Abstract: A motor grader having a front frame coupled with a rear frame, supported on front and rear wheels. A controller determines a position of actuators operably coupled with a blade attached to the grader, an articulation angle of the rear frame relative to the front frame, and a front wheel steering angle of the front wheels. The controller determines movement of the front and rear frames based on the articulation angle and the front wheel steering angle as the wheels travel over a ground surface. The controller determines a blade position and blade movement of with respect to the front and rear frames based on the position of actuators, rigid body acceleration of the motor grader, and physical characteristics of the machine assembly. The controller determines a blade trajectory path of the blade based on the movement of the front and rear frames, blade position, and blade movement.

Abstract: A work vehicle, door state determination system, and method of determining a state of a door are provided. The work vehicle includes a prime mover configured to supply propulsion force to the work vehicle, an undercarriage comprising a plurality of ground engaging members, an upper portion disposed above the undercarriage, a door pivotably coupled to the upper portion, at least one camera configured to capture image data from an area outside of the work vehicle, the image data comprising captured door image data, and a controller configured to store reference door image data, receive the captured door image data, determine a state of the door based on the captured door image data and the reference door image data, and initiate a door state response based on the state of the door.

Abstract: An excavator has a lower frame with a blade movably mounted to the lower frame. The excavator also has dig components such as a boom, an arm, and an attachment. The positions of the dig components are identified and a control signal generator controls movement of the dig component to avoid a collision between the boom or attachment and the blade.

Abstract: A self-propelled work vehicle is provided with work state estimation and associated control techniques. The work vehicle comprises ground engaging units, a work implement configured for controllably working terrain, and various onboard sensors. A controller is functionally linked to at least the one or more onboard sensors and configured to ascertain a first parameter or operation of the work vehicle, determine a work state of the work vehicle, based at least in part on respective input signals from one or more onboard sensors, and generate a control signal for controlling at least a second parameter or operation of the work vehicle, responsive to the ascertained first parameter or operation and the determined work state. The control signals may be provided for proactive adjustments to engine speed, movements of the work implement, movements of the work vehicle itself, etc.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes obtaining a worksite condition corresponding to a worksite operation of a mobile work machine, generating a machine performance metric representing operational performance of the mobile work machine for the worksite operation, generating a machine impact metric based on a comparison of the machine performance metric and a base performance metric, generating a correlation between the machine impact metric and the worksite condition, and generating a machine control signal based on the correlation.

Abstract: A remote starting system and method are provided for self-propelled work vehicles having work attachments supported from a main frame thereof. Cameras are arranged with respective fields of vision proximate to the work vehicle, and a communications unit is configured to exchange messages with a user device via a communications network. A local or remote controller is configured to receive first user input comprising a remote startup request for the work vehicle from the user device, and to automatically detect parameters respectively associated with predetermined remote startup conditions, at least one of the parameters comprising images obtained from the cameras. The images are transmitted to the user device, responsive to which second user input is received comprising remote startup confirmation from the user device via the communications network. Responsive to at least the second user input, engine startup is automatically controlled for the work vehicle.

Abstract: A method of controlling a work vehicle on a worksite. Receiving a weather data indicative of a rainfall of the worksite. Receiving a design topography data indicative of the worksite in a final configuration. Receiving a current topography data. Determining a low elevation location on the worksite that may accumulate water from the rainfall. Comparing the rainfall to a rainfall threshold. Devising a temporary design topography data and communicating the temporary design topography data to the work vehicle if the rainfall threshold is met.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining mistrack conditions in work vehicles such as excavators having first and second tracks. A controller uses data from onboard sensors (e.g., cameras, lidar) having an external field of view to detect a first position of, e.g., a track of the work vehicle relative to a first external point in a local reference system independent of a global reference system and to detect, upon the work vehicle having advanced from the detected first position a predetermined distance, a second position of the at least first component of the work vehicle relative to a second external point in the local reference system. The controller further determines an amount of mistrack error corresponding to a difference between the detected second position and an expected second position, and generates an output signal based on the determined amount of mistrack error.

Abstract: A local operator-controlled work machine receives a wake-up call when it is not running. The wake-up call turns on a user interface in the machine. A remote machine configuration system loads a job file onto the machine and the machine turns off again.

Abstract: A worksite control system includes a communication system configured to receive weather data corresponding to a worksite, a weather model generation logic configured to generate a weather model based on the weather data, a worksite action identification logic configured to identify a worksite action based on the weather model, and a control signal generator configured to generate a machine control signal that controls a machine associated with the worksite based on the identified worksite action.

Abstract: A remote start system and method for a work machine wherein the system comprises a communication device, an engine starter subsystem, a fluid pressure sensor, and a controller. In a first step, controller receives a wake signal from the communication device, The controller then confirms the lock status of a safety lock on the work machine and outputs an engine start signal to the engine starter subsystem upon confirming the lock status. The controller then receives a fluid pressure signal from the fluid pressure sensor, and outputs an engine stop signal if the fluid pressure signal is below a predetermined threshold after a specified timeframe.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining mistrack conditions in work vehicles such as excavators having first and second tracks. A controller uses data from onboard sensors (e.g., cameras, lidar) having an external field of view to detect a first position of, e.g., a track of the work vehicle relative to a first external point in a local reference system independent of a global reference system and to detect, upon the work vehicle having advanced from the detected first position a predetermined distance, a second position of the at least first component of the work vehicle relative to a second external point in the local reference system. The controller further determines an amount of mistrack error corresponding to a difference between the detected second position and an expected second position, and generates an output signal based on the determined amount of mistrack error.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A working machine includes an undercarriage, a main frame, a swing bearing supporting the undercarriage from the main frame, a swing motor configured to pivot the main frame on the swing bearing about a pivot axis, a boom extending from the main frame along a working direction, and a pivot angle sensor configured to provide a pivot angle signal corresponding to a pivot position of the main frame relative to the undercarriage about the pivot axis. A controller is configured to receive the pivot angle signal and to drive the swing motor automatically.

Abstract: A counterweight removal protection system and a method of controlling removal of the counterweight to avoid damage to an imaging sensor system of a work vehicle, such as an excavator. The imaging sensor system includes an imaging sensor supported by the counterweight and configured to transmit an imaging sensor signal to a vehicle controller to determine the state of the imaging sensor signal. A user interface in the work vehicle includes a selectable touch button to enable removal of the counterweight depending on the state of the imaging sensor signal. An interlock device prevents lowering the counterweight based on the state of the imaging sensor signal. In one embodiment, the imaging sensor signal is a heartbeat signal.

Abstract: A remote starting system and method are provided for self-propelled work vehicles having work attachments supported from a main frame thereof. Cameras are arranged with respective fields of vision proximate to the work vehicle, and a communications unit is configured to exchange messages with a user device via a communications network. A local or remote controller is configured to receive first user input comprising a remote startup request for the work vehicle from the user device, and to automatically detect parameters respectively associated with predetermined remote startup conditions, at least one of the parameters comprising images obtained from the cameras. The images are transmitted to the user device, responsive to which second user input is received comprising remote startup confirmation from the user device via the communications network. Responsive to at least the second user input, engine startup is automatically controlled for the work vehicle.