Active Boom Suspension Control on Uneven Agricultural Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural vehicles face challenges in maintaining stability and accuracy when traversing uneven terrain, leading to vibrations and inconsistent application of agricultural products due to inadequate suspension systems.
Innovation Solution
A suspension control system that includes sensors to detect chassis and boom assembly orientations, a computing system to calculate offset angles, and actuation mechanisms to adjust suspension components to counteract terrain irregularities, ensuring accurate product application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a traditional suspension system is used to dampen vehicle movement, then vehicle stability is improved, but application accuracy deteriorates due to inability to compensate for terrain variations
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system transitions from a static, passive design to a dynamic, active system. Sensors continuously monitor chassis orientation and boom position, while actuators dynamically adjust suspension component positions in real-time based on terrain conditions, enabling the system to adapt and maintain application accuracy despite terrain variations
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements closed-loop feedback control where sensors detect chassis orientation and boom assembly position, the computing system processes this data to determine offset angles, and actuators adjust suspension components accordingly. This continuous feedback cycle ensures both vehicle stability and precise application accuracy are maintained simultaneously
2Manufacturing precision
If suspension components are made rigid to maintain position, then application accuracy is improved, but vehicle stability deteriorates due to increased vibration transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension components are designed with adjustable rigidity through active actuators. The system dynamically modulates the rigidity of suspension components based on real-time terrain feedback, allowing the boom assembly to remain stable for accurate application while the chassis absorbs vibrations for overall vehicle stability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters of the suspension system by actively adjusting the position and rigidity of suspension components. actuators modify the mechanical properties of the suspension in real-time, transforming the system from fixed-parameter to variable-parameter, enabling simultaneous optimization of stability and accuracy
3Stability of the object's composition
If passive suspension is used to isolate cab and boom from vibrations, then vehicle stability is improved, but application accuracy deteriorates due to inability to counteract terrain irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces purely mechanical passive suspension with an integrated electromechanical active suspension system. Electronic sensors and control systems substitute for purely mechanical designs, enabling the suspension to actively counteract terrain irregularities while maintaining vibration isolation for both cab and boom assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary counter-actions to prevent terrain irregularities from affecting application accuracy. Sensors detect upcoming terrain variations and the computing system pre-adjusts suspension component positions to compensate for anticipated disturbances before they impact the boom assembly, maintaining precise application
Data Source
AI summary
A suspension control system can include a chassis and a suspension component operably coupled with the chassis. A boom assembly can be operably coupled with the chassis. One or more sensors can be configured to generate data indicative of a chassis orientation or boom assembly orientation relative to a level axis. A computing system can be communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors. The computing system can be configured to calculate an offset angle based on data from the one or more sensors, compare the offset angle to a defined correction threshold, and generate instructions to actuate the suspension component to lower the suspension component relative to a ground surface by a correction factor when the offset angle exceeds the defined correction threshold.