Agricultural Vehicle Incline-Aware Powertrain Control Against Stalling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural vehicles face challenges when towing agricultural implements across varying terrain, particularly hill inclines, as the draft load can cause a decrease in momentum, leading to vehicle stalling.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural vehicle equipped with sensors to detect field surface inclines and a computing system that adjusts the engine or transmission operation based on the detected incline parameters before engaging the incline, to prevent stalling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the agricultural vehicle tows the agricultural implement across varying terrain including hill inclines, then the agricultural operation coverage and productivity are improved, but the draft load causes decrease in momentum leading to vehicle stalling
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor detects the hill incline ahead of the vehicle, and the computing system initiates engine or transmission adjustments before the vehicle engages the incline. This preliminary action prevents momentum loss and stalling by preparing the powertrain in advance, rather than reacting after the problem occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts engine or transmission operation based on real-time sensor data about upcoming terrain changes. The control parameters are not fixed but adapt continuously to the detected incline, allowing the vehicle to maintain optimal performance across varying terrain conditions.
2Manufacturing precision
If the agricultural implement penetration depth is increased to improve tilling effectiveness, then the agricultural operation quality is improved, but the draft load on the agricultural vehicle increases causing momentum decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects upcoming hill inclines in advance and adjusts engine or transmission operation before the vehicle encounters the incline. This preliminary adjustment compensates for the increased draft load from deeper penetration, maintaining momentum and preventing stalling throughout the tilling operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling the operation of an agricultural vehicle configured to tow an agricultural implement includes an engine coupled to a frame of the agricultural vehicle and a transmission operatively coupled to the engine. The system also includes a sensor configured to generate data indicative of a field surface incline forward of the agricultural vehicle relative to a direction of travel of the agricultural vehicle. Additionally, the system includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the sensor. The computing system is configured to determine a field surface incline parameter based on the data generated by the sensor. Furthermore, the computing system is configured to initiate an adjustment to an operation of at least one of the engine or the transmission based on the determined field surface parameter prior to engagement of the field surface incline.