System and method for traction control in a work vehicle with an electric infinitely variable transmission

A method for providing traction control in a work vehicle including an engine and a multi-mode transmission assembly having an electric machine operably connected to the engine, for selectively transferring power through a variator of the multi-mode transmission assembly to an output shaft that drives ground engaging elements of the work vehicle, the method comprising:

• transferring rotational power from the electric machine to a planetary gear set of the variator and then to a multi-speed gear arrangement of the multi-mode transmission assembly having multiple clutch and gear sets configured to provide multiple selective gear reductions for transmission of output power from the variator to the output shaft;
• transmitting a first input to a traction control unit of the work vehicle, the first indicative of a first commanded ground speed for one or more of the driven ground engaging elements of the work vehicle at a first time;
• transmitting a second input to the traction control unit from a ground radar system of a movement monitoring system, the second input indicative of a first actual ground speed of the work vehicle at the first time;
• comparing, via the traction control unit, the first commanded ground speed and the first actual ground speed;
• when the first commanded ground speed exceeds the first actual ground speed by more than a threshold amount, identifying a wheel slip condition of the one or more driven ground engaging elements and controlling the electric machine, via the traction control unit, to reduce a speed or torque output thereof provided to the variator and on to the output shaft, thereby providing traction control for the one or more driven ground engaging elements that reduces or eliminates the wheel slip condition;
• transmitting a third input to the traction control unit, the third input indicative of a second commanded ground speed for the work vehicle at a second time, the second time after the first time;
• transmitting a fourth input to the traction control unit, the fourth input indicative of a second actual ground speed of the work vehicle at the second time;
• and
• based on a determination that (a) a difference between the second commanded ground speed and the second actual ground speed is less than or equal to the threshold amount and (b) the second actual ground speed is less than a theoretical non-slip ground speed at which a threshold power is provided to the ground engaging elements without resulting in wheel slip of the ground engaging elements, increasing, via the traction control unit, the speed or torque output of the electric machine based on the theoretical non-slip ground speed.

A work vehicle comprising:

• an engine;
• a multi-modal transmission assembly including:
• a variator having a planetary gear set selectively connected to the engine;
• a multi-speed gear arrangement having multiple clutch and gear sets configured to provide multiple selective gear reductions for transmission of output power from the variator to an output shaft;
• and
• an electric machine operably connected to the engine and to the variator, with the electric machine providing rotational power to the variator;
• wherein the multi-mode transmission assembly is configured to selectively transfer power from one or both of the engine and the electric machine to the output shaft to drive ground engaging elements of the work vehicle;
• a movement monitoring system having a ground radar system configured to monitor an actual ground speed of the work vehicle;
• and
• a traction control unit, including a processor, in communication with the electric machine, the traction control unit operating to:
• receive a first input indicative of a first commanded ground speed for one or more of the driven ground engaging elements of the work vehicle at a first time;
• receive a second input from the ground radar system of the movement monitoring system, the second input indicative of a first actual ground speed of the work vehicle at the first time;
• compare the first commanded ground speed to the first actual ground speed;
• identify a wheel slip condition of the one or more driven ground engaging elements of when the first commanded ground speed exceeds the first actual ground speed more than a threshold amount;
• reduce a speed or torque output of the electric machine upon identification of the wheel slip condition that reduces or eliminates the wheel slip condition;
• receive a third input indicative of a second commanded ground speed for the one or more driven ground engaging elements at a second time, the second time after the first time;
• receive a fourth input indicative of a second actual ground speed of the work vehicle at the second time;
• and
• based on a determination that (a) a difference between the second commanded ground speed and the second actual ground speed is less than or equal to the threshold amount and (b) the second actual ground speed is less than a theoretical non-slip ground speed at which a threshold power is provided to the driven ground engaging elements without resulting in wheel slip of the driven ground engaging elements, increase the speed or torque output of the electric machine based on the theoretical non-slip ground speed.