Harvester Setting Selection for Partial Automation Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural harvesters lack the ability to allow users to selectively choose which machine settings are automatically adjusted, limiting flexibility and efficiency in harvesting operations.

Innovation Solution

A harvester with a display and processing circuitry that displays selectable machine settings, allowing users to select or deselect settings, and automatically monitors and adjusts only the selected settings, enabling mixed task allocation between automated and manual control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If all machine settings are automatically adjusted, then harvesting efficiency is improved, but user control and flexibility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharvesting efficiencyVSAvoiduser control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments machine settings into individually selectable options, allowing users to choose which specific settings are automatically adjusted and which remain under manual control. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling partial automation rather than forcing a choice between complete automation or complete manual control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If automation system controls all settings, then operational simplicity is improved, but adaptability to specific harvesting conditions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to harvesting conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically allows users to adjust the level of automation for different settings based on specific harvesting conditions and preferences. The automation level is not fixed but can be changed to adapt to varying operational requirements, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If selective automation is implemented, then user flexibility is improved, but system complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a simple display for selected settings and as a comprehensive control interface for all machine settings. This universal design allows the same interface to handle both automated and manual control modes without requiring separate complex systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250098583A1Apparatus and method for managing settings not adjusted by automation

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A harvester includes a display and processing circuitry configured to cause the harvester to display, on the display, a plurality of selectable machine settings, receive an input from a user selecting or deselecting at least one particular machine setting of the plurality of machine settings, and automatically monitor and adjust a corresponding function of the harvester of only selected particular machine settings, of the plurality of selectable machine settings.