Work Machine Orientation Feedback Control for Reliable Farm Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In work vehicle and work machine combinations, automatic farm work operations can be compromised if the vehicles or machines are improperly positioned, leading to increased costs and safety risks due to the need for user judgment.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a vehicle electronic control unit configured to select parameters based on the orientation of the work vehicle, using sensors to detect pitch, roll, and yaw angles, and transmit error codes to the work machine electronic control unit to automatically adjust operations and ensure proper positioning for efficient farm work performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automatic farm work operations are implemented without orientation detection, then automation extent is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to improper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors vehicle orientation using sensors (inclinometer, gyroscope, accelerometer) and feeds this information back to the control unit. The control unit compares detected orientation against stored reference orientations to determine if the vehicle is properly positioned, enabling automatic feedback control that maintains reliable operation while preserving automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-positioning verification by automatically detecting vehicle orientation, comparing it with reference orientations, and adjusting operations without requiring external user judgment. The work machine autonomously determines whether it is properly positioned and can trigger alerts or adjustments, making the system self-sufficient while maintaining high reliability.
2Reliability
If user judgment is required for positioning assessment, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual user judgment with electronic sensing and computational processing. Sensors (inclinometer, gyroscope, accelerometer) automatically detect vehicle orientation, and a control unit processes this data to determine proper positioning. This substitution of mechanical/manual assessment with electronic systems maintains high reliability while the integrated control architecture manages complexity through standardized processing.
3Reliability
If orientation detection systems are added to maintain automation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it stores reference orientations, processes sensor data from multiple sensor types, determines proper vehicle positioning, controls work machine operations, and generates alerts. By making the control unit universal and multi-functional, the system integrates orientation detection into the existing automation infrastructure, improving reliability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system enhances the operation and performance of work machines by automatically adjusting operations based on vehicle orientation, reducing the need for user judgment and minimizing safety risks and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to detect an orientation of the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A system (10) including a sensor (60) configured to detect an orientation of the vehicle, a vehicle ECU (22) configured to communicate with the sensor (60) and with a work machine (40), a work machine ECU (42) configured to communicate with the vehicle and to control performance of a work function of the work machine, and wherein, the sensor is configured to communicate a detected orientation (62) of the vehicle to the vehicle ECU, the vehicle ECU is configured to transmit a signal (24) to the work machine ECU if the detected orientation is outside of target parameters corresponding to an orientation of the vehicle, and the signal is configured to notify the work machine ECU of the detected orientation and/or modify operation of a work function performed by the work machine.