Apparatus and method for controlling the steering of a tracked machine
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling the steering of a tracked machine having a clutch/brake steering system, the tracked machine having a left drive and a right drive, the left drive having a left clutch and a left brake, the right drive having a right clutch and a right brake, comprising:
- a navigator located on the tracked machine to determine a desired trajectory, responsively determine a desired left drive velocity and a desired right drive velocity, and generate a desired left drive velocity signal and a desired right drive velocity signal, respectively;
a left speed sensor located on the tracked machine to determine an actual left drive velocity and generate an actual left drive velocity signal;
a right speed sensor located on the tracked machine to determine an actual right drive velocity and generate an actual right drive velocity signal; and
a clutch/brake controller located on the tracked machine adapted to receive the desired left drive velocity signal, the desired right drive velocity signal, the actual left drive velocity signal, and the actual right drive velocity signal, and responsively control at least one of the left drive velocity and the right drive velocity;
wherein the clutch/brake controller further includes an external torque estimator to determine a steering control external torque of the tracked machine, and responsively deliver a steering control external torque value to the clutch/brake controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus and method to control the steering of a tracked machine having a clutch/brake steering system. The tracked machine has a left drive and a right drive. The left drive has a clutch and brake and the right drive has a clutch and brake. The present invention includes a navigator to determine a desired trajectory, determine a desired left drive velocity and a desired right drive velocity, and generate desired left and right drive velocity signals. The present invention also includes a left speed sensor and a right speed sensor to determine actual left and right drive velocities, and generate actual left and right drive velocity signals. A clutch/brake controller is included to receive the desired left and right drive velocity signals and the actual left and right drive velocity signals, and control at least one of the left and right drive velocities.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling the steering of a tracked machine having a clutch/brake steering system, the tracked machine having a left drive and a right drive, the left drive having a left clutch and a left brake, the right drive having a right clutch and a right brake, comprising:
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a navigator located on the tracked machine to determine a desired trajectory, responsively determine a desired left drive velocity and a desired right drive velocity, and generate a desired left drive velocity signal and a desired right drive velocity signal, respectively; a left speed sensor located on the tracked machine to determine an actual left drive velocity and generate an actual left drive velocity signal; a right speed sensor located on the tracked machine to determine an actual right drive velocity and generate an actual right drive velocity signal; and a clutch/brake controller located on the tracked machine adapted to receive the desired left drive velocity signal, the desired right drive velocity signal, the actual left drive velocity signal, and the actual right drive velocity signal, and responsively control at least one of the left drive velocity and the right drive velocity; wherein the clutch/brake controller further includes an external torque estimator to determine a steering control external torque of the tracked machine, and responsively deliver a steering control external torque value to the clutch/brake controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for controlling the steering of a tracked machine having a clutch/brake steering system, the tracked machine having a left drive and a right drive, the left drive having a left clutch and a left brake, the right drive having a right clutch and a right brake, including the steps of:
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determining a desired trajectory of motion of the tracked machine; determining a desired left drive velocity and a desired right drive velocity as a function of the desired trajectory; generating a desired left drive velocity signal and a desired right drive velocity signal; determining an actual left drive velocity and responsively generating an actual left drive velocity signal; determining an actual right drive velocity and responsively generating an actual right drive velocity signal; determining a steering control external torque value of the tracked machine; and controlling at least one of the left drive velocity and the right drive velocity as a function of the desired left drive velocity signal, the desired right drive velocity signal, the actual left drive velocity signal, the actual right drive velocity signal, and the steering control external torque value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification