Vehicle Train Steering Control for Sloping Terrain

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for towing heavy towed vehicles or trains behind a tractor require large and costly tractors, leading to inefficiencies and operational challenges, especially when navigating sloping terrain or encountering obstacles.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for vehicle-train steering control that uses sensing devices to determine orientation information and apply steering corrections by controlling the steering assembly of towed vehicles, allowing for precise guidance and stabilization of the vehicle train, including the use of motors to adjust ground-engaging speeds and orientations to maintain path stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a relatively large tractor is used to pull heavy towed vehicles, then the towing capability is sufficient, but the cost and operational efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetowing capabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces pure mechanical towing force with an active control system that uses sensing devices, processors, and steering assemblies to dynamically adjust the orientation and ground engagement of towed vehicles. This substitution allows a smaller tractor to effectively manage heavy loads through intelligent control rather than brute force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The towed vehicles are equipped with their own steering assemblies and ground-engaging members that can actively adjust their position and orientation in response to terrain conditions. This self-adjustment capability reduces the burden on the tractor, allowing it to be smaller while still maintaining control and stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Force

If a relatively large tractor is used to pull heavy towed vehicles, then the towing capability is sufficient, but the operational efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetowing capabilityVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the steering and ground engagement of towed vehicles in real-time based on terrain conditions detected by sensing devices. This dynamic adaptation allows the vehicle train to navigate varying terrain efficiently, maintaining productivity without requiring an oversized tractor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Sensing devices continuously monitor terrain conditions and provide feedback to the control system, which then adjusts the steering assemblies and ground-engaging members accordingly. This closed-loop feedback enables the system to respond to changing conditions, maintaining operational efficiency on diverse terrain

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If traditional towing methods are used on sloping terrain, then the setup is simple, but the stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesetup simplicityVSAvoidvehicle train stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system proactively adjusts the orientation and ground engagement of towed vehicles before and during traversal of sloping terrain. By anticipating and pre-adjusting to slope conditions, the system maintains stability without requiring complex manual intervention or setup modifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Stability of the object's composition

If steering control is applied to towed vehicles, then the stability on sloping terrain improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle train stabilityVSAvoidsteering control system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The steering control system is divided into modular components: sensing devices for terrain detection, processors for control logic, and steering assemblies with ground-engaging members for physical adjustment. This segmentation allows the complex function to be distributed across multiple independent modules, making the system more manageable and maintainable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9037346B2Steering control for vehicle trains

Publication Date: 2015.05.19 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A steering control system is disclosed for a vehicle train with a tow vehicle, a first towed vehicle with at least one ground-engaging member, and a second towed vehicle. A steering assembly may be configured to control steering of the at least one ground-engaging member. One or more sensing devices may be configured to determine orientation information for one or more of the tow vehicle, the first towed vehicle, and the second towed vehicle, during operation of the vehicle train. A steering correction may be determined for the second towed vehicle based upon the determined orientation information. The steering correction may be applied for the second towed vehicle by controlling the steering assembly to steer the first towed vehicle.