DESC:DESCRIPTION
Technical Field
[001] This disclosure relates generally to controlling operation of a vehicle and more particularly to a method and system of controlling operation of a vehicle carrying a container to be rotated.

BACKGROUND
[002] Electrically operated ready-mixed concrete (RMC) vehicles include a drum shaped container, hereinafter referred to as ‘drum’. The drum is used to prepare concrete. The drum is loaded with various ingredients during the charging process. During the charging, the drum is rotated to mix the ingredients and prepare the concrete. once charged, the RMC truck may travel to a construction site to deliver the concrete. Even during the transition, the drum is required to be rotated to ensure uniform consistency of concrete and prevent the concrete from hardening and settling in the drum. Further, the drum is also rotated while unloading or discharging the concrete to ensure that the concrete remains blended and has uniform consistency. Once the drum is empty, it is required to be rotated until cleaned thoroughly so that any residue remaining in the drum does not harden up in the drum.
[003] Conventional RMC vehicles come with two engines, one for driving the vehicle and another slave engine for operating the drum. As will be appreciated, the two engines cause a large amount of emission. Further, conventionally, the slave engine is coupled with a hydraulic motor which in turn runs a hydraulic pump to cause rotation of the drum. Consequently, the conventional system used for rotating the drum involves a large number of parts, causing additional cost and complexity. Further, in electrically operated RMC vehicles, the battery efficiency is impacted due to uncontrolled transmission of power from the battery to a drum motor used for rotating the drum. Further, the conventional systems do not provide precise control over the speed and rotation of the drum and put unnecessary load on the battery.
[004] Therefore, there is a requirement for an efficient and effective method and system of controlling operation of the drum of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] In an embodiment, a method of controlling operation of a vehicle is disclosed. The method may include initiating, by a controller, a test rotation of a drum of the vehicle. The method may further include determining, by the controller, a time taken by the drum to complete a predefined number of rotations during the test rotation. Further, the method may include determining, by the controller, a load state of the drum based on the time taken by the drum to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation. The method may further include supplying, by the controller, torque to control rotation of the drum based on the load state of the drum.
[006] In another embodiment, a system of controlling operation of a vehicle is disclosed. The system may include a controller and a memory communicatively coupled to the controller. The memory may store a set of instructions, which on execution may causes the controller to initiate a test rotation of a drum of the vehicle. The controller-executable instructions, on execution, may further cause the controller to determine a time taken by the drum to complete a predefined number of rotations during the test rotation. The controller-executable instructions, on execution, may further cause the controller to determine a load state of the drum based on the time taken by the drum to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation. Further, the controller-executable instructions, on execution, may cause the controller to supply torque to control rotation of the drum based on the load state of the drum.
[007] In yet another embodiment, a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle may include a controller and a memory communicatively coupled to the controller. The memory may store a set of instructions, which on execution may causes the controller to initiate a test rotation of a drum of the vehicle. The controller-executable instructions, on execution, may further cause the controller to determine a time taken by the drum to complete a predefined number of rotations during the test rotation. The controller-executable instructions, on execution, may further cause the controller may further determine a load state of the drum based on the time taken by the drum to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation. Further, the controller-executable instructions, on execution, may cause the controller to supply torque to control rotation of the drum based on the load state of the drum.
[008] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles.
[010] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a vehicle including a drum, in accordance with some embodiment of the present disclosure.
[011] FIG. 2 illustrate a functional block diagram of a computing device of the controlling operation system of FIG.1, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[012] FIG. 3 illustrate an exemplary fine-tuning switch, in accordance with some embodiment of the present disclosure.
[013] FIG. 4 illustrate a flow diagram of a methodology of controlling operation of a vehicle, in accordance with some embodiment of the present disclosure.
[014] FIG. 5 illustrate a flow diagram of a methodology of controlling operation of the vehicle for rotating the drum, in accordance with some embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[015] The foregoing description has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which forms the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying other devices, systems, assemblies, and mechanisms for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that, such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristics of the disclosure, to its device or system, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
[016] The terms “including”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “comprising of” or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a system or a device that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
[017] Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same numerals have been used to refer to the same or like parts. The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to FIGs. 1-4.
[018] As explained earlier, drum of an RMC vehicle is required to be rotated continuously. However, supply of fixed or uncontrolled amount of torque to rotate the drum irrespective of the load state of the drum may lead to wastage of electrical power of the battery powering the vehicle. The present disclosure provides a controlling methodology for controlling the rotation of the drum depending on the load being carried in the drum.
[019] Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a system for controlling operation of a vehicle 100 is illustrated, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. By way of an example, vehicle 100 may be an electrically operated RMC vehicle including a drum 112. The vehicle 100 may further include a control unit 102 that may be configured for controlling the rotation of the drum 112.
[020] It is to be noted that the vehicle 100 may include a traction motor 108 that may be operatively coupled to the control unit 102. It is to be noted, that the traction motor 108 may be driven based on electrical power supplied from a battery (not shown). Further, the traction motor 108 may be mechanically coupled to a drum motor 110. Accordingly, the drum motor 110 may operate based on torque supplied by the traction motor 108 and in turn may rotate the drum 112 of the vehicle 100.Further, the control unit 102 may be operatively coupled to a fine-tuning switch 114 that may be used by a user or driver of the vehicle 100 to fine-tune the rotational speed of the drum 112 or pre-select load state of the drum 112. In an embodiment, the fine-tuning switch 114 may enabled as, but not limited to, a push button, a toggle switch or rocker switch, etc.
[021] In an embodiment, the control unit 102 may be implemented as an electronic control unit (ECU), such as a motor control unit (MCU). In an embodiment, the traction motor 108 and the drum motor 110 may be controlled by the ECU of the vehicle 100. The control unit 102 may include a controller 104 and a memory 106. The controller 104 may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, single board computers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, graphics processing units, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate data received from the memory 106. In an embodiment, the controller 104 may be a processor. In an embodiment, examples of processor may include, but are not limited to, an Intel® Itanium® or Itanium 2 processor(s), or AMD® Opteron® or Athlon MP® processor(s), Motorola® lines of processors, Nvidia®, FortiSOC™ system-on-a-chip processors or other future processors.
[022] The memory 104 may store the instruction that, when executed by the controller 104 cause the controller 104 to perform controlling operation of the vehicle 100 as discussed in greater detail below. The memory 106 may be a non-volatile memory or a volatile memory. Examples of non-volatile memory may include, but are not limited to a flash memory, a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), Erasable PROM (EPROM), and Electrically EPROM (EEPROM) memory. Examples of volatile memory may include but are not limited to Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), and Static Random-Access memory (SRAM).
[023] In an embodiment, the control unit 102, the traction motor 108 and the fine-tuning switch 114 may be communicably connected via a wired and/or a wireless communication protocol such as but not limited to, vehicle communication bus, operating on wireless protocols, including, but not limited to A²B (Automotive Audio Bus), AFDX, ARINC 429, Byteflight, CAN (Controller Area Network) , D2B – (Domestic Digital Bus), FlexRay, IDB-1394, IEBus, I²C, ISO 9141-1/-2, J1708 and J1587, J1850, J1939 and ISO 11783 – an adaptation of CAN for commercial (J1939) and agricultural (ISO 11783) vehicles, Keyword Protocol 2000 (KWP2000), LIN (Local Interconnect Network), MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport), IEC 61375, SMARTwireX, SPI, and/or VAN – (Vehicle Area Network), and the like.
[024] In an embodiment, the control unit 102 may include various types of controllers that may be configured to control various components of the vehicle system. In an embodiment, the controllers may execute one or more control algorithms to facilitate monitoring for determining the speed of the drum 112, load state of the drum 112, etc. In an embodiment, controller 104 may include software executable controllers which may be implemented on hardware platform or a hybrid device that combines controller functionality and other functions such as visualization. The control software or algorithms executed by automobile controllers may include coding or algorithm to process input signal read from various vehicle components etc.
