GNSS Slope Control for Work Vehicle Heading and Grade Accuracy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Work vehicles face challenges in maintaining accurate grade control, particularly in varying soil conditions, leading to inefficiencies and increased time requirements due to uncorrected trajectory changes, especially when operating automatically without human intervention.
Innovation Solution
A work vehicle system incorporating a global positioning system and sensors to generate chassis and implement signals, a controller to determine orientation and distance errors, and actuators to adjust ground-engaging mechanisms for precise alignment and depth control, enabling auto heading and slope update modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automatic operation without human intervention is used, then productivity is improved, but grade control accuracy deteriorates due to uncorrected trajectory changes in varying soil conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the work vehicle's actual trajectory using GNSS positioning and compares it with the reference trajectory. The controller calculates deviation distances and generates feedback signals to automatically adjust the ground-engaging implement, enabling closed-loop control that maintains grade accuracy during automatic operation without human intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual operator intervention with an automated control system that uses electronic sensors (GNSS antenna, inertial measurement unit), a controller, and hydraulic actuators to monitor and adjust the vehicle's trajectory and implement positioning, eliminating the need for human operators while maintaining precision
2Manufacturing precision
If additional passes are performed to correct trajectory errors, then grade control accuracy is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to increased time requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary trajectory correction during the current pass by continuously monitoring deviation and making real-time adjustments to the ground-engaging implement's position and angle. This prevents cumulative errors from developing and eliminates the need for additional corrective passes
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic control system enables the work vehicle to self-correct its trajectory and implement positioning by autonomously calculating deviations and adjusting its own operation, without requiring external intervention or additional passes to correct errors
3Manufacturing precision
If real-time trajectory correction is implemented, then grade control accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it processes GNSS positioning data, calculates trajectory deviations, generates control signals, and coordinates hydraulic actuation. The ground-engaging implement also serves dual purposes for both cutting and steering the vehicle, reducing the need for separate dedicated components
4Manufacturing precision
If manual operation with trained operator intervention is used, then grade control accuracy is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to slower response time compared to automatic systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the human operator's sensory and motor functions with electronic sensors and automated control mechanisms. The GNSS antenna and inertial measurement unit continuously track position and orientation, while the controller processes this data and actuates the implement in real-time, achieving faster and more consistent response than manual operation
Data Source
AI summary
A work vehicle including a chassis, a ground-engaging mechanism, an input device, a global positioning system, and a controller. The input device providing a bench surface. The global positioning system configured to provide a chassis heading signal, a chassis inclination signal indicative of a main fall angle, and a chassis roll signal indicative of a cross slope angle. The controller configured to receive the chassis heading signals, record the chassis heading signal from a first location to a second location; use the recorded chassis heading signal as a reference chassis heading signal; receive a current chassis heading signal; determine an orientation error based on the reference chassis heading signal and the current chassis heading signal; and send a command to actuate the ground-engaging mechanism to shift the current heading to align with the reference heading based on the orientation error.