Abstract: The present inventors have recognized that hydraulic cylinders for raising and lowering “work units” of an agricultural implement used for engaging the ground can be improved by replacing one or more electronically controlled (electrohydraulic) proportional valves associated with a rod port of the cylinder with a simplified, flow control device, such as a pressure regulator, while still using the electronically controlled proportional valves associated with a base port of the cylinder. Due to the weight of the implement being associated with the rod side, which tends to force retraction of the rod when not opposed by the base side, complex proportional valves associated with the rod side can be replaced with such simplified devices providing a relatively low pressure sufficient to move hydraulic fluid with respect to the rod side.

Abstract: A method for controlling a lift assembly for a work vehicle may include receiving an input command associated with controlling movement of a loader arm of the lift assembly, and determining a travel velocity at which a reference location on the loader arm is to be moved based on the input command. In addition, the method may include determining at least one lift cylinder command and at least one control cylinder command based at least in part on the determined travel velocity and position-based inputs associated with moving the reference location along a predetermined travel path, and actively controlling an operation of a lift cylinder and a control cylinder of the lift assembly based on the lift cylinder command(s) and the control cylinder command(s), respectively, such that the reference location on the loader arm is moved along the predetermined travel path at the determined travel velocity.

Abstract: A method for executing straight tracking control may include receiving an input command(s) associated with controlling the operation of a first-side drive system and/or a second-side drive system of a hydrostatic transmission of a work vehicle to drive the vehicle along a straight path. The method may also include receiving first and second speed signals associated with the output speeds of the drive systems, and modifying the first speed signal or the second speed signal based on a speed scaling factor to generate a corrected speed signal. In addition, the method may include determining an adjusted control command for controlling the operation of the hydrostatic transmission as a function of the input command(s) and a control output determined based on the corrected speed signal. Further, the method may include controlling the operation of the hydrostatic transmission based at least in part on the adjusted control command.

Abstract: A method for executing straight tracking control may include receiving an input command(s) associated with controlling the operation of a first-side drive system and/or a second-side drive system of a hydrostatic transmission of a work vehicle to drive the vehicle along a straight path. The method may also include receiving first and second speed signals associated with the output speeds of the drive systems, and modifying the first speed signal or the second speed signal based on a speed scaling factor to generate a corrected speed signal. In addition, the method may include determining an adjusted control command for controlling the operation of the hydrostatic transmission as a function of the input command(s) and a control output determined based on the corrected speed signal. Further, the method may include controlling the operation of the hydrostatic transmission based at least in part on the adjusted control command.

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 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 automatically controlling a position of one or more ground engaging tools of an agricultural implement is relative to a ground surface may include monitoring a position signal indicative of a position of a ground engaging tool of the implement. The position signal may have an associated system delay time. The method also may include estimating an arrival time when the position of the ground engaging tool will be within a predetermined threshold of a target position based on the monitored position signal and the system delay time associated with the monitored position signal. The method may include adjusting the position of the ground engaging tool and terminating the adjustment of the ground engaging tool at a termination time determined based on the arrival time.

Abstract: A method for controlling a lift assembly for a work vehicle may include receiving an input command associated with controlling movement of a loader arm of the lift assembly, and determining a travel velocity at which a reference location on the loader arm is to be moved based on the input command. In addition, the method may include determining at least one lift cylinder command and at least one control cylinder command based at least in part on the determined travel velocity and position-based inputs associated with moving the reference location along a predetermined travel path, and actively controlling an operation of a lift cylinder and a control cylinder of the lift assembly based on the lift cylinder command(s) and the control cylinder command(s), respectively, such that the reference location on the loader arm is moved along the predetermined travel path at the determined travel velocity.

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 position, the method may include transmitting a first command signal(s) 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 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 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 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: The straight tracking control system can use a control method to achieve a desired straight motion of a machine with a dual path electronically controlled hydrostatic transmission. In the control method, the first drive system, e.g., the left or right drive system, pump solenoid current can be modified based on first and second drive system velocity feedback when the machine is commanded to move in a straight line path in the forward or reverse direction. A memory latching concept is used to latch the straight tracking factor at the initiation of and during the turn so the same straight tracking factor is used throughout the turn. The straight tracking factor is unlatched at the completion of a turn after a specific time delay and a new straight tracking factor can be calculated. The straight tracking method also utilizes transmission fluid temperature and utilizes additional fluid reserve in order to maintain straight machine movement.

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.