Boom control system

A control system for a boom which is movable by first and second actuators that control the angle of the member and the length of the member, respectively, wherein the first and second actuators are controlled by first and second valves, respectively, comprising:

• a processor coupled to at least one of the first and second valves;
• means coupled to the processor for manually entering input commands to the system, wherein the entering means is actuable in a first mode of operation to independently control the two valves and is actuable in a second mode of operation to cause the processor to control at least one of the valves to move the end of the boom along a selected substantially straight line path responsive to and simultaneous with manual entering of an input command;
• and
• means coupled to the entering means for manually selecting one of the two modes of operation.

A method of controlling movement of an end of a boom wherein the length and the angle of the boom are adjustable by length and angle actuators, respectively, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing command means operable responsive to a manual input for developing a command signal to command operation of one of the actuators;
• (b) operating the one actuator in response to receipt of the command signal to cause one of the length and angle of the boom to change so that the boom is moved;
• (c) detecting movement of the boom in response to operation of the one actuator;
• and
• (d) automatically operating the other actuator in response to the detected movement of the boom such that both of the length and angle of the boom change to in turn cause the end of the boom to move along a selected substantially straight line path.