[025] The drum 112 may have various load states depending on the amount of concrete present in the drum 112. In an embodiment, the drum 112 may have a storage capacity and the load states of the drum 112 may be, but not limited to, an empty state, a partially laden state and a fully laden state. In an embodiment, the drum 112 may be determined in the empty state when there is about no load or concrete present in the drum 112. For example, the drum 112 may be determined in the empty state when the load is than 10% of its capacity. The drum 112 may be determined in the partially laden state when the drum 112 is loaded but less than its full capacity. For example, the drum 112 may be determined in the partially laden state when the load is 10-80% of its capacity.. The drum 112 may be in a fully laden state when the drum 112 may be about filled with concrete to its full capacity. For example, the drum 112 may be determined in the empty state when the load is greater than 80% of its capacity.
[026] The drum 112 may be rotated at a predefined rotational speed depending on the load state of the drum 112. A predefined amount of torque may be required by the drum motor 110 to rotate the drum at a predefined rotational speed corresponding to the load state of the drum 112. By controlling the amount of torque transmitted to the drum motor 110 from the traction motor 108 based on the load state of the drum 112, the efficiency of the battery (not shown) may be improved.
[027] In order to determine the load state of the drum 112, the control unit 102 may initiate a test rotation of the drum 112 by supplying a predefined test torque from the traction motor 108 to the drum motor 112. In an embodiment, the test rotation may be initiated upon turning the vehicle 100 ON. In another embodiment, the test rotation may be initiated based on receiving an input from a user via the fine-tuning switch 108.
[028] Further, the control unit 102 may determine a time taken by the drum 112 to complete a predefined number of rotations during the test rotation. As will be understood, when the drum 112 may be in fully laden state the speed of rotation of the drum 112 may be lowest and it may take maximum time to complete the predefined number of rotations as compared to when the drum 112 may be in the partially loaden state or empty state.
[029] Thus, by determining the time taken by the drum 112 to complete the predetermined number of rotations during the test rotation, a load state of the drum 112 may be determined. In an embodiment, the load state of the drum 112 may be determined based on a load-state look up table that may define a predefined range of time taken by the drum 112 to complete a predefined number of rotations based on the supply of predefined test torque corresponding to each of the load states. Table 1 provide below depicts an exemplary predefined load reference table.
Time taken (t) to complete ‘N’ rotations Load State
tt2 Fully laden
Table 1
[030] In an embodiment, the control unit 102 may determine the load state of the drum 112 as the empty state in case the time taken (t) by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation may be determined less than a predefined first threshold time (t1). Further, the load state of the drum 112 may be determined as the partially laden state in case the time taken (t) by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation may be greater than the predefined first threshold time (t1) and less than a second threshold time (t2). Further, the load state of the drum 112 may be determined as fully laden state in case the time taken by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation may be greater than the second threshold time (t2).
[031] Upon determining the load state of the drum 112, the control unit 102 may supply torque to control the rotation of the drum 112 based on the determined load state. In an embodiment, the control unit 112 may control the supply of torque from the traction motor 108 to the drum motor 110 based on the determined load state of the drum 112. In an embodiment, for each of the load states, a predefined rotation speed may be defined at which the drum 112 is required to rotate. In an embodiment, a predefined torque reference table may include a predefined torque that is required to be supplied to rotate the drum 112 to rotate the drum 112 at a corresponding predefined rotation speed for each of the load states. Table 2 below depicts a predefined torque reference table.
Load State Rotational Speed Predefine Torque (t)
Empty State R1 t1
Partially Laden State R2 t2
Fully Laden State R3 t3
Table 2
[032] Thus, the control unit 102 may control the supply of torque based on determined load state of the drum 112 in order to rotate the drum 112 at a corresponding predefined rotational speed as depicted in Table 2 above.
[033] In an embodiment, in case the load state of the drum is determined as the empty state, the control unit may turn off the drum motor 110 so as to save power. To ensure that the drum does not stop rotating (as the stoppage results in sticking of residues with the inner surface of the drum 112), the drum motor 110 may be intermittently turned on. To determine when the motor is to be turned on, the control unit 102 may periodically compare a current rotation speed of the drum 112 with respect to the predefined rotation speed (R1) to ensure that the drum 112 is rotating at about the predefined rotation speed (R1). Further, the control unit 102 may intermittently supply the torque from the traction motor 108 to the drum motor 110 such that the current speed of the drum 112 does not drop below the corresponding predefined rotation speed (R1). Accordingly, the drum motor 110 may be operated intermittently based on the intermittent supply of the torque from the traction motor 108 to ensure that the drum 112 does not stop while also ensuring power saving.
