FOUR-WHEEL STEERING ADJUSTABLE TO SENSITIVITY OF OPERATOR CONTROLS

摘要

A “dead-band” range may be provided for automatically selecting between two-wheel and four-wheel steering for an agricultural machine. When the machine is being steered minimally within a first band (within the dead-band range), such as in a straightaway path, two-wheel steering may be automatically selected. However, when the machine is being increasingly steered thereby reaching a second band (beyond the dead-band range), four-wheel steering may be automatically selected. An operator may monitor the state of the machine steering via a touchscreen Human Machine Interface (HMI) in the cabin. The operator may also adjust the dead-band range by increasing or decreasing sensitivity via the HMI.

主权项

1. A steering control system for an agricultural machine having four wheels, the steering control system comprising:
a first sensor in communication with a first wheel, the first sensor being configured to detect a turn angle of the first wheel; a second sensor in communication with a second wheel, the second sensor being configured to detect a turn angle of the second wheel, the second wheel being on an end of the agricultural machine opposite the first wheel in a direction of travel; and a control system operable to: (a) when a turn angle of the first wheel is determined to be greater than a threshold, adjust a turn angle of the second wheel to minimize an error between the turn angle of the first wheel detected by the first sensor and the turn angle of the second wheel detected by the second sensor; and (b) when a turn angle of the first wheel is determined to be less than the threshold, keep the second wheel in a substantially strait direction with respect to the agricultural machine.