Patent classifications
B60W2300/50
Machine slope and pitch control based on dynamic center of gravity
A machine is disclosed. The machine may include a control system that includes a controller configured to: determine a center of gravity of the machine based on a state of the machine; determine at least one of a slope limit or a pitch limit for the machine based on the center of gravity; receive a command to perform an operation that, if performed, would affect at least one of a slope or a pitch of the machine; determine whether the operation, if performed, would cause the machine to exceed the at least one of the slope limit or the pitch limit; and selectively perform the operation based on determining whether the operation, if performed, would cause the machine to exceed the at least one of the slope limit or the pitch limit.
Roll induced four wheel steering vehicle
The four wheel steering vehicle utilizes a cage system that extends along the longitudinal axis to protect the driver coupled to a center rail chassis. Front and Back independent suspension links extend outward along the lateral axis pivotally connected to the wheel assemblies enabling four wheel independent suspension. A centrally located pivoting shock provides both steering control and suspension attachment for the shock and spring. The vehicle is controlled by the driver using a steering wheel, acceleration pedal, and a brake pedal. The invention provides a feeling of integration with the vehicle as the driver rolls into turns with the vehicle, while minimizing fatigue caused by the continuous resistance to centrifugal cornering forces.
Electric Concrete Transportation Cart
An electrically powered, self-propelled cart for safely delivering heavy loads, such as concrete, within job sites with unlevel, irregular, or sloped terrain. A cargo bucket is tiltable over front drive wheels for transporting and dumping cargo. Electric drive motors associated with a transaxle propel wheels at a selectable speed in response to an electric control module. A steering column rotates in response to manually operated handle bars and activates a sensor to generate signals delivered to the control module for throttle adjustments. The sensor may be a linear potentiometer, a rotary differential transformer or a rotary encoder or shaft encoder measuring angular displacement. Extreme steering displacements will electrically reduce cart speed notwithstanding the previous speed setting chosen by the operator through the steering column.
Automatic tilting vehicle
An automatic tilting vehicle includes a pair of wheels that are non-steering driving wheels, a braking/driving device, a vehicle tilting device, and a control device, and the control unit calculates a target tilt angle of the vehicle for tilting the vehicle turning inward and controls the vehicle tilting device so that a tilt angle of the vehicle becomes the target tilt angle. The control unit calculates target braking/driving forces of the pair of wheels based on a braking/driving operation of a driver, corrects the target braking/driving forces so that a difference between vertical forces acting on the wheels caused by the braking/driving forces of the pair of wheels is reduced, and controls the braking/driving device such that braking/driving forces of the pair of wheels becomes the corrected target braking/driving forces.
MACHINE SLOPE AND PITCH CONTROL BASED ON DYNAMIC CENTER OF GRAVITY
A machine is disclosed. The machine may include a control system that includes a controller configured to: determine a center of gravity of the machine based on a state of the machine; determine at least one of a slope limit or a pitch limit for the machine based on the center of gravity; receive a command to perform an operation that, if performed, would affect at least one of a slope or a pitch of the machine; determine whether the operation, if performed, would cause the machine to exceed the at least one of the slope limit or the pitch limit; and selectively perform the operation based on determining whether the operation, if performed, would cause the machine to exceed the at least one of the slope limit or the pitch limit.
ROLL INDUCED FOUR WHEEL STEERING VEHICLE
The four wheel steering vehicle utilizes a cage system that extends along the longitudinal axis to protect the driver coupled to a center rail chassis. Front and Back independent suspension links extend outward along the lateral axis pivotally connected to the wheel assemblies enabling four wheel independent suspension. A centrally located pivoting shock provides both steering control and suspension attachment for the shock and spring. The vehicle is controlled by the driver using a steering wheel, acceleration pedal, and a brake pedal. The invention provides a feeling of integration with the vehicle as the driver rolls into turns with the vehicle, while minimizing fatigue caused by the continuous resistance to centrifugal cornering forces.
YAW ESTIMATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RIGID BODIES OF EARTHMOVING MACHINES CONNECTED BY A REVOLUTE JOINT
Yaw estimation systems and methods for an earthmoving machine and control architecture to receive roll and pitch input from an engine end frame (EEF) inertial motion unite (IMU) and from a non-engine end frame (NEEF) IMU, estimate a yaw articulation angle of the NEEF relative to the EEF by at least two different estimation methods based on the received roll and pitch input, fuse the at least two different estimation methods to generate an updated yaw articulation angle, calculate a yaw articulation rate based on the received roll and pitch input, integrate as an integration the updated yaw articulation angle and the yaw articulation rate, generate a real-time yaw articulation angle estimate of the NEEF relative to the EEF based on the integration, and operate the earthmoving machine based on the real-time yaw articulation angle estimate.
AUTOMATIC TILTING VEHICLE
An automatic tilting vehicle includes a pair of wheels that are non-steering driving wheels, a braking/driving device, a vehicle tilting device, and a control device, and the control unit calculates a target tilt angle of the vehicle for tilting the vehicle turning inward and controls the vehicle tilting device so that a tilt angle of the vehicle becomes the target tilt angle. The control unit calculates target braking/driving forces of the pair of wheels based on a braking/driving operation of a driver, corrects the target braking/driving forces so that a difference between vertical forces acting on the wheels caused by the braking/driving forces of the pair of wheels is reduced, and controls the braking/driving device such that braking/driving forces of the pair of wheels becomes the corrected target braking/driving forces.
MONITORING AN IC ENGINE OF A FOREST HARVESTER
The method for controlling a forest harvester includes measuring, when carrying out an operation, rotational speed of an engine; automatically determining, in a control electronics, a relative or absolute difference between the measured rotational speed of the engine and a predetermined guideline for the rotational speed of the engine, the guideline defining a preferred rotational speed or a range of preferred rotational speeds for the operation that is being carried out; and automatically notifying, by the control electronics, an operator of the forest harvester, that the determined difference either follows the guideline or the determined difference deviates from the guideline. The engine being adapted to deliver predetermined power levels during the operation.