Work Vehicle Lift Control to Prevent Rear Sensor Mis-Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional work vehicles, such as agricultural tractors, face a decrease in work efficiency due to rear sensors mis-detecting the work machine as an obstacle, leading to improper lifting and lowering operations.

Innovation Solution

A work vehicle equipped with a control unit that sets a regulation height based on the rear sensor's detection range, preventing the work machine from being lifted to a height where it is mis-detected as an obstacle, and includes a lift arm with a sensor to control pivot angles for precise lifting and lowering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the rear sensor is used to detect obstacles behind the vehicle, then obstacle detection capability is improved, but the work machine is mis-detected as an obstacle causing work efficiency to decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobstacle detection capabilityVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the operational parameters of the rear sensor based on the state of the work machine. When the work machine is in the working position, the rear sensor is deactivated or its detection threshold is adjusted to prevent mis-detection. This parameter change allows the system to maintain high obstacle detection reliability when needed while avoiding false alarms that would reduce work efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the detection state of the rear sensor based on the position and state of the work machine. The control unit receives signals from the work machine state detector and actively controls whether the rear sensor is in detection mode or standby mode. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the sensor is active when obstacle detection is needed but inactive when it would cause mis-detection, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Length of moving object

If the work machine is lifted high for transport, then transport capability is improved, but the work machine enters the rear sensor detection range causing mis-detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport heightVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system takes preliminary action by detecting the position of the work machine before the rear sensor could potentially mis-detect it as an obstacle. The work machine state detector continuously monitors whether the work machine is in the working position or transport position, and the control unit proactively adjusts the rear sensor state in advance to prevent mis-detection before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the work machine state detector to control the rear sensor operation. The control unit receives real-time information about the work machine position and adjusts the rear sensor detection state accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that when the work machine is lifted to transport height, the rear sensor is already in the appropriate state to avoid mis-detection, thus maintaining detection accuracy while enabling full transport capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the rear sensor operates continuously, then obstacle detection coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases and false detection occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection coverageVSAvoidsensor energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous operation, the rear sensor operates periodically based on the working state of the work machine. The control unit activates the rear sensor only during periods when the work machine is in the working position and deactivates it during transport or idle periods. This periodic operation maintains adequate detection coverage when needed while significantly reducing energy consumption and eliminating false detections during non-working periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3677107B1Work vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.09.28 ISEKI & CO LTD
  • EP3677107B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3677107B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3677107B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Provided is a work vehicle (1), in which a decrease in work efficiency is prevented. The work vehicle (1) according to embodiments includes a travelling vehicle body (2) ; a work machine (W) mounted on a rear portion of the travelling vehicle body (2) to be capable of being lifted and lowered; a control unit (40) for controlling lifting and lowering of the work machine (W) ; and a rear sensor (22) provided on the rear portion of the travelling vehicle body (2) and configured to detect an object present behind the travelling vehicle body (2), wherein the control unit (40) is configured to set a regulation height based on a height where the rear sensor (22) detects the work machine (W) while the work machine (W) is lifted and then to regulate lifting of the work machine (W) during work in such a manner that a height of the work machine (W) is kept equal to or lower than the regulation height.