Ground Compaction Sensing for Real-Time Grading Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current grading operations with work machines assume 100% compaction of the ground surface, leading to inefficiencies due to loosely compacted material requiring additional passes or overcompaction, and lack real-time accounting for vehicular traffic and other influences.
Innovation Solution
A ground compaction sensing system for work machines, utilizing sensors to determine chassis and attachment angles, spacing, and location, which generates real-time compaction values and stress maps, enabling precise adjustment of attachment movement and communication with follower machines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If current grading operations assume 100% compaction of the ground surface, then the grading process can proceed without additional compaction checks, but this leads to loosely compacted material requiring additional passes or overcompaction
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs sensors (inclination sensors, GPS receivers) to continuously monitor ground surface characteristics and compaction status during grading operations. The controller processes this feedback data to determine actual compaction levels, enabling real-time adjustments to grading operations. This closed-loop feedback mechanism eliminates the need to assume 100% compaction while preventing both under-compaction and over-compaction, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and compaction quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If additional passes are performed to ensure proper compaction, then compaction quality improves, but time consumption and fuel usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The compaction sensing system provides real-time feedback on actual compaction levels during the grading process. The controller uses this information to determine whether additional passes are necessary, eliminating unnecessary repetitions. By continuously monitoring compaction quality and comparing it against target specifications, the system ensures proper compaction is achieved in the minimum number of passes, thus resolving the contradiction between compaction quality and time loss.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual spot checking of compaction is performed, then compaction quality can be verified, but the process is arduous and does not provide real-time data
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical compaction checking methods (such as cone penetrometer tests) with an automated sensing system comprising inclination sensors, GPS receivers, and a controller. This substitution eliminates the arduous manual process while providing continuous, real-time compaction data throughout the grading operation. The automated system maintains compaction verification accuracy while dramatically improving ease of operation, thus resolving the contradiction between compaction verification and operational ease.
4Manufacturing precision
If real-time compaction monitoring is implemented, then grading accuracy and resource optimization improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multi-functional sensors that simultaneously perform multiple measurement tasks. The inclination sensors both monitor ground surface slope for grading control and detect compaction-induced surface changes. The GPS receivers track both machine position for navigation and location-specific compaction data. This multi-functionality approach enables real-time compaction monitoring and improved grading accuracy while minimizing the number of separate components required, thus resolving the contradiction between grading precision and device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A ground compaction sensing system for a work machine includes a chassis, a ground-engaging mechanism coupled to the chassis, and an attachment movably coupled to the chassis. Multiple sensors are configured to generate a chassis angle signal, an attachment angle signal, an attachment spacing signal, and a location signal. The controller has a non-transitory computer readable medium with a program instruction to grade a surface. The program instructions when executed cause a processor of the controller to receive the aforementioned signals and determine an as-built grade of the surface based on an attachment reference point at a first location of the location signal; and a compaction value when a chassis reference point reaches the first location as the work machine traverses across the surface. The program instructions may then include modifying movement of the attachment based on the compaction value.