Abstract: A movable machine including a chassis, a tool coupled to the chassis, an operator control carried by the chassis and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the operator control. The controller being configured to send a force feedback and/or a vibration feedback to the operator control thereby conveying information to the operator. The information is not related to a load encountered by the tool.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hydrostatic drive unit of a work vehicle may generally include determining a reference swashplate position of a hydraulic pump of the hydrostatic drive unit, wherein the reference swashplate position is associated with an uncompensated current command, and determining an actual swashplate position of the hydraulic pump, wherein the actual swashplate position differs from the reference swashplate position due to a loading condition of the work vehicle. The method may also include determining a closed-loop current command based a on the actual and reference swashplate positions and generating a modified current command based on the uncompensated current command and/or the closed-loop current command. The modified current command may differ from the closed-loop current command when an operator input is within a predetermined control input range and may be equal to the closed-Loop current command when the operator input is outside the predetermined control input range.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for automatically controlling the operation of a work vehicle during the performance of a material moving operation may generally include monitoring cycle times for moving the work vehicle between a first location and a second location as the material moving operation is being performed and determining a work cycle time for moving the work vehicle between the first and second locations based on the monitored cycle times. In addition, the method may include automatically controlling the operation of a lift assembly of the work vehicle based on the work cycle time such that loader arms and an implement of the lift assembly are moved to a pre-defined loading position as the work vehicle is moved from the first location to the second location and to a pre-defined unloading position as the work vehicle is moved from the second location to the first location.

Abstract: A method for automatically adjusting the position of an implement for a work vehicle may generally include receiving an input associated with a flow-related parameter of the work vehicle as loader arms of the work vehicle are being moved and determining a speed control signal for the implement based at least in part on the flow-related parameter, wherein the speed control signal is associated with an implement speed at which the implement is to be moved in order to maintain the implement at a fixed orientation relative to a given reference point. In addition, the method may include generating a valve command signal based at least in part on the speed control signal and transmitting the valve command signal to a valve associated with the implement in order to maintain the implement at the fixed orientation as the loader arms are being moved.

Abstract: A method for automatically adjusting the position of an implement of a lift assembly may generally include receiving a signal indicative of a position and/or a movement parameter of loader arms of the lift assembly and receiving a signal indicative of a pressure of a hydraulic fluid supplied within the lift assembly. The method may also include calculating a first correction signal associated with adjusting the position of the implement, wherein the correction signal is calculated by inputting the position and/or the movement parameter and the fluid pressure into a control equation based on a model of the operational dynamics of the lift assembly. In addition, the method may include generating a valve command signal based at least in part on the correction signal and transmitting the valve command signal to a valve for maintaining the implement at a fixed orientation relative as the loader arms are being moved.

Abstract: A method for automatically controlling the operation of a lift assembly of a work vehicle may generally include receiving an input associated with moving loader arms and/or an implement of the lift assembly to a pre-defined position and monitoring a position of the loader arms and/or the implement relative to the pre-defined position. In addition, while a reference point associated with the loader arms and/or the implement is located outside an outer threshold boundary associated with the pre-defined positon, the method may include transmitting a first command signals) to move the loader arms and/or the implement towards the pre-defined position. Moreover, when the reference point is moved within the outer threshold boundary, the method may include transmitting a second command signal(s) in order to ramp down a movement velocity of the loader arms and/or the implement as the loader arms and/or the implement is moved closer to the pre-defined position.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hydrostatic drive unit of a work vehicle is disclosed. The method may generally include determining a reference swashplate position for a hydraulic pump of the hydrostatic drive unit, wherein the reference swashplate position is associated with an uncompensated current command, and monitoring an actual swashplate position of the hydraulic pump, wherein the actual swashplate position differs from the reference swashplate position due to a loading condition of the work vehicle. In addition, the method may include determining a current compensation based at least in part on the actual and reference swashplate positions and generating a compensated current command by adjusting the uncompensated current command based on the current compensation, wherein the compensated current command is associated with a compensated swashplate position for the hydraulic that differs from the reference swashplate position.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for automatically controlling the operation of a work vehicle during the performance of a material moving operation may generally include monitoring cycle times for moving the work vehicle between a first location and a second location as the material moving operation is being performed and determining a work cycle time for moving the work vehicle between the first and second locations based on the monitored cycle times. In addition, the method may include automatically controlling the operation of a lift assembly of the work vehicle based on the work cycle time such that loader arms and an implement of the lift assembly are moved to a pre-defined loading position as the work vehicle is moved from the first location to the second location and to a pre-defined unloading position as the work vehicle is moved from the second location to the first location.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a plurality of digital valves, each valve fluidly connectable to a corresponding hydraulic load. The digitals valves are operable to fluidly connect the corresponding hydraulic load to a pressure source. The hydraulic system further includes a digital controller operably connected to the plurality of digital valves. The digital controller is configured to assign a priority level so that it is associated with each of a plurality of hydraulic loads, and to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the assigned priority levels. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the plurality of digital valves for controlling the operation of the valves.

