Agricultural Machine Map Control for Rapid Parameter Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing map-based control systems for agricultural machinery require complex and time-consuming updates when operating points exceed the currently traversed range, leading to suboptimal optimization of influencing factors like grain loss.

Innovation Solution

An agricultural working machine with a map-based control system that converts instantaneous operating points into quasi-stationary points, updating characteristic maps by overwriting initial operating points and recalculating control curves, allowing for simplified and accelerated map updates during harvesting operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If map updates are performed by selectively approaching operating points outside the currently traversed range, then the map coverage is expanded, but the optimization process becomes more complicated and requires active operator intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemap coverageVSAvoidoptimization process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines when the current operating point is outside the traversed range and autonomously updates the map by selecting and approaching relevant operating points, eliminating the need for active operator intervention while maintaining comprehensive map coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-determines the traversed range and proactively identifies operating points outside this range before they become problematic, allowing the map to be updated in advance rather than reactively, simplifying the overall optimization process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the current operating point is outside the currently traversed range of the map, then map coverage is incomplete, but the characteristic curves outside this range do not accurately reflect actual relationships

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemap coverageVSAvoidcurve accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the traversed range based on the current operating point and automatically updates the map by approaching new operating points only when necessary, ensuring that characteristic curves are maintained with high accuracy within the actual traversed range while expanding coverage as needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the current operating point and compares it against the traversed range, using this feedback to determine when map updates are needed and to selectively approach operating points that will improve coverage without compromising the accuracy of existing characteristic curves

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4154699B1Agricultural machine with parameter control
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP4154699B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4154699B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4154699B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an agricultural machine (1) comprising a map control (98), wherein the map control (98) comprises one or more maps (97) and each map (97) is configured to optimize working parameters (60) of the process units (59) of the agricultural machine (1) and the respective map (97) is designed as an initial map (100), wherein in the initial map (100) at least the relationship between working parameters (60) of a process unit (59) and quality parameters (101) is described by initial operating points (102) and a control characteristic (103) is assigned to the respective map (97) and the control characteristic (103) lies in the region of the minimum or maximum of the respective quality parameter (101).