[034] Further, in order to determine a change in load state of the drum 112, the control unit 102 may periodically initiate the test rotation of the drum 112. In an embodiment, the drum 112 may be charged if empty by adding concrete to the drum 112 or the drum 112 may become partially laden state or fully laden. In another scenario, the drum 112 in case already in fully laden state may be discharged and become partially laden or empty. In yet another scenario, the drum 112, if in the partially laden state may be charged to become fully laden or discharged to become empty. Accordingly, the torque requirement of the drum motor 110 to rotate the drum 112 at a corresponding predefined speed may change based on change in load state. In case, upon the supply of the corresponding torque to the drum motor 110, the rotation speed of the drum 112 is determined less than or greater than the corresponding predefined rotation speed, the control unit 102 may determine a change in the load state. Accordingly, the control unit 102 may initiate test rotation of the drum 112 to determine the change load state of the drum 112. In an embodiment, the test run may be periodically initiated at predefined time intervals to determine any change in the load state of the drum 112. Further, the control unit 102 may control the supply of torque to control the rotation of the drum 112 such that the current rotation speed of the drum 112 becomes equal to a corresponding predefined rotation speed corresponding to the change load state.
[035] Further, the control unit 102 may receive a fine-tuning command based on the actuation of at least one fine-tuning switch 108 by the user or driver. Further, the control unit 102 may control the current rotation speed of the drum 112 based on the supply of the torque such that the current rotation speed may be fine-tuned by a predefined fine-tuning speed level based on the fine-tuning command. In an embodiment, the predefined fine-tuning speed level may be, but not limited to, a fraction of the current rotation speed, such as 5% or 10%.
[036] Referring now to FIG. 2 a functional block diagram of the control unit 102 of the system for controlling operation of the vehicle 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the control unit 102 may include a test rotation module 202, a time determination module 204, a load state determination module 206, a torque supplying module 208, a fine-tuning module 210 and a rotation controlling module 212.
[037] The test rotation module 202 may initiate the test rotation of the drum 112. In an embodiment, the test rotation may be initiated upon detection of power ON of the vehicle 100. In another embodiment, the test rotation of the drum 112 may be initiated based on receiving an input from the user via the fine-tuning switch 114. The initiation of the test rotation may include supplying the predefined test torque from the traction motor 108 to the drum motor 110 rotating the drum 112.
[038] Further, the time determination module 204 may determine the time taken by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation. It is to be noted that the time taken by the drum 112 in an empty state may be less than the time taken by the drum 112 in the partially laden state or in the fully laden state to complete the predefined number of rotations. This is due to change in the amount of concrete being present in the drum 112 in various load states.
[039] Upon determining the time taken by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation, the load state determination module 206 may determine the load state of the drum 112. In an embodiment, the load state of the drum 112 may be determined as one of empty state, partially laden state, and fully laden state.
[040] As described earlier, based on lookup of the exemplary predefined load reference table, Table 1, the load state of the drum 112 may be determined as the empty state in case the time taken (t) by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation may be determined less than the predefined first threshold time (t1). Further, the load state of the drum 112 may be determined as the partially laden state in case the time taken (t) by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation may be determined greater than the predefined first threshold time (t1) and less than the second threshold time (t2). Further, the load state of the drum 112 may be determined as fully laden state in case the time taken by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation may be determined greater than the second threshold time (t2).
[041] Further, the torque supplying module 208, may supply a torque to control rotation of the drum 112 based on the load state of the drum 112. In an embodiment, the torque supplying module 208 may supply torque based on the predefined torque reference table. The predefined torque reference table as shown in exemplary Table 2 above, may include a predefined torque that is required to be supplied to rotate the drum 112 at a corresponding predefined rotation speed for each of the load states. The control unit 102 may control the supply of torque based on determined load state of the drum 112 in order to rotate the drum 112 at a corresponding predefined rotational speed as depicted in Table 2 above.
