Mobile Work Machine Stability Prediction and Restriction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction and agricultural equipment often face instability issues due to varied terrain and complex control mechanisms, leading to potential tipping and damage, as existing systems primarily react to sensor information rather than predicting future operational impacts.
Innovation Solution
A mobile work machine equipped with a stability detection and control system that predicts potential unstable states by analyzing terrain characteristics and machine configurations, generating restriction signals to prevent unstable conditions through dynamic control adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reactive sensor-based control is used, then the system responds to current conditions, but it cannot predict or prevent future unstable states
Solution Approach 1:
The stability system performs preliminary calculations to predict future unstable states before they occur. By analyzing current machine configuration, terrain characteristics, and operational parameters, the system computes potential instability scenarios and generates restriction signals in advance, allowing preventive action rather than reactive response.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by generating restriction signals that counteract potential instability before it manifests. The stability system identifies commanded movements that would lead to unstable states and restricts these commands proactively, preventing the harmful effect of tipping or rolling rather than responding after instability occurs.
2Reliability
If the stability system restricts commanded movements to avoid unstable states, then machine stability is improved, but operator flexibility and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The stability system dynamically adjusts restriction signals based on real-time conditions. Rather than applying fixed limitations, the system continuously evaluates commanded movements against predicted stability outcomes and generates context-specific restrictions. This allows maximum operational freedom when stable and applies minimal necessary constraints only when instability is predicted.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces physical mechanical constraints with intelligent software-based control. Instead of using mechanical limiters or physical barriers to prevent unstable configurations, the stability system uses computational algorithms to predict and restrict problematic commanded movements, providing flexibility while ensuring safety.
3Measurement precision
If complex terrain analysis and stability prediction algorithms are implemented, then stability detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stability system segments the complex stability analysis into distinct functional modules: terrain characteristic identification, machine configuration detection, unstable state prediction through calculations, and restriction signal generation. This modular approach manages complexity by organizing computational tasks into separate, manageable components that can be processed sequentially.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile work machine includes a frame; ground engaging elements movably supported by the frame and driven by a power source to drive movement of the machine; a moveable element movably supported by the frame to move relative to the frame; an actuator coupled to the moveable element to controllably drive movement of the moveable element; a control system that generates an actuator control signal, indicative of a commanded movement of the actuator, and provides the actuator control signal to the actuator to control the actuator to perform the commanded movement; a terrain identifier configured to identify a characteristic of terrain in a geographic area around the machine; and a stability system that determines whether the commanded movement will result in an unstable state of the machine based on the characteristic of the terrain and, if so, generates a restriction signal, restricting the commanded movement to avoid the unstable state.