Harvester Fill Control With Vehicle Repositioning Alerts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Operators of mobile work machines, such as forage harvesters and construction vehicles, face challenges in maintaining efficient operation due to varying soil and crop conditions, and in ensuring accurate unloading of materials into receiving vehicles, which can lead to inefficiencies and material loss.

Innovation Solution

A system that dynamically detects tutorial selection criteria during the operation of the harvester, selects relevant tutorial content, such as videos, and recommends it to the operator based on real-time sensed variables, while also communicating alert conditions between the harvester and receiving vehicle to improve synchronization and reduce material loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the operator manually controls the forage harvester to maintain harvesting efficiency under varying conditions, then harvesting efficiency is improved, but the operator's attention is consumed and control precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveharvesting efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors sensor data from the harvester and providing real-time feedback to the operator through the display interface. This feedback loop enables the operator to make precise adjustments without maintaining constant manual control, thus preserving both harvesting efficiency and control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The harvester system automatically monitors its own operational parameters and alerts the operator only when adjustments are needed. This self-monitoring capability reduces the operator's continuous attention burden while maintaining optimal harvesting efficiency through timely precision control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If the operator manually controls the unloading spout and flap alignment, then material transfer accuracy is improved, but the operator's attention is consumed and reaction time deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial transfer accuracyVSAvoidreaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to continuously monitor the alignment between the unloading spout and the receiving vehicle, providing real-time feedback to the operator. This enables precise alignment control without requiring the operator's constant attention, thus maintaining material transfer accuracy while freeing up reaction time for unexpected events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical control of the unloading spout and flap with an automated sensor-based monitoring and control system. This substitution maintains precise material transfer alignment while eliminating the need for continuous manual adjustment, thereby improving reaction time to unexpected events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the receiving vehicle operator manually adjusts to the harvester's movements, then synchronization is improved, but the operator's reaction time deteriorates when unexpected events occur

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesynchronizationVSAvoidreaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes bidirectional communication between the harvester and receiving vehicle through display interfaces. The harvester's operational status and position are transmitted to the receiving vehicle operator in real-time, enabling automatic synchronization without requiring the receiving vehicle operator's continuous manual adjustments, thus preserving reaction time for unexpected events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If the system provides comprehensive monitoring and tutorial recommendations, then operational efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system integrates multiple functions including sensor monitoring, data processing, tutorial recommendation, and communication into a single integrated control platform. This multi-functionality approach improves operational efficiency through comprehensive monitoring while minimizing the increase in device complexity by consolidating rather than multiplying separate systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4169368B1System for dynamically detecting alert conditions and optimization criteria
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 DEERE & CO
  • EP4169368B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4169368B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4169368B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A fill control system on a harvester detects that a receiving vehicle is to be repositioned relative to the harvester. The fill control system generates a signal indicative of how the receiving vehicle is to be repositioned relative to the harvester. The harvester sends the signal to a mobile device that is remote from the harvester. A mobile device receives an indication from a fill control system on a harvester that indicates how a receiving vehicle is to be repositioned relative to the harvester. The mobile device controls a user interface mechanism to generate an output indicating how the receiving vehicle is to be repositioned relative to the harvester.