Agricultural Machine Control Override for Manual Parameter Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural work machines operating in automatic mode cannot allow for short-term manual adjustments of working parameters, requiring a complete interruption of the work process to switch between automatic and manual operation.

Innovation Solution

An agricultural work machine equipped with a control device that allows for continuous operation in automatic mode, enabling operators to manually override specific working parameters by actuating control elements, such as a steering wheel, without interrupting the overall processing strategy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the agricultural machine operates in automatic mode with a pre-planned processing strategy, then the productivity and autonomy of the machine are improved, but the adaptability to temporarily changing conditions and the ease of manual adjustment of working parameters deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous work processVSAvoidmanual adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control device is designed to dynamically switch between automatic and manual control of specific working parameters while maintaining automatic operation of other parameters. This allows the system to adapt its control mode in real-time based on operational needs, resolving the contradiction between autonomous operation and manual adjustability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control system is segmented into independently controllable parts: the processing strategy (route, speed, timing) remains under automatic control, while specific working parameters (depth, width, intensity) can be independently switched to manual control. This segmentation allows simultaneous automatic and manual operation at different levels of the control hierarchy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the machine requires complete interruption of the work process to switch between automatic and manual mode, then the control reliability is improved, but the productivity and continuity of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol stabilityVSAvoidwork process continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the level of automation for different parameters without requiring mode switching interruptions. The control device continuously monitors and manages multiple parameters with different control modes simultaneously, maintaining both reliability and operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The machine maintains continuous operation by allowing manual adjustment of specific working parameters without interrupting the overall automatic processing strategy. The work process flows continuously while individual parameters can be temporarily adjusted manually and then automatically resume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the operator can manually override working parameters during automatic operation, then the adaptability to changing conditions is improved, but the complexity of the control system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter override capabilityVSAvoidcontrol device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device is segmented to handle automatic and manual control separately for different parameters. Each parameter can be independently configured for automatic or manual control, simplifying the overall control architecture while enabling flexible adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If complete mode switching is required to adjust working parameters, then the ease of operation is improved by maintaining clear operational states, but the productivity and responsiveness to changing conditions deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational state clarityVSAvoidwork process efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system provides clear operational feedback about which parameters are under manual vs. automatic control, maintaining state clarity while enabling dynamic adjustments without full mode switching. The operator can see which parameters are adjustable and which are following the automatic strategy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4552454A1Agricultural machine
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 CLAAS KGAA MBH
  • EP4552454A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4552454A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4552454A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an agricultural machine (3) with an attachment (4), wherein the agricultural machine (3) comprises a control device (5) which is provided and configured to control the agricultural machine (3) in an automatic mode such that it autonomously cultivates an area (6) with a pre-planned cultivation strategy (7), wherein the pre-planned cultivation strategy (7) comprises a route (8) to be traveled and the working parameters of the agricultural machine (3) and/or the attachment (4) to be set along the route (8), wherein the agricultural machine (3) comprises a cabin (13) with control elements (9) which are provided and configured for manually controlling and/or regulating the working parameters of the agricultural machine (3) and/or the attachment (4), wherein the control device (5) is configured such thatthat when one of the control elements (9) is actuated in automatic mode, the processing strategy continues and one of the work parameters and/or the route to be traveled (8) is overridden during actuation of the control element (9).