Systems and methods for grade control window activation

Abstract

Systems and methods for using a two-dimensional (2D) grade control system wherein the 2D grade control system remains enabled both while a blade of a bladed work machine performs a grading operation as the work machine makes a pass along the ground, and remains enabled while the blade is raised as the work machine is repositioned for another pass. Moreover, once enabled, the 2D grade control system can remain enabled, and transition between an active mode, where the 2D grade control system automatically orients the blade, and an inactive mode, wherein the operator may have overridden the 2D grade control system. By remaining enabled during both the active and inactive modes, the operator need not take the extra actions of repeatedly re-enabling the 2D grade control system after each time that the operator may have overridden the 2D grade control system, thereby saving the time and effort of the operator.

1 . A method for controlling a two-dimensional grade control system of a bladed work machine, the method comprising:
 enabling the two-dimensional grade control system;   determining at least a portion of a blade of the bladed work machine is positioned inside an activation window;   placing the enabled two-dimensional control system in an active mode in response to the determining the portion of the blade is positioned inside the activation window, wherein, in the active mode, the two-dimensional grade control system automatically controls an orientation of the blade;   determining the blade of the bladed work machine is positioned outside the activation window;   placing the enabled two-dimensional control system in an inactive mode in response to the determining the blade is positioned outside the activation window, wherein, in the inactive mode, the two-dimensional grade control system remains enabled but does not automatically control the orientation of the blade; and   changing, while the two-dimensional grade control system has continuously remained enabled, the two-dimensional grade control system from the inactive mode to the active mode in response to determining the portion of the blade that had previously been outside the activation window is positioned in the activation window.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the changing of the two-dimensional grade control system from the inactive mode to the active mode does not require a re-enabling of the two-dimensional grade control system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further including the enabled two-dimensional grade control system automatically controlling the orientation of the blade in response to a change of the enabled two-dimensional grade control system from the inactive mode to the active mode. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the changing of the two-dimensional grade control system from the inactive mode to the active mode comprises detecting a height of the blade relative to at least one of the activation window and a ground surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining at least the portion of the blade is positioned inside the activation window comprises determining an implement angle of the bladed work machine extends into the activation window. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the determining the blade is positioned outside the activation window comprises determining the implement angle does not extend into the activation window. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the implement angle is a slope of the blade. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the implement angle is a slope of a C-frame of the bladed work machine. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining at least the portion of the blade is positioned inside the activation window comprises determining the blade satisfies a predetermined height above a predetermined location. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a size of the activation window in response to at least the determining the blade has moved from being inside the activation window to being outside the activation window. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a bladed work machine having a blade, the blade configured to engage a ground material;   a control system having a two-dimensional grade control system, the two dimensional grade control system comprising a memory device coupled with at least one processor, the memory device including instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:   receive a signal from a user interface of the bladed work machine that enables the two-dimensional grade control system to provide an enabled two-dimensional grade control system;   determine at least a portion of a blade of the bladed work machine is positioned inside an activation window;   place the enabled two-dimensional control system in an active mode in response to the portion of the blade being determined to be positioned inside the activation window, wherein, in the active mode, the enabled two-dimensional grade control system automatically controls an orientation of the blade;   determine the blade of the bladed work machine is positioned outside the activation window;   places the enabled two-dimensional control system in an inactive mode in response to the blade being determined to be positioned outside the activation window, wherein, in the inactive mode, the enabled two-dimensional grade control system remains enabled but does not automatically control the orientation of the blade; and   change, while the enabled two-dimensional grade control system has remained enabled and not subsequently entered a disabled state, the enabled two-dimensional grade control system from the inactive mode to the active mode in response to determining the portion of the blade that had previously been outside the activation window is positioned in the activation window.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the memory device including instructions that when executed by the at least one processor further cause the at least one processor to allow the two-dimensional grade controller to remain enabled between periods in which the two-dimensional control system is, and is not, in the active mode. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the memory device including instructions that when executed by the at least one processor further cause the at least one processor to automatically control the orientation of the blade in response to a change of the enabled two-dimensional grade control system from the inactive mode to the active mode. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the change of the two-dimensional grade control system from the inactive mode to the active mode comprises a detection of a height of the blade relative to at least one of the activation window and a ground surface. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the determination that at least the portion of the blade is positioned inside the activation window comprises a determination that an implement angle of the bladed work machine extends into the activation window. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the determination that the blade is positioned outside the activation window comprises a determination that the implement angle does not extend into the activation window. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the implement angle is a slope of the blade. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the implement angle is a slope of a C-frame of the bladed work machine. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the determination that at least the portion of the blade is positioned inside the activation window comprises a determination that blade satisfies a predetermined height above a predetermined location. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the memory device including instructions that when executed by the at least one processor further cause the at least one processor to adjust a size of the activation window in response to at least the determination that the blade has moved from being inside the activation window to being outside the activation window.