Adaptive Cruise Control for Work Vehicle Turn Speed Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compact work vehicles lack extended cruise control during turns, especially without GNSS receivers, leading to potential rollovers and turf damage due to irregular speeds and large turning radii.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive cruise control system that monitors vehicle orientation, steering angle, and other operating variables to adjust speed settings during turns, using integrated sensors and software algorithms to maintain stable ground speed and reduce the risk of rollovers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cruise control is enabled to hold vehicle speed at a desired setpoint, then productivity is improved through consistent ground speed, but safety deteriorates during turns due to potential rollovers from excessive speed
Solution Approach 1:
The cruise control system dynamically adjusts the vehicle speed setpoint based on the detected turn condition. When a turn is detected through steering angle sensing, the system automatically reduces the speed setpoint from the normal cruising speed to a lower safe speed appropriate for turning conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain productivity through automated speed control while simultaneously ensuring safety by preventing rollovers during turns.
2Productivity
If advance speed is not reduced approaching tight curvature segments, then productivity is maintained, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to path override and crosswise skid
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary speed reduction before the vehicle enters tight curvature segments. By detecting the approach to a turn through steering angle changes, the cruise control system proactively reduces the speed setpoint in advance, allowing the vehicle to smoothly transition into the turn at an appropriate speed. This preliminary action prevents path override and crosswise skid, ensuring accurate path following while maintaining efficient productivity through automated speed management.
3Reliability
If operator manually overrides cruise control during turns, then safety is improved by controlling turn speed, but productivity deteriorates due to operator fatigue and continuous monitoring requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The cruise control system provides self-service by automatically detecting turn conditions through steering angle sensing and autonomously adjusting the vehicle speed setpoint accordingly. This eliminates the need for operator intervention during turns, allowing the system to maintain safe turn speeds without requiring continuous operator monitoring or manual overrides. The result is improved safety through consistent turn speed control while enhancing productivity by reducing operator fatigue and workload.
4Adaptability or versatility
If extended cruise control features are added to work vehicles without GNSS receivers, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extends cruise control functionality to work vehicles without GNSS receivers by utilizing the vehicle's existing steering angle sensor for turn detection. Instead of requiring additional specialized sensors or systems, the solution leverages the universal steering angle information already available in the vehicle's steering control system. This multi-functional approach enables extended cruise control features that work during both straight-line and turning operations, improving adaptability while avoiding increased device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Adaptive cruise control is provided for a work vehicle, for example a work vehicle lacking global navigation satellite system or equivalent positioning components. Work vehicle operating values corresponding to at least an orientation and an advance speed of the work vehicle are monitored, along with a steering angle. At least while a cruise control operating mode is enabled, and further wherein the sensed steering angle corresponds to forward advance by the work vehicle, an advance speed for the work vehicle is commanded to a first speed setting. Upon determining that the sensed steering angle exceeds a specified sensitivity value, the advance speed for the work vehicle is commanded to a second speed setting, wherein at least a maximum value for the second speed setting is automatically determined based on at least the one or more work vehicle operating values corresponding to the orientation of the work vehicle.