Machine Control Rate Limiting for Transmission State Adaptation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy machinery experiences unintended or undesired acceleration when changing direction or entering a neutral state due to the faster response of the engine compared to the transmission, leading to detrimental performance issues.
Innovation Solution
A machine control system that includes a processor configured to communicate with an operator interface and a transmission assembly, which adjusts the power source speed at a slower rate than requested to allow the transmission sufficient time to respond to direction changes or neutral state selections, preventing unintended acceleration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the engine speed responds quickly to operator requests, then the machine can accelerate faster, but unintended acceleration may occur during direction changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the engine speed response rate based on the transmission state. When the transmission is in the process of changing direction (neutral state detected), the engine speed increase rate is limited to a lower value. When the transmission is already in a stable travel state, the engine speed can increase at a higher rate. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the response rate adaptive to the current operational context.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors the transmission state (whether it is in neutral state or travel state) and uses this feedback to adjust the engine speed response. The processor detects the transmission state and accordingly modifies the rate at which engine speed can increase, preventing unintended acceleration during direction changes while maintaining quick response during normal operation.
2Reliability
If the transmission responds slowly to direction changes, then unintended acceleration is prevented, but machine productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic rate limiting that adapts to transmission state. During direction changes when neutral state is detected, the engine speed increase rate is limited. However, once the transmission completes the direction change and enters a stable travel state, the rate limit is increased or removed, allowing the machine to accelerate quickly and maintain high productivity. This resolves the contradiction by applying different response characteristics at different operational phases.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine control system may include a processor configured to communicate with an operator interface including an acceleration pedal and a forward-neutral-reverse selector, a power source, and a transmission assembly. The processor may be configured to obtain a request from the forward-neutral-reverse selector. The processor may also be configured to provide an instruction for adjusting operation of the transmission assembly in response to the forward-neutral-reverse selector request. The process may also be configured to obtain a request for an increase in a speed of the power source at a first rate. The power source speed request may be based on a position of the acceleration pedal. The processor may also be configured to provide an instruction for increasing the power source speed at a second rate slower than the first rate. This may provide the transmission assembly with time to respond to the forward-neutral-reverse selector request by switching from one of a forward travel state, a neutral state, and a reverse travel state, to another of the forward travel, neutral, and reverse travel states.