A circle assembly for supporting implement of motor grader is provided. The circle assembly rotates relative to drawbar about rotation axis. The circle assembly includes plate and rim member coupled to plate. The plate defines front section and rear section and includes a ring gear portion defining a plurality of teeth formed integrally therein. A first skirt portion and a second skirt portion integrally and contiguously extend from ring gear portion at rear section. The first skirt portion and second skirt portion are angled relative to ring gear portion in direction of rotation axis. The rim member includes first arm member and second arm member attached to first skirt portion and second skirt portion, respectively, and a circumferential belt portion extending between the first arm member and the second arm member. The belt portion is spaced from and surrounds ring gear member at the front section of the plate.

A work vehicle that operates on a surface comprising an implement and an optical sensor. The optical sensor is configured to capture image data that includes the implement. An electronic processor is configured to perform an operation by controllably adjusting a position of the implement relative to the work vehicle, receive image data captured by the optical sensor, apply an artificial neural network to identify whether the implement is in contact with the surface based on the image data from the optical sensor, wherein the artificial neural network is trained to receive the image data as input and to produce as the output an indication of whether the implement is in contact with the surface, access operation information corresponding to whether the implement is in contact with the surface from a non-transitory computer-readable memory, and automatically adjust an operation of the work vehicle based on the accessed operation information.

A grading machine includes a machine body, a grading blade, and at least one grading blade sensor configured to sense a position and orientation of the grading blade. The grading machine also includes a drawbar connecting the grading blade to the machine body, at least one drawbar sensor configured to sense a position and orientation of the drawbar, a user interface, and a control system. The control system may be configured to receive an input from the user interface and perform an automatic turnaround operation.

A motor grader includes an operation apparatus, a front frame, a draw bar swingably attached to the front frame, a first actuator attached to the draw bar, the first actuator moving the draw bar in a lateral direction with respect to the front frame, a second actuator attached to the draw bar, the second actuator moving the draw bar in a direction toward the front frame and a direction away from the front frame, and a controller that causes the first actuator and the second actuator to operate. The controller causes the first actuator and the second actuator to operate based on an operation signal received from the operation apparatus such that a position of the draw bar with respect to the front frame comes closer to a neutral position of the draw bar with respect to the front frame.

A work vehicle that operates on a surface comprising an optical sensor. The optical sensor is configured to capture image data that includes a ground material. A non-transitory computer-readable memory is provided for storing operation information. An electronic processor is configured to receive image data captured by the optical sensor, apply an artificial neural network to identify a ground material characteristic based on the image data from the optical sensor, wherein the artificial neural network is trained to receive the image data as input and to produce as the output an indication of the ground material characteristic, access, from the non-transitory computer-readable memory, the operation information corresponding to the ground material characteristic, and adjust an operation of the work vehicle based on the accessed operation information corresponding to the ground material characteristic.

A work vehicle that operates on a surface comprising an optical sensor. The optical sensor is configured to capture image data that includes a ground material. A non-transitory computer-readable memory is provided for storing operation information. An electronic processor is configured to receive image data captured by the optical sensor, apply an artificial neural network to identify a ground material characteristic based on the image data from the optical sensor, wherein the artificial neural network is trained to receive the image data as input and to produce as the output an indication of the ground material characteristic, access, from the non-transitory computer-readable memory, the operation information corresponding to the ground material characteristic, and adjust an operation of the work vehicle based on the accessed operation information corresponding to the ground material characteristic.

A work vehicle includes a work implement. A control system for the work vehicle includes a controller that controls the work implement. The controller obtains a first design topography. The controller determines a second design topography. At least a portion of the second design topography is positioned above the first design topography. The controller generates a command signal to operate the work implement in accordance with the second target design topography. The controller changes a tilt angle of the work implement when at least a portion of the second design topography is positioned below the first design topography.

A joint orientation system is provided for a work vehicle having a chassis and an implement coupled to the chassis at a joint. The joint orientation system includes a first IMU positioned on a first side of the work vehicle relative to the joint and configured to collect a first IMU acceleration and a first IMU angular velocity and a second IMU positioned on a second side relative to the joint and configured to collect a second acceleration and a second angular velocity of the implement. A controller is configured to receive the first and second IMU accelerations and the first and second IMU angular velocities; determine a joint orientation correction based on IMU accelerations and IMU angular velocities; modify an estimate of joint orientation with the joint orientation correction to generate a current joint orientation; and output the current joint orientation for actuation of the implement.

A hydraulic system for operating a circle drive gear of a grading machine includes a pump configured to output pressurized fluid, a directional control valve fluidly coupled to the pump, a bidirectional hydraulic motor located downstream of the directional control valve and fluidly coupled to the directional control valve via hydraulic lines. The hydraulic motor has an output shaft that is configured to be rotationally driven by pressurized fluid output by the pump. Dual counterbalance valves may be disposed within the hydraulic circuit of the directional control valve and hydraulic motor such that any gearbox driven by the hydraulic motor is protected from external opposing forces. Accordingly, motion in the circle drive system is hydraulically locked at the beginning and release of a circle rotation command with the help of fluid pressure in the hydraulic lines.

Disclosed is a ground modifying apparatus of a type sometimes known as levellers, typically as used on tractors and skid-steer vehicles. In current practice these are used for preparing, levelling, and contouring the ground. Such device includes at least an accessory body portion supporting a ground modifying accessory or includes a way to attach the same. The apparatus includes a travelling carriage assembly pivotably attached by a carriage pivot, about a rotational axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the apparatus. The carriage pivot is positioned lower than the center of gravity of the travelling carriage assembly.