Variable Dead Band Joystick Control for Vehicle Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Joystick control systems in vehicles, such as front-loaders and remote-control vehicles, experience unintended movements due to small, unintentional joystick handle movements, leading to jerky or choppy vehicle operations, particularly when uniform dead bands are applied along entire axes.
Innovation Solution
A joystick system with a reduced dead band is implemented by modifying the voltage or current parameters in voltage-based systems or mechanically altering the joystick mechanics, allowing for variable dead band widths based on joystick handle positions, thereby preventing unwanted movements by maintaining a control signal at the origin within specific dead band regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a uniform dead band is applied along the entire joystick axis, then unintended movements are reduced, but steering responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different dead band widths to different regions of the joystick travel range. Specifically, a smaller dead band width is applied to the central region where steering control is needed, while a larger dead band width is applied to the outer regions where unintended movements occur. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing responsiveness where needed while preventing unwanted movements where appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the dead band width based on the joystick handle position. The controller determines the current position of the joystick handle and selectively applies different dead band widths accordingly. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain steering responsiveness in the central region while preventing unintended movements in the outer regions, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a larger dead band is used to prevent unintended movements, then vehicle stability improves, but control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by applying different dead band widths to different spatial regions of joystick travel. A smaller dead band is applied to the central region to maintain control precision, while a larger dead band is applied to outer regions to ensure vehicle stability. This resolves the contradiction by providing stability where needed without sacrificing precision in the control-critical central region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dead band parameter dynamically based on joystick position. The controller monitors the joystick handle position and adjusts the dead band width parameter accordingly - using a smaller width for precise steering control in the central region and a larger width for stability in outer regions. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between stability and precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for controlling a vehicle with a joystick that includes implementing at least one dead band for the joystick. The dead band prevents movement of the vehicle when the joystick is within the dead band areas. The dead band areas are adjustable and take a plurality of shapes including having gaps between areas of the dead band areas. These dead bands allow for smooth operation of a vehicle by suppressing the control signal of the joystick for unintentional movements of the joystick by the operator. The adjustability of the dead band allows for adjustment based on the joystick type, the vehicle type, and the control desired.