Combine Harvester Process Supervisor for Coordinated Setting Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current combine harvesters require significant operator effort to manage various working elements, as changes in one setting parameter can affect others, leading to suboptimal overall machine control and increased stress on the operator.
Innovation Solution
A driver assistance system with a process supervisor that autonomously optimizes the overall processing process by coordinating individual setting machines, allowing for data exchange and operator interaction to adjust parameters based on harvesting strategy specifications, thereby reducing operator strain and improving machine control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple independently operating automatic setting machines control different working elements, then each working element operates optimally, but overall machine control is not achieved and operator stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple independently operating automatic setting machines into a unified system through a process supervisor that coordinates their interactions. The process supervisor merges the control functions by establishing data exchange protocols and coordination mechanisms among the setting machines, enabling them to work together as an integrated system rather than isolated units.
Solution Approach 2:
The process supervisor acts as an intermediary between the various automatic setting machines. It mediates their interactions by receiving data from sensor systems, processing it according to harvesting strategies, and distributing coordinated control signals to the appropriate setting machines, thereby achieving overall machine control without requiring direct operator intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the operator manually adjusts setting parameters, then flexibility is maintained, but reaction time to changes is insufficient and control effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service operation where the automatic setting machines and process supervisor autonomously adjust setting parameters based on real-time sensor data and harvesting strategies. The system serves itself by automatically detecting changes in operating conditions and making appropriate parameter adjustments without requiring operator intervention, thereby eliminating reaction time delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensor systems monitor operating conditions, the process supervisor evaluates the data against harvesting strategies, and automatic setting machines adjust parameters in real-time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures rapid adaptation to changing conditions while maintaining flexibility through strategy selection.
3Ease of operation
If a process supervisor coordinates all setting machines, then overall machine control is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: sensor systems for data acquisition, a process supervisor for coordination and strategy management, and individual automatic setting machines for specific working element control. This segmentation allows the complex overall control function to be distributed across manageable components, reducing the perceived complexity while achieving integrated control.
4Productivity
If harvesting strategies are autonomously optimized, then productivity is maximized, but operator control and adaptability to specific situations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic adaptability where multiple harvesting strategies are stored and can be selected or adjusted based on operating conditions. The process supervisor can autonomously optimize parameters within the framework of selected strategies, but operators retain the ability to switch between different harvesting strategies (e.g., maximum throughput vs. minimum grain loss) to adapt to specific situations, maintaining flexibility while achieving optimization.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a combine harvester (1) comprising: - several working elements (16) for carrying out specific partial processing steps of an overall processing step for processing harvested crops, - a driver assistance system (18) for controlling the working elements (16), which has a memory (26) for storing data (26a, 26b), a computing device (27) for processing the data (26a, 26b) stored in the memory (26), and a graphical user interface (14), wherein the driver assistance system (18) forms independently operating setting machines (20) with the respective working elements (16) provided for carrying out the partial processing steps, which serve to optimize the control of the working elements (16) for carrying out the partial processing steps.wherein a process supervisor (28) is assigned to the driver assistance system (18) for controlling individual setting machines (20) and for exchanging data between the setting machines (20), and wherein the process supervisor (28) is configured to interact with an operator, wherein at least one parameter of at least one control process stored in memory (26) for control by the process supervisor (28) can be edited through the interaction.