ASC Lookahead Symbology for Work Implement Timing Precision

Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic Section Control (ASC) systems in agricultural work vehicles face performance degradation due to delays in command execution, leading to mistiming of operations when the work vehicle undergoes abrupt changes in speed or heading, especially at high speeds, which affects the precision and efficiency of treatments like seeding or spraying.

Innovation Solution

A work vehicle display system that generates map displays with ASC lookahead symbology, projecting the future position and operative states of the work implement sections, allowing operators to visualize and adjust their driving behaviors to minimize performance degradation by indicating the predicted impact of current driving actions on ASC command timing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the work vehicle travels at high speed, then productivity increases, but ASC command timing precision deteriorates due to execution delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvework speedVSAvoidASC command timing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by projecting the future position of the work vehicle and future states of implement sections ahead of time. The controller calculates where the vehicle will be at a future timepoint based on current speed and heading, and determines what ASC commands will be needed at that future position, allowing the system to prepare and issue commands in advance rather than reacting to current position alone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies dynamics by continuously updating the projection based on real-time changes in vehicle speed and heading. The future position calculation is dynamic, adjusting to current driving conditions, and the system adapts the projection timepoint and lookahead distance based on varying operational parameters to maintain accuracy despite changing conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If the ASC system reacts to current position, then response time is short, but mistiming occurs due to command execution delay

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommand response timeVSAvoidtreatment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by projecting the future position of the work vehicle and future states of implement sections ahead of time. The controller calculates where the vehicle will be at a future timepoint based on current speed and heading, and determines what ASC commands will be needed at that future position, allowing the system to prepare and issue commands in advance rather than reacting to current position alone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring actual vehicle position, speed, and heading, then comparing the projected future position against the actual trajectory. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust projections and recalculate future positions dynamically, ensuring accuracy despite variations in vehicle behavior or external conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If abrupt changes in speed or heading occur, then operator adaptability improves, but ASC performance deteriorates due to command mistiming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator adaptabilityVSAvoidASC performance level

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by projecting the future position of the work vehicle and future states of implement sections ahead of time. The controller calculates where the vehicle will be at a future timepoint based on current speed and heading, and determines what ASC commands will be needed at that future position, allowing the system to prepare and issue commands in advance rather than reacting to current position alone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies dynamics by continuously updating the projection based on real-time changes in vehicle speed and heading. The future position calculation is dynamic, adjusting to current driving conditions, and the system adapts the projection timepoint and lookahead distance based on varying operational parameters to maintain accuracy despite changing conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11340092B2Work vehicle display systems and methods for automatic section control lookahead symbology

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 DEERE & CO

AI summary

Work vehicle display systems and methods for generating map displays including automatic section control (ASC) lookahead symbology are disclosed. In embodiments, the work vehicle display system includes a display device on which a map display is generated, a position tracking data source, and a controller architecture. The controller architecture is operable in an ASC lookahead mode in which the controller architecture: (i) projects a future position of the work implement at a future timepoint based, at least in part, on data received from the position tracking data source; (ii) projects future operative states of the implement sections at the future timepoint when the implement sections are controlled by an ASC system; and (iii) generates ASC lookahead symbology on the map display visually indicating the projected future position of the work implement and the projected future operative states of the implement sections.