Header Mount Overlay Guidance for Precise Trailer Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in achieving precise alignment and parallelism between vehicles and attachments during connection, as well as between attachments and attachment carriers during loading, which is often time-consuming and difficult for operators.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of vehicle connection guidance systems and methods that utilize sensors and controllers to provide visual presentations of projected paths and alignment aids, helping operators achieve parallel relationships between connection interfaces of vehicles and attachments, and between attachments and carriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If visual guidance systems are implemented to improve alignment precision, then manufacturing precision and measurement precision improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses virtual images (projections) of the mount interface that are overlaid on the real-world view to guide alignment. This virtual copy represents the desired position and orientation, allowing operators to align the physical mount interface with the virtual representation without requiring complex direct measurement systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary virtual representation (projected image) between the operator and the physical objects. This intermediary provides intuitive visual feedback about alignment status and desired positioning, simplifying the complex task of achieving precise parallelism between vehicles and attachments or attachments and carriers.
2Productivity
If visual guidance systems are implemented to reduce connection time, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time visual feedback by overlaying the virtual image of the mount interface on the live view from the image capture device. As the vehicle or attachment moves, the virtual image updates continuously, giving immediate feedback on alignment progress and guiding the operator to the correct position, thereby reducing connection time despite the added system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical alignment methods (such as physical alignment tools, manual measurement devices, and direct visual estimation) with an optical/electronic system that uses image capture devices and virtual projections. This substitution streamlines the alignment process and reduces the time required for connections.
3Ease of operation
If mount interfaces are concealed during approach, then ease of operation deteriorates, but this design may be necessary for structural reasons
Solution Approach 1:
When the actual mount interface is concealed or difficult to see, the system creates and displays a virtual copy (projection) of the mount interface in its expected location. This virtual representation makes the concealed interface visible to the operator, allowing proper alignment without requiring direct visual access to the physical mount interface during the approach phase.
Data Source
AI summary
A harvester may include a feeder house, a header mount interface proximate the feeder house; a header removably mounted to the feeder house by the header mount interface, the header having a mount interface for securing the header to a trailer; a sensor to output steering angle signals indicative of a steering angle of the harvester during an approach of the harvester carrying the header towards the trailer, and a controller to output control signals causing the display to overlay a representation of the mount interface on a real-time view of the approach.