System and methods are provided for dynamic characterization of an area to be worked using a work implement of a work machine. First real-time data (e.g., surface scan data) are collected in a forward direction via a first sensor external to or onboard the work machine, and second real-time data (e.g., surface scan data) are collected for at least a traversed portion of the work area via a second onboard sensor. Characteristic values of a ground material in the work area are determined based on at least the first and second data corresponding to a given surface, and outputs are generated corresponding to at least a determined amount of material needed to achieve target values for the work area, based on at least one of the characteristic values. Certain characteristic values based on the real-time data may be used to estimate, among other things, how many truck loads are still required for the work area.

An input device for performing control functions of a machine having a work tool may include a left-hand joystick mounted on a left armrest of an operator's seat, and a right-hand joystick mounted on a right armrest of an operator's seat. Each of the left-hand and right-hand joysticks may include a base portion configured to conform to and least partially cradle an operator's hand, a handle extending from the base portion with a proximal end of the handle being connected to the base portion, and a distal end of the handle supporting a head portion of the joystick. The head portion of the joystick may include a front surface including a configurable face plate. The configurable face plate may include one of a pair of upshift and downshift buttons or a roller configured to perform one of discrete or continuously variable shifting, respectively, of a transmission of the machine. The handle may include a thumb rest area at the distal end of the handle transitioning into the head portion of the joystick.

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 motor grader representing a work vehicle includes a steering mechanism and a control unit. The control unit generates a travel path of the motor grader based on a position and an azimuth of the motor grader and a direction of travel of the motor grader and controls the steering mechanism such that the motor grader travels along the generated travel path.

A grader and a blade control method wherein the grader includes: a blade mechanism including a blade; a blade adjusting mechanism including a plurality of adjusting means respectively corresponding to at least two degrees of freedom of the blade, and configured to adjust a spatial position and/or angle of the blade; a blade position detecting mechanism configured to detect a slope parameter for characterizing a spatial position of the blade; a motion trajectory library configured to store motion functions of the plurality of adjusting means respectively when different operation conditions and/or different grades are switched; a controller configured to call a corresponding motion function in the motion trajectory library according to a set operation condition and a required slope, and control at least one of the plurality of adjusting means according to a position parameter of the blade and the motion function.

A controller acquires a target soil amount in one work path with respect to an actual topography. The controller determines a target profile in the one work path based on the target soil amount. The controller performs work in the one work path by operating a work implement according to the target profile. The controller acquires a maximum traction force of the work machine during the one work path. The controller determines whether the maximum traction force is smaller than a reference traction force. The controller increases the target soil amount in a next work path when the maximum traction force is smaller than the reference traction force. The controller determines the target profile in the next work path based on the increased target soil amount.

A grading machine include a machine body, a grading blade, at least one grading blade sensor configured to sense a position and orientation of the grading blade, a drawbar connecting the grading blade to the machine body, a drawbar centershift cylinder, a user interface, and a control system. The control system is configured to receive an input from the user interface and position and orient the grading blade and the drawbar to one of a plurality of predetermined maintenance positions based on the input.

Techniques for generating earthmoving flow vectors for assisting control of a construction machine are disclosed. A design elevation map of an earthmoving site may be obtained. The design elevation map may include a plurality of design elevation points of the earthmoving site. An actual elevation map of the earthmoving site may be obtained. The actual elevation map may include a plurality of actual elevation points of the earthmoving site. A dual-layer input graph may be formed based on the design elevation map and the actual elevation map. The dual-layer input graph may include a plurality of nodes related through a plurality of connections. A flow graph may be generated by solving the dual-layer input graph. The flow graph may include a set of flow vectors indicating movement of the earth within the earthmoving site.

A display system includes a display device, an imaging device that is provided at a work machine, a three-dimensional measurement device that is provided at the work machine, and a display control device that, based on three-dimensional terrain data in a movement direction of the work machine measured by the three-dimensional measurement device, causes a symbol image indicating a terrain height in the movement direction to be superimposed on a terrain image in the movement direction captured by the imaging device, causing the display device to display the obtained image thereon.