Blade Control System for Track-Type Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated blade control systems for heavy equipment, such as dozers and motor graders, face challenges in accurately controlling blade movement at lower speeds due to blade bounce caused by grouser impacts, leading to uneven surfaces and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A blade control system for track-type machines that includes a control module capable of receiving and processing blade positioning signals, removing periodic noise and speed-variable components using digital filters, and transmitting modified signals to actuators, thereby mitigating the effects of grouser impacts and machine speed on blade positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated blade control systems are used at lower machine speeds, then blade positioning control becomes difficult due to blade bounce from grouser impacts, but using higher speeds would reduce control precision and surface quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the periodic noise component from the blade positioning signal that is caused by grouser impacts. The control module identifies the frequency of blade bounce (which varies with machine speed) and selectively filters out this specific frequency component while preserving other signal information, thereby eliminating the harmful vibration effects without sacrificing control precision at low speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the filtering parameters based on machine speed. Since the frequency of blade bounce changes with machine speed, the control module modifies the noise removal algorithm's parameters (such as filter frequency and intensity) to match the current operating conditions, ensuring effective vibration mitigation across a wide range of speeds while maintaining surface grading quality
2Ease of operation
If blade bounce is allowed to occur at lower speeds, then machine operation is simpler, but the resulting blade bounce causes uneven graded surfaces and requires additional corrective actions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from sensors that detect blade position and vibration characteristics to automatically adjust control signals. The control module continuously monitors the blade positioning signal for signs of grouser-induced bounce and automatically applies noise removal algorithms, eliminating the need for operator intervention or manual adjustments while maintaining smooth graded surfaces at all operating speeds
3Reliability
If noise removal filtering is applied to blade positioning signals, then blade bounce is reduced, but system complexity increases due to additional signal processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial noise removal by targeting only the specific frequency range associated with grouser impacts rather than filtering the entire signal spectrum. The control module selectively removes the periodic noise component at the identified blade bounce frequency while leaving other signal components intact, achieving vibration mitigation with minimal signal processing complexity and preserving authentic blade positioning information
Data Source
AI summary
A blade control system for a track-type machine is disclosed. The blade control system has a blade, an input device configured to control movement of the blade, an actuator in connection with the blade, a first sensor configured to determine a track-speed of the machine, and a control module in communication with the input device, the actuator, and the first sensor. The control module is configured to receive a blade positioning signal from the input device, remove a component of the blade positioning signal based on a the track-speed of the machine, and transmit a modified blade positioning signal to the actuator.