REDUNDANT STEERING SYSTEMS FOR ARTICULATED VEHICLES

References: 17th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2017, www.sgem.org, SGEM2017 Conference Proceedings, ISBN 978-619-7408-07-2 / ISSN 1314-2704, 29 June - 5 July, 2017, Vol. 17, Issue 42, 497-504 pp, DOI: 10.5593/sgem2017/42/S17.063

ABSTRACT

The paper is devoted to the performance of a new combination between a classical closed center hydraulic feedback steering unit and an electrohydraulic servo system based on the modern generation of digital servo valves. This type of combination may represent a solution for autonomous agricultural machinery based on the high-level technologies. The research is generated by increasing world population requesting more supplies on one hand, and the obvious decreasing of rural inhabitants, augmented by the translation of skilled workers to other fields of activity, on the other hand.

The main target of the researches pointed out a small energy consumption of the four way OBE servo valve under the condition of programming long right travels on well prepared soils for wide surfaces. Two types of one stage OBE digital servo valves were tested, using the same CAN Profibus communication. The manufacturers are well-known, and they already implemented such devices in different important agricultural applications like articulated steering vehicles.

The experimental tests have pointed out the accuracy of the new solution response, considering the energy efficiency requests, in the context of the “precision farming” concept.

Keywords: Precision farming, articulated agricultural machinery, electrohydraulic steering system