[042] Further, in one embodiment, upon determining the load state of the drum 112 as the empty state, a current rotation speed of the drum 112 may be periodically compared with respect to a predefined rotation speed determined corresponding to the empty state based on the predefined torque reference table. The torque supplying module 208 may intermittently supply the torque from the traction motor 108 to the drum motor 112 such that the current rotation speed of the drum is about equal to the corresponding predefined rotation speed. In an embodiment, the torque may be supplied in such a way that if the current rotation speed of the drum 112 does not become less than the predefined rotation speed corresponding to the empty state. Accordingly, the drum motor 110 may be operated intermittently based on the intermittent supply of the torque from the traction motor 108 to ensure that the drum 112 rotates at about the predefined rotation speed corresponding to the empty state.
[043] Further, in some embodiments, in case the current rotation speed of the drum 112 is determined less than the corresponding predefined rotation speed corresponding to the current load state then the torque supplying module 208 may determine a change in load state of the drum 112. Accordingly, the test rotation module 202 may enable a test rotation to determine the changed load state of the drum 112. Further, in some embodiments, the test rotation module 202 may initiate the test rotation of the drum 112 after a predefined time interval to determine a change in the load state of the drum 112. Accordingly, the torque supplying module 208 may then supply torque to the drum 112 based on the changed load state to rotate the drum 112 at a predetermined rotation speed corresponding to the changed load state.
[044] Further, the fine-tuning command module 210 may receive a fine-tuning command based on actuation of at least one fine-tuning switch by a user. Referring to FIG. 3 an exemplary fine-tuning switch 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The exemplary fine-tuning switch 300 may be operable when the vehicle may be turned ON. The fine-tuning switch 300 may include switches for the user to select to define the load state of the drum 112, transitory state of the vehicle 100, or for fine-tuning the rotation speed of the drum 112. In an embodiment, selection of a transit switch 302 may provide an input to the control unit 102 of the vehicle 100 that the vehicle 100 has started moving. In an embodiment, selection of unloaded switch 304 may indicate the load state of the drum 112 as empty state. In an embodiment, selection of loaded switch 306 may indicate the load state of the drum 112 as fully loaded state. Further, a speed increasing switch 308 may be provided to increase the current rotation speed of the drum 112 by a predefined fine-tuning speed level. Further, a speed reducing switch 310 may be provided to decrease the current rotation speed of the drum 112 by the predefined fine-tuning speed level. In an embodiment, the predefined fine-tuning speed level may be a fraction of the current rotation speed of the drum 112 such as, but not limited to, 10%. Further, in an embodiment, a switch (not shown) may be provided for the user to initiate the test rotation of the drum 112 to determine a change in the load state of the drum 112 so that the drum 112 may rotate at a corresponding predefined rotation speed based on the changed load state.
[045] Referring now to FIG. 4, a flow diagram 400 of a methodology of controlling operation of a vehicle 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. In an embodiment, the flow diagram 400 may include a plurality of steps that may be performed by the processor 104 to control the operation of the vehicle 100 or may be executed by various modules, same as the modules of the control unit 102.
[046] At step 402, the controller 104 may initiate a test rotation of the drum 112 of the vehicle 100. In an embodiment, the initiation of the test rotation may include supplying the predefined test torque from the traction motor 108 of the vehicle 100 to the drum motor 112 rotating the drum 112. At step 404, the controller 104 may determine a time taken by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation.
[047] At step 406, the controller 104 may determine a load state of the drum 112 based on the time taken by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation. In an embodiment, the load state of the drum 112 may be determined as one of: empty state, the partially laden state and the fully laden state. Further, the load state of the drum 112 may be determined based on a predefined load reference table as shown in Table 1 above. Accordingly, based on the predefined load reference table, the load state may be determined as empty state in case the time taken by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation may be less than the predefined first threshold time. Further, the load state may be determined as the partially laden in case the time taken by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation is greater than the predefined first threshold time and less than a second threshold time. Further, the load state may be determined as the fully laden in case the time taken by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation is greater than the second threshold time.
[048] At step 408, the controller 104 may supply torque to control rotation of the drum 112 based on the load state of the drum 112. In an embodiment, the control unit 112 may control the supply of torque from the traction motor 108 to the drum motor 110 based on the determined load state of the drum 112. In an embodiment, the controller 104 may supply torque based on the torque reference table as depicted in Table 2 above. Thus, the control unit 102 may control the supply of torque based on determined load state of the drum 112 in order to rotate the drum 112 at a corresponding predefined rotational speed as depicted in Table 2 above.
