When a current landscape includes an upward slope and a downward slope existing ahead of the upward slope, a controller determines a virtual design surface including a first design surface inclined at a smaller angle than the upward slope and a second design surface inclined with respect to the first design surface at a smaller angle than the downward slope. The controller generates a command signal that causes a work implement to move along the virtual design surface.

Some embodiments include an autonomous loader comprising a speed control system; a steering control system; a shovel control system; and a controller communicatively coupled with the speed control system, the steering control system, and the shovel control system. In some embodiments, the controller has code that instructs the shovel control system to place the shovel in a position to load the shovel; instructs the speed control system to move the autonomous loader into a load zone; determines whether the shovel has been filled with material from the load zone; instructs the shovel control system to raise the shovel a predetermined amount; determines a second time whether the shovel has been filled with material from the load zone; instructs the shovel control system to raise the shovel out of the load zone; and instructs the shovel control system to shake the shovel.

A control device of a work vehicle includes a required output torque determination unit that determines a required output torque of the power transmission device based on an operation amount of the operation device and a traveling speed of the work vehicle, a traveling load estimation unit that estimates a traveling load torque related to a traveling load on the work vehicle, a required output torque correction unit that corrects the required output torque such that the required output torque is included in an allowable output torque range including an estimated traveling load torque, and a drive source control unit that outputs a control signal for the drive source based on a corrected required output torque.

An excavator may include a lower traveling body; an upper turning body pivotally installed to the lower traveling body; an engine installed in the upper turning body; a main pump driven by the engine; and a processor and a memory that stores program instructions causing the processor to control a flow rate of hydraulic oil discharged by the main pump. The program instructions can cause the processor to, when a load of the engine increases, delay a response of the main pump 14 until an actual torque of the engine rises up to a level corresponding to the load of the engine.

A work vehicle includes a work implement and a controller. The work implement includes a vehicular body that travels in excavation, a boom pivotable with respect to the vehicular body, and a bucket pivotable with respect to the boom. The controller calculates a direction of a cutting edge of the bucket, determines a direction of movement of the cutting edge by an excavation operation such that an excavation angle between the calculated direction of the cutting edge of the bucket and the direction of movement of the cutting edge by the excavation operation keeps a predetermined angle, and causes the work vehicle to perform the excavation operation in the direction of movement.

A controller (18) calculates, based on a target loading weight (P) that is a target value of a total weight of working objects to be loaded into a hauling vehicle, a set loading time number indicative of a loading time number required for the construction machine before the target loading weight (P) is reached and bucket shape information indicative of a shape of a bucket (7), an appropriate loading weight (W.sub.a) that is an appropriate value of the weight of the working objects to be loaded into the hauling vehicle by a single time loading work by the construction machine, creates an appropriate amount illustration (30) that is an illustration of a state at which the working objects of the appropriate loading weight (W.sub.a) are loaded into the bucket and that illustrates the state of the working objects, based on the appropriate loading weight (W.sub.a) and the bucket shape information, and controls a display device (19) to display an illustration (29) of the bucket (7) and the appropriate amount illustration (30) in a superimposed relationship.

A work machine, a first method of defining a virtual 3D exclusion zone, and a second method of preventing collisions involving a work machine are disclosed. The work machine comprises a body, an implement arm, an imaging assembly, and an electrohydraulic assembly configured to prevent the implement arm from intersecting a 3D exclusion zone. The first method comprises scanning a local environment, generating a virtual 3D representation, identifying key structures, and generating a virtual 3D exclusion zone encompassing the key structures. The second method comprises defining a virtual 3D exclusion zone, monitoring a motion of the work machine, and adjusting the motion to avoid an intersection between the work machine and the 3D exclusion zone. The 3D exclusion zone may be implemented for a number of machines, environments, and key structures without unduly removing control from a human operator.

A shovel includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body mounted on the lower traveling body, an attachment attached to the upper turning body, and a control device mounted on the upper turning body and configured to assist an excavating motion with the attachment. The control device is configured to derive a target excavation depth based on the hardness of an excavation target.

In embodiments, a work vehicle magnetorheological fluid (MRF) joystick system includes a joystick device, an MRF joystick resistance mechanism, and a controller architecture. The joystick device includes, in turn, a base housing, a joystick movably mounted to the base housing, and a joystick position sensor configured to monitor movement of the joystick relative to the base housing. The MRF joystick resistance mechanism is controllable to vary a first joystick stiffness resisting movement of the joystick relative to the base housing in at least one degree of freedom. The controller architecture is configured to: (i) detect when unintended joystick motion conditions occur during operation of the work vehicle; and (ii) when detecting unintended joystick motion conditions, command the MRF joystick resistance mechanism to increase the first joystick stiffness in a manner reducing susceptibility of the joystick device to unintended joystick motions.

Embodiments of a work vehicle magnetorheological fluid (MRF) joystick system includes a joystick device having a base housing, a joystick movably mounted to the base housing, and a joystick position sensor monitoring movement of the joystick relative to the base housing. An MRF joystick resistance mechanism is controllable to vary a joystick stiffness resisting movement of the joystick relative to the base housing in at least one degree of freedom. A controller architecture is coupled to the joystick position sensor and to the MRF joystick resistance mechanism. The controller architecture is configured to: (i) command the MRF joystick resistance mechanism to increase the joystick stiffness when the joystick is moved into a first predetermined detent position to generate a first MRF detent; and (ii) selectively activate a first detent-triggered function of the work vehicle based, at least in part, on joystick movement relative to the first MRF detent.