Harvesting Machine Predictive Speed Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural harvesting machines face challenges in maintaining optimal speed to match crop density variations, leading to potential overloading or clogging, while existing solutions either compromise operator comfort through excessive acceleration or fail to maintain desired throughput.

Innovation Solution

A method for anticipatory speed control that limits accelerations to a comfortable level while ensuring desired crop throughput is maintained by planning speed specifications based on crop density, with replanning occurring if initial acceleration exceeds set limits, and adjusting speed changes to prevent excessive acceleration or deceleration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If anticipatory speed control is implemented to maintain desired crop throughput, then productivity is improved, but operator comfort deteriorates due to excessive acceleration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop throughputVSAvoidoperator comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of crop density using forward-looking sensors before the harvesting machine reaches that section. Based on this advance information, the control system pre-calculates the required speed adjustments to maintain desired throughput while limiting acceleration rates to comfortable levels for the operator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adjusts the propulsion speed based on real-time crop density measurements from forward-looking sensors. The system continuously monitors actual throughput and compares it with desired throughput, then dynamically modifies speed commands to maintain optimal harvesting conditions while respecting acceleration limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If acceleration is limited to comfortable levels, then operator comfort is improved, but crop throughput may not be maintained due to delayed speed adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator comfortVSAvoidcrop throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By determining crop density in advance using forward-looking sensors and maps, the system has sufficient time to calculate and prepare speed adjustment commands before reaching the relevant field sections. This preliminary action allows the system to maintain desired throughput even with limited acceleration rates, as the speed changes are planned and executed smoothly over extended time periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system automatically adjusts propulsion speed based on feedback from throughput sensors and forward-looking density measurements. The system serves itself by continuously monitoring actual throughput, comparing it with desired values, and autonomously generating speed correction commands without operator intervention, thereby maintaining productivity while respecting acceleration limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If speed adjustment is delayed due to reaction time, then operator comfort is maintained, but the harvesting machine may be overloaded or clogged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator comfortVSAvoidmachine overload prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The forward-looking sensors and pre-generated density maps provide advance warning of upcoming high-density sections. The control system uses this information to begin speed reduction maneuvers well before the machine encounters problematic crop sections, preventing overload and clogging while maintaining smooth, comfortable acceleration profiles for the operator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If rapid acceleration is used to adapt to sudden density changes, then productivity is improved, but operator comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse to density changesVSAvoidoperator comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects sudden density changes in advance using forward-looking sensors and begins speed adjustment maneuvers before the harvesting machine reaches the high-density sections. This preliminary action allows the system to maintain high productivity by responding quickly to density changes while limiting acceleration rates to comfortable levels for the operator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2921042B1Harvesting machine with a predictive propulsion speed control

Publication Date: 2021.03.31 DEERE & CO

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AI summary

An arrangement and a method for speed control of a harvesting machine, in which the density of a crop stand (96) in the field is determined in advance and a speed target signal for the harvesting machine is pre-planned in the sense of a continuous maintenance of a desired throughput of the harvesting machine, wherein when pre-planning the speed target signal the accelerations of the harvesting machine are limited to a level that is comfortable for an operator of the harvesting machine.