Combine Harvester Threshing Control via Adaptive Sensor Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of sensor systems in combine harvesters, which can vary and be affected by wear, complicates the manufacture and operation of driver assistance systems, leading to challenges in controlling the threshing mechanism effectively.
Innovation Solution
A sensor configuration is defined based on operational sensors, and a functional system model is stored in the driver assistance system's memory to autonomously determine threshing unit parameters, allowing for adaptive control of the threshing mechanism based on available sensors, enabling automatic control of the threshing process without additional driver input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a complex sensor arrangement is used to detect harvesting process status, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensor arrangement into multiple independent sensors that detect different parameters (drum speed, concave width, grain losses, etc.). Each sensor operates independently and contributes specific data to the overall harvesting process monitoring, allowing the system to maintain high measurement precision while managing complexity through modular sensor selection based on different sensor configurations.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are integrated to monitor various threshing parameters, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it receives data from various sensors, stores sensor configuration information, determines threshing unit parameters, and controls the threshing mechanism. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single control unit, improving reliability through comprehensive monitoring while simplifying manufacturing by reducing the number of discrete components that must be integrated.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sensor configuration varies depending on equipment and product life cycle, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to different sensor configurations through stored configuration information that defines which sensors are present and operational. The control unit adjusts its parameter determination process based on the active sensor configuration, allowing the system to accommodate variations due to equipment differences, sensor failures, or product life cycle changes without requiring physical reconfiguration or increasing system complexity.
4Ease of repair
If individual sensors can fail due to wear, then reliability is affected, but ease of repair is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit stores sensor configuration information that defines the expected sensor setup and operational parameters. When a sensor fails or is replaced, the system can reference the stored configuration to maintain proper operation with the remaining functional sensors or to guide the replacement process. This preparatory storage of configuration data cushions against sensor failures and simplifies repair operations without compromising overall system reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a combine harvester with a threshing unit (1) for threshing harvested crop into grain and with a driver assistance system (10) for controlling the threshing unit (1), wherein the driver assistance system (10) comprises a memory (11) for storing data and a computing device (12) for processing the data stored in the memory (11), wherein a sensor arrangement (15) is provided for detecting at least part of the current harvesting process state.It is proposed that a sensor configuration (11c) is assigned to the sensor arrangement (15), that the sensor configuration is defined by the type and scope of operational sensors (16) of the sensor arrangement (15) and is stored or can be stored in the memory (11), that a functional system model (11b) for at least a part of the combine harvester is stored in the memory (11), and that the computing device (12) is configured to perform a particularly autonomous determination of at least one threshing parameter (1a,1b) based on the system model (11b), and that the computing unit (12) defines the system model (11b) underlying the control of the threshing unit (1) depending on the sensor configuration (11c) stored in the memory (11).