System and method for monitoring position of machine implement

Abstract

A system for monitoring a position of an implement of a motor grader relative to a frame thereof is provided. The motor grader includes an actuation system to selectively move the implement relative to the frame. The system includes a fiber optic cable extending along at least a portion of the frame, a portion of the actuation system and a portion of the implement. The fiber optic cable is configured to move with the portion of the actuation system and the portion of the implement, and selectively generate signals indicative of a shape thereof. The system further includes a controller in communication with the fiber optic cable. The controller is configured to determine the shape of the fiber optic cable based on the signals received therefrom, and further determine a position of the implement relative to the frame based on the shape of the fiber optic cable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for monitoring a position of an implement of a motor grader relative to a frame of the motor grader, the motor grader having an actuation system configured to selectively move the implement relative to the frame, the system comprising:
 a fiber optic cable extending along at least a portion of the frame, a portion of the actuation system and a portion of the implement, wherein the fiber optic cable is configured to move with the portion of the actuation system and the portion of the implement, and wherein the fiber optic cable is further configured to selectively generate signals indicative of a shape thereof; and   a controller in communication with the fiber optic cable, wherein the controller is configured to determine the shape of the fiber optic cable based on the signals received therefrom, and wherein the controller is further configured to determine a position of the implement relative to the frame based on the shape of the fiber optic cable.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , the fiber optic cable comprising at least one core and a plurality of strain sensors distributed along a length of the at least one core. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of strain sensors is one of a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor and Rayleigh Scatter Detector. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to regulate the actuation system to move the implement based on at least a user input and the position of the implement. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit an optical signal to the fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising mechanical fasteners configured to couple the fiber optic cable to at least the frame, the actuation system and the implement. 
     
     
         7 . A motor grader comprising:
 a frame;   an implement movable relative to the frame;   an actuation system coupled to the frame and the implement, the actuation system configured to selectively move the implement relative to the frame;   a fiber optic cable extending along at least a portion of the frame, a portion of the actuation system and a portion of the implement, wherein the fiber optic cable is configured to move with the portion of the actuation system and the portion of the implement, and wherein the fiber optic cable is further configured to selectively generate signals indicative of a shape thereof; and   a controller in communication with the fiber optic cable, wherein the controller is configured to determine the shape of the fiber optic cable based on the signals received therefrom, and wherein the controller is further configured to determine a position of the implement relative to the frame based on the shape of the fiber optic cable.   
     
     
         8 . The motor grader of  claim 7 , the fiber optic cable comprising at least one core and a plurality of strain sensors distributed along a length of the at least one core. 
     
     
         9 . The motor grader of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of strain sensors is one of a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor and Rayleigh Scatter Detector. 
     
     
         10 . The motor grader of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to regulate the actuation system to move the implement based on at least a user input and the position of the implement. 
     
     
         11 . The motor grader of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit an optical signal to the fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         12 . The motor grader of  claim 7 , further comprising mechanical fasteners configured to couple the fiber optic cable to at least the frame, the actuation system and the implement. 
     
     
         13 . The motor grader of  claim 7 , wherein the actuation system comprising:
 a drawbar member movably coupled to the frame; and   a circle member rotatably coupled to the drawbar member, the circle member comprising an arm portion pivotally coupled to the implement.   
     
     
         14 . The motor grader of  claim 13 , wherein the fiber optic cable extends along a portion of the drawbar member and a portion of the circle member. 
     
     
         15 . The motor grader of  claim 13 , wherein the actuation system further comprising:
 a support member coupled to the frame;   a first linear actuator coupled to the support member and the drawbar member, the first linear actuator configured to move the drawbar member along a first axis;   a second linear actuator coupled to the support member and the drawbar member, the second linear actuator configured to move the drawbar member along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and   a rotary actuator coupled to the circle member, the rotary actuator configured to rotate the circle member about the first axis.   
     
     
         16 . The motor grader of  claim 15 , wherein the fiber optic cable extends along a portion of the support member, a portion of the first linear actuator, a portion of the drawbar member and a portion of the circle member. 
     
     
         17 . The motor grader of  claim 15 , wherein the actuation system further comprising:
 a third linear actuator coupled to the circle member and the implement, the third linear actuator configured to rotate the implement relative to the arm portion of the circle member about the second axis; and   a fourth linear actuator coupled to the circle member and the implement, the fourth linear actuator configured to slide the implement relative to arm portion the along the second axis.   
     
     
         18 . The motor grader of  claim 17 , wherein the fiber optic cable is coupled to the fourth linear actuator. 
     
     
         19 . A method of monitoring a position of an implement of a motor grader relative to a frame of the motor grader, the motor grader having an actuation system configured to selectively move the implement relative to the frame, the method comprising:
 providing a fiber optic cable along at least a portion of the frame, a portion of the actuation system and a portion of the implement, wherein the fiber optic cable is configured to move with the portion of the actuation system and the portion of the implement;   receiving signals from the fiber optic cable, wherein the signals are indicative of a shape of the fiber optic cable;   determining the shape of the fiber optic cable based on the received signals; and   determining a position of the implement relative to the frame based on the shape of the fiber optic cable.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising transmitting an optical signal to the fiber optic cable.