Abstract: A system for controlling a work vehicle is disclosed. The system may include a controller configured to control motion of the work vehicle and an electronic joystick communicatively coupled to the controller. The electronic joystick may be configured to transmit signals to the controller as it is moved between a neutral position and a full stroke position. The joystick may also be configured such that a varying joystick force is required to move the joystick between the neutral and full stroke positions. In addition, a rate of change of the joystick force may be varied as the electronic joystick is moved across a start/stop position defined between the neutral and full stroke positions.

Abstract: A system for controlling a work vehicle is disclosed. The system may include a controller configured to control motion of the work vehicle and an electronic joystick communicatively coupled to the controller. The electronic joystick may be configured to transmit signals to the controller as it is moved between a neutral position and a full stroke position. The joystick may also be configured such that a varying joystick force is required to move the joystick between the neutral and full stroke positions. In addition, a rate of change of the joystick force may be varied as the electronic joystick is moved across a startstop position defined between the neutral and full stroke positions.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hydrostatic drive unit of a work vehicle is disclosed. The method may generally include determining a reference swashplate position of a hydraulic pump of the hydrostatic drive unit, wherein the reference swashplate position is associated with an uncompensated current command, and determining an actual swashplate position of the hydraulic pump, wherein the actual swashplate position differs from the reference swashplate position due to a loading condition of the work vehicle. In addition, the method may include determining a closed-loop current command based at least in part on the actual and reference swashplate positions and generating a modified current command based on at least one of the uncompensated current command or the closed-loop current command.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hydrostatic drive unit of a work vehicle is disclosed. The method may generally include determining a reference swashplate position for a hydraulic pump of the hydrostatic drive unit, wherein the reference swashplate position is associated with an uncompensated current command, and monitoring an actual swashplate position of the hydraulic pump, wherein the actual swashplate position differs from the reference swashplate position due to a loading condition of the work vehicle. In addition, the method may include determining a current compensation based at least in part on the actual and reference swashplate positions and generating a compensated current command by adjusting the uncompensated current command based on the current compensation, wherein the compensated current command is associated with a compensated swashplate position for the hydraulic that differs from the reference swashplate position.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a plurality of digital valves, each valve fluidly connectable to a corresponding hydraulic load. The digitals valves are operable to fluidly connect the corresponding hydraulic load to a pressure source. The hydraulic system further includes a digital controller operably connected to the plurality of digital valves. The digital controller is configured to assign a priority level so that it is associated with each of a plurality of hydraulic loads, and to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the assigned priority levels. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the plurality of digital valves for controlling the operation of the valves.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a digital valve operable to fluidly connect a hydraulic load to a pressure supply, and an orifice disposed in a flow path between the hydraulic load and the digital valve. A digital controller is operably connected to the digital valve. The digital controller stores a target pressure drop across the orifice and is configured to determine an actual pressure drop across the orifice and formulate a control signal based on the target pressure drop and the actual pressure drop. The controller transmits the control signal to the digital valve for controlling the operation of the valve.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a plurality of digital valves, each valve fluidly connectable to a corresponding hydraulic load. The digitals valves are operable to fluidly connect the corresponding hydraulic load to a pressure source. The hydraulic system further includes a digital controller operably connected to the plurality of digital valves. The digital controller is configured to assign a priority level so that it is associated with each of a plurality of hydraulic loads, and to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the assigned priority levels. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the plurality of digital valves for controlling the operation of the valves.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a digital valve operable to fluidly connect a hydraulic load to a pressure supply. A digital controller is operably connected to the digital valve. The digital controller stores a target value of a hydraulic system operating parameter and is configured to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the target value. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the digital valve for controlling the operation of the valve.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a first digital valve fluidly connectable to a first hydraulic load and a pump. The first valve is operable to fluidly connect the first hydraulic load to the pump. A second digital valve is fluidly connectable to a second hydraulic load and the pump. The second valve is operable to fluidly connect the second hydraulic load to the pump. The system includes a first sensor for detecting a pump discharge pressure and a second sensor for detecting an inlet pressure of the first hydraulic load. A controller is configured to determine a time delay based on the pump discharge pressure and the first hydraulic load inlet pressure and to send a control signal instructing the second valve to commence opening at a time substantially equal to the time delay after commencing closing the first valve.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a digital valve operable to fluidly connect a hydraulic load to a pressure supply, and an orifice disposed in a flow path between the hydraulic load and the digital valve. A digital controller is operably connected to the digital valve. The digital controller stores a target pressure drop across the orifice and is configured to determine an actual pressure drop across the orifice and formulate a control signal based on the target pressure drop and the actual pressure drop. The controller transmits the control signal to the digital valve for controlling the operation of the valve.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a plurality of digital valves, each valve fluidly connectable to a corresponding hydraulic load. The digitals valves are operable to fluidly connect the corresponding hydraulic load to a pressure source. The hydraulic system further includes a digital controller operably connected to the plurality of digital valves. The digital controller is configured to assign a priority level so that it is associated with each of a plurality of hydraulic loads, and to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the assigned priority levels. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the plurality of digital valves for controlling the operation of the valves.