Agricultural Machine Throughput Control for Working Element Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control algorithms for agricultural working machines often operate the machines at sub-optimal levels due to limitations in determining optimal material throughput values for working elements, leading to inefficient operation and reduced crop throughput.
Innovation Solution
A control and regulating device with a process coordinator that evaluates common parameters of working elements to determine optimal operating points, using maximum crop throughput or layer height as a reference variable, ensuring the machine operates at its most efficient level by adjusting driving speed and optimizing working and quality parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control algorithms determine different throughput values for optimal operation of each working element, then each working element can operate optimally, but the agricultural machine as a whole cannot be operated at its optimal point of performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of individual working elements into a unified control system that optimizes the entire agricultural machine. The control unit coordinates all working elements to operate at their optimal point simultaneously, rather than optimizing each element independently, thereby achieving both element-level and machine-level optimality.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it monitors operating parameters of individual working elements, determines optimal throughput values for each element, coordinates their interactions, and adjusts their operation to achieve overall machine optimization. This multi-functional approach resolves the contradiction between individual and collective optimality.
2Reliability
If driving speed is prescribed to optimize working element operation, then working elements can operate within speed limits, but the agricultural machine is not operated at its optimal point of performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of driving speed based on real-time operating conditions and the optimal points of working elements. Rather than prescribing a fixed speed, the control unit continuously adapts the driving speed to maximize crop throughput while ensuring working elements operate within their optimal ranges, resolving the contradiction between stability and productivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If control systems optimize operating parameters precisely, then quality parameters are improved, but control effort increases and crop throughput per unit time is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit dynamically changes operating parameters based on the intended use of the harvested crop and real-time conditions. It adjusts the precision level of optimization according to quality criteria, reducing control effort when maximum precision is not required and thereby maintaining high crop throughput while still achieving necessary quality optimization.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a self-propelled agricultural machine (1) with working elements (20) whose working parameters (37) can be automatically adjusted by at least one control device (68), wherein the agricultural machine (1) is moved at a driving speed which is automatically controlled by a driving speed controller (70) depending on at least one crop parameter and/or a working parameter (37) of the agricultural machine (1), and wherein a process coordinator (67) evaluates at least one common parameter (71) of the respective working elements (20) and determines a value at least for this parameter (71).in which at least the working elements (20) monitored by the control and regulating device (68) operate optimally and wherein this determined value of the at least one common parameter (71) is used as a reference variable (72) of the control and regulating device (68).