Automated Blade Control Using Stored Maintenance Passes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual control of work vehicles during unpaved road maintenance is labor-intensive and prone to inconsistencies, as operators must manually adjust blade positions to achieve optimal road profiles, which can be time-consuming and affect maintenance quality.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a vehicle position system, blade sensing system, and controller that records and uses stored maintenance passes to automatically control the blade position of a work vehicle, allowing it to replicate previous maintenance profiles, either by selecting the most proximate data point, interpolating between data points, or predicting future positions based on current velocity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual control is used to adjust blade positions during maintenance passes, then the operator can adapt to varying road conditions, but the process becomes labor-intensive and prone to inconsistencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance quality consistencyVSAvoidmanual control effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system records the blade position data from a reference maintenance pass and uses this recorded information to automatically control the blade during subsequent passes. This copying of proven effective blade positions eliminates manual control variability and ensures consistent maintenance quality across different passes and operators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The work vehicle automatically adjusts its own blade position based on stored maintenance pass data without requiring continuous manual intervention. The system serves itself by using its own recorded performance data to guide future operations, reducing labor intensity while maintaining quality consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If manual control is used to achieve optimal road profiles, then the operator can make real-time adjustments, but the process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad profile precisionVSAvoidmaintenance pass duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The optimal blade positions are predetermined and recorded during an initial maintenance pass or created from design specifications. This preliminary action captures the precise blade positions needed to achieve the desired road profile, which are then automatically reproduced during subsequent passes, eliminating the time-consuming manual adjustment process while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical control system is replaced with an automated control system that uses recorded position data to directly control the blade actuators. This substitution eliminates the time delay associated with manual observation and adjustment, achieving precise road profiles more quickly through automated feedback control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If automated control using stored maintenance passes is implemented, then productivity and consistency improve, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance pass efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller serves multiple functions: it records blade position data during maintenance passes, stores this data for future reference, retrieves appropriate stored passes, and automatically controls the blade actuators based on the stored information. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate complex systems into a single integrated controller, improving productivity while managing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The stored maintenance pass data acts as an intermediary between the control system and the blade actuators. Rather than requiring complex real-time calculations or human intervention, the system uses pre-processed position data as a mediator to guide blade movement, simplifying the control logic while maintaining high productivity and consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10883248B2Road maintenance using stored maintenance passes

Publication Date: 2021.01.05 DEERE & CO

AI summary

In accordance with an example embodiment, a work vehicle may include a vehicle positioning system providing a vehicle position signal, a ground-engaging blade moveable by blade actuators, a blade sensing system providing a blade position signal, and a controller in communication with the vehicle positioning system, the blade actuators, and the blade sensing system. The controller may be configured to receive the vehicle position signal, receive the blade position signal, determine a target blade position using the vehicle position signal and a stored maintenance pass, the stored maintenance pass indicative of a past position of the blade associated with a past position of the vehicle for a plurality of past vehicle positions, and control the blade actuators to move the blade toward the target blade position.