Work Vehicle Bale Pickup Sensor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of work vehicles, such as tractors or telehandlers, face challenges in accurately picking up bales from agricultural fields due to the need for manual control of speed and steering, which requires experience and can lead to operator fatigue, and there is a risk of damaging the bale wrapping material during pickup.
Innovation Solution
A work vehicle equipped with a hydraulically-actuated lifting assembly, a sensor arrangement for optical detection of the bale, and a driver assistance system that automatically controls the lifting assembly to position the bale handling implement at a predefined location on the bale, reducing the risk of damage and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual control of speed and steering is used, then the operator can control the work vehicle, but operator fatigue increases and accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the work vehicle to automatically detect bale positions using sensors and adjust its own speed and steering without continuous operator intervention. The automated lifting assembly positions itself to pick up bales, making the system self-sufficient and reducing operator workload while maintaining high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical control is replaced by an automated control system that uses optical sensors to detect bale positions and electronically controls the vehicle's speed and steering. The hydraulic lifting assembly is automatically actuated based on sensor data, substituting manual mechanical operations with automated electronic and hydraulic systems.
2Ease of operation
If manual positioning is used, then the operator can adjust the implement, but the risk of damaging wrapping material increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects the precise position of bales using optical sensors and self-adjusts the lifting assembly to the correct pickup location. This eliminates manual positioning errors that could damage wrapping material, as the system independently determines and executes the optimal pickup position.
Solution Approach 2:
Optical sensors continuously monitor bale positions and provide feedback to the control system. The system uses this feedback to automatically adjust the lifting assembly's position and timing, ensuring precise pickup without damaging the wrapping material. The closed-loop control prevents overshooting or mispositioning that could cause damage.
3Productivity
If automated control is implemented, then accuracy and productivity improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor system serves multiple functions: detecting bale position, determining pickup timing, and guiding the lifting assembly. The control system integrates vehicle speed control, steering adjustment, and hydraulic actuation into a single automated platform, reducing overall system complexity despite the added automation capabilities.
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
The system enables high-precision automated pickup of bales with reduced risk of damaging the wrapping material, alleviating operator workload and enhancing the accuracy and productivity of the bale pickup operation.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor arrangement (12) attached to the work vehicle chassis (4), with the sensor arrangement (12) being positioned and configured to optically detect the bale (9) on the ground and a position and/or a space orientation of the bale (9)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A work vehicle and a method for operating a work vehicle are disclosed. The work vehicle comprises a work vehicle chassis, a lifting assembly, a bale handling implement, a sensor arrangement being positioned and configured to optically detect the bale on the ground and a position and/or a space orientation of the bale and a driver assistance system comprising a controller. The sensor arrangement is configured to optically identify a target location on the bale used for picking up the bale with the bale handling implement, the lifting assembly being controlled by the controller based on the target location while the work vehicle is approaching the bale such that the bale handling implement is positioned at the target location on the bale when picking up the bale from the ground.