[049] Referring now to FIG. 5, a flow diagram 500 of a methodology of controlling operation of the vehicle 100 for rotating the drum 112 is illustrated. In an embodiment, the flow diagram 500 may include a plurality of steps that may be performed by the processor 104 to control the operation of the vehicle 100 or may be executed by various modules, same as the modules of the control unit 102.
[050] At step 502, the controller 104 may initiate a test rotation of the drum 112 of the vehicle 100. In an embodiment, the initiation of the test rotation may include supplying the predefined test torque from the traction motor 108 of the vehicle 100 to the drum motor 112 rotating the drum 112. At step 504, the controller 104 may determine a time taken (t) by the drum 112 to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation.
[051] At step 506, the controller 104 may determine the load state of the drum 112 based on a load reference table as depicted in Table 1 above. Accordingly, the controller 104 may determine if the time taken (t) is less than first threshold level (t1) corresponding to empty load state. If the time taken (t) is determined less than the first threshold level (t1), the load state of the drum 112 is determined as empty state at step 508. In case, at step 506, the time taken (t) is not determined less than the first threshold level (t1), the controller 104 may determine if the time taken (t) is less than a second threshold level (t2) at step 510. In case, the time taken (t) is determined less than a second threshold level (t2) at step 510, the controller 104 may determine the load state of the drum 112 as partially laden state at step 512. Further, if the time taken (t) is not determined less than a second threshold level (t2) at step 510, the controller 104 may determine the load state of the drum 112 as the fully laden state at step .
[052] The controller 104 may control the supply torque based the load state of the drum 112 based on Table 2 provided above. Accordingly, upon determining the load state as empty state at step 508, the controller 104 may supply torque (t1) to rotate the drum 112 at a rotation speed of R1 at step 516. Upon determining the load state as the partially laden state at step 512, the controller 104 may supply torque (t2) to rotate the drum 112 at a rotation speed of R2 at step 518. Upon determining the load state as the fully laden state at step 514, the controller 104 may supply torque (t3) to rotate the drum 112 at a rotation speed of R3 at step 520.
[053] Upon supplying torque (t1) to rotate the drum 112 at a rotation speed of R1 at step 516, the controller 104 may stop the supply of torque from the traction motor 108 to the drum motor 110 at step 522. Thus, at step 522, the drum motor 110 may be switched off. Further, at step 524, the controller104 may determine of the current rotation speed of the drum 112 is less than the rotation speed of R1 corresponding to empty state of the drum 112. In case, the current rotation speed is determined about equal to R1 at step 524, the controller 104 may continue to keep the drum motor 110 switched off at step 522.
[054] It is to be noted, the current rotation speed of the drum 112 may reduce in case the drum 112 has been charged or loaded or due to lack of torque supply to the drum motor 110 from the traction motor 108. Thus, in case the current rotation speed is determined less than R1 at step 524, the controller 104 may determine if a predefined time period has passed at step 530.
[055] Similarly, the controller 104 may determine if the current rotation speed of the drum 112 is less than R2 corresponding to the partially laden state at step 526. In case the current speed of rotation is determined about equal to R2 at step 526, the controller 104 may continue to supply torque (t2) to rotate the drum 112 at a rotation speed of R2 at step 518.
[056] Further, the controller 104 may determine if the current rotation speed of the drum 112 is less than R3 corresponding to the fully laden state at step 528. In case the current speed of rotation is determined about equal to R3 at step 528, the controller 104 may continue to supply torque (t3) to rotate the drum 112 at a rotation speed of R3 at step 514.
[057] In case, the current rotation speed of the drum 112 at step 526 or 528 is determined less than to R2 or R3 respectively, the controller 104 may determine if a predefined time period has passed at step 530.
[058] If at step 530, the controller 104 may determine that the predefined time period has passed, the controller 104 may initiate the test rotation of the drum 112 at step 502 to determine a change in load state of the drum 112.
[059] Accordingly, the controller 104 may continuously control the rotation of the drum 112 based on the load state of the drum 112 by monitoring the current rotation speed of the drum 112 at all times. The methodology of flow diagrams 400 and 500 ensures an effective utilization of the power from the traction motor 108 based on the load state of the drum 112 to keep the drum rotating based on its load state.
[060] It is intended that the disclosure and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims.
,CLAIMS:CLAIMS
I/We claim:
1. A method (400) of controlling operation of a vehicle (100), the method comprising:
initiating, by a controller (104), a test rotation of a drum (112) of the vehicle;
determining, by the controller (104), a time taken by the drum (112) to complete a predefined number of rotations during the test rotation;
determining, by the controller (104), a load state of the drum (112) based on the time taken by the drum (112) to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation; and
supplying, by the controller (104), torque to control rotation of the drum (112) based on the load state of the drum (112).

2. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein initiating the test rotation of the drum (112) comprises:
supplying, by the controller (104), a predefined test torque from a traction motor (108) of the vehicle (100) to a drum motor (110) rotating the drum (112).

3. The method (400) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the load state of the drum (112) is determined as one of: an empty state, a partially laden state and a fully laden state.

4. The method (400) as claimed in claim 3, comprising:
determining, by the controller (104), the load state as the empty state in case the time taken by the drum (112) to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation is less than a predefined first threshold time.

5. The method (400) as claimed in claim 4, comprising:
determining, by the controller (104), the load state as the partially laden state in case the time taken by the drum (112) to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation is greater than the predefined first threshold time and less than a second threshold time.

6. The method (400) as claimed in claim 5, comprising:
determining, by the controller (104), the load state as the fully laden state in case the time taken by the drum (112) to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation is greater than the second threshold time.

7. The method (400) as claimed in claim 6, comprising:
upon determining the load state as the empty state, periodically comparing, by the controller, a current rotation speed of the drum (112) with respect to a predefined rotation speed determined based on the empty state of the drum (112); and
intermittently supplying, by the controller (104), the torque from the traction motor (108) to the drum motor (110) such that the current rotation speed of the drum (112) is about equal to the corresponding predefined rotation speed.

8. The method (400) as claimed in claim 6, comprising:
periodically initiating, by the controller (104), the test rotation of the drum (112) to determine a change in the load state of the drum (112) in case a current rotation speed is determined less than or greater than a predefined rotation speed determined based on the load state of the drum (112); and
controlling, by the controller (104), the supply of torque to control the rotation of the drum (112) such that the current rotation speed of the drum (112) is about equal to a corresponding predefined rotation speed corresponding to the changed load state.

9. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
receiving, by the controller (104), a fine-tuning command based on actuation of at least one speed fine-tuning switch by a user; and
controlling, by the controller (104), a current rotation speed of the drum (112) based on the supply of the torque such that the current rotation speed is fine-tuned by a predefined fine-tuning speed level based on the fine-tuning command.

10. A system of controlling operation of a vehicle (100), the system comprising:
a controller (104);
a memory (106) coupled to the controller (104), wherein the memory (106) stores a set of instructions, which on execution, causes the controller (104) to:
initiate a test rotation of a drum (112) of the vehicle (100);
determine a time taken by the drum (112) to complete a predefined number of rotations during the test rotation;
determine a load state of the drum (112) based on the time taken by the drum (112) to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation; and
supply torque to control rotation of the drum (112) based on the load state of the drum (112).

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the test rotation of the drum (112) is initiated based on the supply of torque equal to a predefined test torque from a traction motor (110) of the vehicle (100) to a drum motor (110) rotating the drum (112).

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the load state of the drum (112) is determined as one of: an empty state, a partially laden state and a fully laden state.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the controller (104) is configured to:
determine the load state as the empty state in case the time taken by the drum (112) to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation is less than a predefined first threshold time;
determine the load state as the partially laden state in case the time taken by the drum (112) to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation is greater than the predefined first threshold time and less than a second threshold time; and
determine the load state as the fully laden state in case the time taken by the drum (112) to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation is greater than the second threshold time.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller (104) is configured to:
upon determination of the load state as the empty state, periodically compare a current rotation speed of the drum (112) with respect to a predefined rotation speed determined based on the empty state of the drum (112); and
intermittently supply the torque from the traction motor (108) to the drum motor (110) such that the current rotation speed of the drum (112) is about equal to the corresponding predefined rotation speed.

15. A vehicle (100) comprising:
a controller (104);
a memory (106) coupled to the controller (104), wherein the memory stores a set of instructions, which on execution, causes the controller (104) to:
initiate a test rotation of a drum (112) of the vehicle (100);
determine a time taken by the drum (112) to complete a predefined number of rotations during the test rotation;
determine a load state of the drum (112) based on the time taken by the drum (112) to complete the predefined number of rotations during the test rotation; and
supply torque to control rotation of the drum (112) based on the load state of the drum (112).