Mobile Machine Issue Detection and In-Cab Troubleshooting Handoff

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Solution Overview

Problem

Operators of mobile machines, such as agricultural planters, face challenges in quickly diagnosing and addressing issues that affect performance, leading to potential yield reductions due to inadequate time for troubleshooting and improper settings that can impact larger areas if not resolved promptly.

Innovation Solution

A system that detects issues in mobile machines, triggers a user interaction process to identify and address specific problems, surfacing actions that can be performed inside or outside the operator compartment, utilizing a communication system to hand off processes between in-cab and out-of-cab operations, and includes a handoff system to continue troubleshooting on a mobile device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the operator increases the planter speed to improve productivity, then the planting area covered per unit time increases, but the operator has less time to diagnose and address issues, leading to worsening performance reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplanting area covered per unit timeVSAvoidperformance consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-diagnosis and self-troubleshooting by automatically detecting issues through sensors and providing guided resolution steps to the operator, eliminating the need for external expert intervention and allowing quick resolution even at high speeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors machine operation through sensors and provides real-time feedback to the operator about detected issues and recommended actions, enabling proactive problem resolution before performance degradation occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the operator needs to exit the operator compartment to perform troubleshooting actions, then more comprehensive diagnostics can be performed, but the operator loses valuable troubleshooting time and increases downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetroubleshooting accessibilityVSAvoidtroubleshooting time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The troubleshooting actions are segmented into two categories: those that can be performed from within the operator compartment and those requiring exit. The system prioritizes and guides the operator through in-cab actions first, allowing resolution of many common issues without leaving the compartment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares and presents the troubleshooting guide in advance, organizing actions by location (in-cab vs. out-of-cab) and priority, so the operator knows exactly what to do and where to go before exiting the compartment, minimizing unnecessary trips

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10037630B2Agricultural machine performance improvement system

Publication Date: 2018.07.31 DEERE & CO

AI summary

An issue is detected in the operation of a mobile machine. A user interaction system is triggered, and identifies an issue-specific process based on the detected issue. Information is surfaced for an operator to perform actions to address the issue. The actions are grouped based on whether they can be performed inside or outside an operator compartment.