HYDRAULICS--WHAT IS IT?

[Jim Timber]

Cat's been putting GPS for grade on dozers for several years now. High precision GPS like they use for surveying is more than capable of shooting a course based on what the engineer/designers want. The dozer runs it's own controls for the blade.

Cat | ACCUGRADE? GPS | Caterpillar

 

[/pine]

What I was trying to relate was how technology that has been around for commercial applications etc. will eventually work it's way down to the consumer operator level...

I think "inertial" systems will surpass lasers (and GPS) big time...they can combine both navigation and grade factors...(no satellites/gps required)...it basically works by knowing exactly where it is to start on both an X and Y axis... and can calculate any movement in any direction and control it etc...just have to keep a spare gyro in the tool box under the seat

Just looking into my crystal ball**...I see inertial applications for "smart attachments"...that will have "learning" software that will allow a guy/gal with a tractor to set the system to learn and travel the course/lane/driveway etc.,etc...Set whatever parameters, return to the starting point...and no more sore neck...!!...unless you want to watch the controller work all the hydraulics etc. and on newer machines the 3ph etc...!

**FWIW...inertial navigation systems (in the advent of the loss of use of satellites for whatever reason) are what is being installed in all new military equipment (mostly as a backup to satellite/GPS)...but because the military has elected to go with inertial (over Earth based RF systems like LORAN etc., including in the F-35) the technology will grow and eventually reach the civilian consumer markets...

 

[npalen]

That's very interesting! It sounds like a contour can be CAD generated on computer and down loaded into ACCUGRADE on the dozer. I could see where golf course builders could take advantage of that. I'll bet the price of the system would scare a person.

 

[ovrszd]

The laser leveling technology is widely used on earth moving equipment but I don't know what capabilities laser has for defining contours. I could see where GPS contouring is maybe on the horizon but not sure that the accuracy is there yet.

I can't help but wonder that if a contour can be mapped with enough data points that a 3D computer model of the existing contour could be established. Then the contour could be modified to the desired shape in 3D CAD with output in the form of many data points for elevation. Here again I'm not sure where current techology lies in this field. (Getting into some unintended puns here)
The data would then be put into earthmoving equipment to control the cuts and fills.
Anyone familar with some of this technology that can enlighten?

I do know that drones with cameras can now map even large areas and output a 3D elevation model via software such as:
https://www.pix4d.com/
I've played with it some but does require quite a bit of computer time to generate.

I think all the technology that you described is here already. It's a matter of affordability.

I have a good friend that plants 25,000 acres of corn/beans each year. All of his JD equipment is GPS guided. When planting with his 24 row, 60ft wide planter being pulled by his center pivot 4wd tractor the operator only touches the steering wheel when turning on the ends. Once the planter is dropped the operator lets go of the steering wheel and GPS does the rest. Even in contour planting it places the rows with 1 1/2" accuracy. 1 1/2" accuracy on a 60ft wide x 60ft long complicated piece of equipment.......

3 or 4 years ago he told me it was $25,000 per unit to buy the GPS equipment. He now has all of it linked into his office computer system. All his fields are mapped and recorded. All the combines report real time yields as they move thru the fields. Next Spring when he is applying fertilizer and/or chemicals the rates of application on his GPS guided sprayers are controlled by the office computer system information. :thumbsup:

Although I see little gain or use for an indicator on my tilt cylinder, I am very interested in the posts on this thread and any designs that are put to use. I'd especially be interested in any techno ideas involving electronics.

 

[npalen]

It's interesting to hear of the "inertial" systems as an alternative to GPS for data mapping and control. I'm somewhat familiar with RTK (Real Time Kinematics) guidance for farm machinery to get the 1 1/2" precision that Richard mentions above and, yes, it is amazing stuff. Could of used that as a kid on the farm planting corn with a 2-row lister pulled by a little D2 Caterpillar. My rows weren't exactly, well, straight. The old joke was that you get more acres out of a field because each row was longer.:laughing:

 

[muddstopper]

We have used a inclinometor to grade on railroad tracks for years. accurate to within about 1/16 of a inch. The way its mounted is at wheel level across the axle tube, or in the event of a tractor scrape blade i guess one could just mount it on top of the scrape. Wires run from the inclinometor to the computer which displays on a screen. The inclinometor we use is kinda pricey and I dont know who you would get to program the software for you, but I think it would work very well for cutting grade.