustment when within a threshold distance, ensuring precise alignment with the contour.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If automatic blade control is activated when the cutting edge is within threshold distance of the terrain contour design, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensor systems and control modes
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically switches between two operational modes based on the blade's distance from the terrain contour design. When the cutting edge is beyond the threshold distance, independent blade control mode is active. When within the threshold distance, automatic terrain-contour-dependent control mode activates. This dynamic mode switching optimizes precision when needed while managing system complexity through conditional operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control operation is segmented into distinct phases: independent blade control phase (when beyond threshold distance) and automatic terrain-contour control phase (when within threshold distance). This segmentation allows the system to apply different control strategies appropriate to each operational stage, improving overall precision without requiring complex continuous control.
2Ease of operation
If independent blade control is used when cutting edge is beneath terrain contour design, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to frame movements affecting blade position
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from independent blade control (easy operation) to automatic terrain-contour control (high precision) based on the dynamic condition of the cutting edge's distance from the design contour. This dynamic transition ensures that when precision becomes critical (within threshold distance), the system automatically switches to the more precise control mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the cutting edge position relative to the terrain contour design and uses this feedback to determine when to switch control modes. When the cutting edge approaches within threshold distance of the design, feedback triggers automatic terrain-contour-dependent control, ensuring precision is maintained when it matters most.
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 solution enables precise control of the cutting edge of the blade to maintain alignment with the terrain contour design, improving grading accuracy and efficiency by compensating for bulldozer frame movements and automatically adjusting the blade position based on sensor feedback.
Implementation Method 1
The earthmoving apparatus determines the position of the cutting tool of the bulldozer using the GPS receivers and/or other sensors mounted on the bulldozer body
Implementation Method 2
The system employs GPS receivers, gyroscopic sensors, and accelerometers to determine the blade's position and movement
Implementation Method 3
The system employs GPS receivers, gyroscopic sensors, and accelerometers to determine the blade's position and movement, allowing for independent control of the blade beneath the terrain contour design
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3H
AI summary
A method of controlling a blade of an earthmoving system is disclosed. The method includes enabling independent blade control so that the blade is controllable independent of the terrain contour design while a cutting edge of the blade is beneath the terrain contour design, and receiving first sensor signals from one or more first sensors of the earthmoving system, where the sensor signals indicate that the cutting edge of the blade is within a threshold distance from the terrain contour design. In response to receiving the first sensor signals, the method automatically controls the cutting edge of the blade to the terrain contour design, where the movement of the blade is dependent on the terrain contour design.