Steering Dead Band Compensation in Mobile Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural and utility vehicles face issues with steering play, leading to positioning errors and inefficiencies in repetitive tasks due to mechanical discrepancies and wear, which can result in damaged crops, overplanting, and increased operational costs.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that measures and compensates for steering dead band by manually storing a dead band value and applying it to a controller, allowing for automatic mitigation of guidance-related errors and suitable for aftermarket installation, complementing automatic steering control navigational guidance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional mechanical steering systems are used in agricultural vehicles, then the vehicle can perform repetitive field operations, but steering play and dead band cause positioning errors leading to gaps and overlaps in crop rows

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsteering consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system measures and stores the dead band value in advance through operator input, then applies this pre-determined compensation value to the steering controller to correct positioning errors before they occur during field operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the steering control parameter by adding a dead band compensation value to the steering angle commands, adjusting the effective steering response to account for mechanical play in the steering system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If steering play is present in the steering mechanism, then the vehicle can operate with simple mechanical components, but operator attention is occupied with manual compensation increasing distraction and reducing safety

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic steering controlVSAvoidoperator distraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service by automatically compensating for steering dead band through electronic control, eliminating the need for the operator to manually correct positioning errors and thereby reducing operator distraction and fatigue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If steering dead band is not compensated, then the vehicle can complete field operations, but economic losses occur due to damaged crops, overplanting, and repeated operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield operation efficiencyVSAvoidcrop damage and waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the stored dead band measurement to continuously adjust steering commands, ensuring accurate positioning that prevents crop damage, overplanting, and the need for repeated field operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Manufacturing precision

If expensive factory-installed guidance systems are used, then positioning accuracy can be improved, but the cost is too high for aftermarket installation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguidance system accuracyVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a simple, low-cost dead band measurement and compensation approach that can be implemented as an aftermarket modification without requiring expensive factory-installed guidance systems, making precision steering accessible to existing vehicle owners

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS7640088B2Method and system for controlling steering deadband in a mobile machine

Publication Date: 2009.12.29 PTX TRIMBLE LLC

AI summary

A method and system for controlling steering dead band in a mobile machine is described. The method includes measuring the dead band, storing a value corresponding to thereto, and applying the dead band value to a controller of a steering mechanism. The steering mechanism is thus controlled according to the dead band value to compensate for the dead band.