Construction Equipment Cross Slope Transitions

Abstract

A mobile construction equipment includes: a blade that is movable with respect to the mobile construction equipment, the blade imparting at least one cross slope on a surface on which the mobile construction equipment is operating; and a controller for receiving at least a first target cross slope, a second target cross slope, and at least one input, and, based on the at least one input, transitioning the blade from a first blade position to impart the first target cross slope on the surface to a second blade position to impart the second target cross slope on the surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile construction equipment, comprising:
 a blade that is movable with respect to the mobile construction equipment, the blade being configured to impart at least one cross slope on a surface on which the mobile construction equipment is operating; and   a controller configured to receive at least a first target cross slope, a second target cross slope, and at least one input, and, based on the at least one input, transition the blade from a first blade position to impart the first target cross slope on the surface to a second blade position to impart the second target cross slope on the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile construction equipment of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a satellite positioning unit of a global navigation satellite system, the satellite positioning unit being configured to output location of the mobile construction equipment,   wherein the at least one input comprises the location of the mobile construction equipment.   
     
     
         3 . The mobile construction equipment of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to transition the blade from the first blade position to the second blade position as the mobile construction equipment moves from a first location to a second location. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile construction equipment of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a machine speed sensor configured to provide a machine speed of the mobile construction equipment,   wherein the at least one input comprises the machine speed of the mobile construction equipment.   
     
     
         5 . The mobile construction equipment of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to determine, based at least in part on the machine speed, a cross slope transition rate for transitioning the blade from the first blade position to the second blade position, and move the blade at the cross slope transition rate while the mobile construction equipment moves from the first location to the second location. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile construction equipment of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transition mode switch movable between an on position and an off position,   wherein, when the transition mode switch is in the on position, the controller is configured to transition the blade from the first blade position to the second blade position at a cross slope transition rate.   
     
     
         7 . The mobile construction equipment of  claim 6 , wherein the cross slope transition rate is adjustable by an operator of the mobile construction equipment. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile construction equipment of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a machine speed sensor configured to provide a machine speed of the mobile construction equipment,   wherein the controller is configured to determine the cross slope transition rate based at least in part on the machine speed.   
     
     
         9 . A method for imparting at least one cross slope on a surface using a mobile construction equipment, the method comprising:
 receiving at least a first target cross slope for the surface, a second target cross slope for the surface, and at least one input; and   based on the at least one input, transitioning a blade of the mobile construction equipment from a first blade position to impart the first target cross slope on the surface to a second blade position to impart the second target cross slope on the surface.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein receiving the at least one input comprises receiving a location of the mobile construction equipment. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the blade is transitioned from the first blade position to the second blade position as the mobile construction equipment moves from a first location to a second location. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the at least one input comprises receiving a machine speed of the mobile construction equipment. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the blade is transitioned from the first blade position to the second blade position at a cross slope transition rate, the cross slope transition rate being determined at least in part based on the machine speed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising, before transitioning the blade of the mobile construction equipment from the first blade position to impart the first target cross slope on the surface to the second blade position to impart the second target cross slope on the surface:
 placing the mobile construction equipment in a transition mode; and   determining a cross slope transition rate for transitioning the blade from the first blade position to the second blade position.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cross slope transition rate is adjustable by an operator of the mobile construction equipment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein receiving at least one input comprises receiving a machine speed of the mobile construction equipment, and
 wherein the cross slope transition rate is based at least in part on the machine speed.   
     
     
         17 . A controller for a mobile construction equipment having a blade that is movable with respect to the mobile construction equipment to impart at least one cross slope on a surface on which the mobile construction equipment is operating, the controller being configured to:
 receive a first target cross slope for the surface;   receive a second target cross slope for the surface;   receive at least one input; and   based on the at least one input, transition the blade from a first blade position to impart the first target cross slope on the surface to a second blade position to impart the second target cross slope on the surface.   
     
     
         18 . The controller of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to receive a location of the mobile construction equipment, the at least one input comprising the location, and
 wherein the controller is configured to transition the blade from the first blade position to the second blade position as the mobile construction equipment moves from a first location to a second location.   
     
     
         19 . The controller of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to receive a machine speed of the mobile construction equipment, the at least one input comprising the machine speed, and
 wherein the controller is configured to determine, based at least in part on the machine speed, a cross slope transition rate for transitioning the blade from the first blade position to the second blade position, and move the blade at the cross slope transition rate while the mobile construction equipment moves from the first location to the second location.   
     
     
         20 . The controller of  claim 17 , wherein, when the mobile construction equipment is in a transition mode, the controller is configured to determine a cross slope transition rate for transitioning the blade from the first blade position to the second blade position, the cross slope transition rate being adjustable by an operator of the mobile construction equipment or based at least in part on a machine speed of the mobile construction equipment.