Work vehicle start system and method with virtual walk-around for authorizing remote start

• US 10,018,171 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2017
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Breiner, Scott J., Huber, Ronald J., Wuisan, Giovanni A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alharbi, Adam M
• Application Number:
  US15/597,466
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/023 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/063 Battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0803 Parking brake state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/12 said parameters being related to the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2011 Control involving a delay; Control involving a waiting period before engine stop or engine start
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A remote start system for a work vehicle includes a communication unit configured to receive a remote start input signal; sensors detecting information indicative of a plurality of parameters associated with the work vehicle or work vehicle environment; and a controller including at least a start module and a verification module. The start module generates a verification request in response to the remote start input signal. In response to the verification request, the verification module confirms that the plurality of parameters satisfies a plurality of verification conditions associated with the work vehicle or work vehicle environment required for remote start. The verification module generates a verification confirmation when the parameters satisfy the plurality of verification conditions. The start module generates a start command in response to the verification confirmation. A starter device is configured to energize a prime mover of the work vehicle upon receipt of the start command.

Claims

1. A remote start system for a work vehicle, comprising:

a communication unit configured to receive a remote start input signal;

a plurality of sensors detecting information indicative of a plurality of parameters associated with the work vehicle or work vehicle environment and wherein the plurality of sensors includes a proximity sensor configured to detect environment obstacles;

a controller, with memory and processing architecture for executing vehicle control algorithms, coupled to the communication unit and the plurality of sensors, the controller comprising at least a start module and a verification module, and

wherein the start module is configured to generate a verification request in response to the remote start input signal,

wherein, in response to the verification request, the verification module is configured to confirm that the plurality of parameters satisfies a plurality of verification conditions associated with the work vehicle or work vehicle environment required for remote start of the work vehicle and to generate a verification confirmation when the plurality of parameters satisfies the plurality of verification conditions, wherein the plurality of verification conditions includes a verification of an absence of the environment obstacles and

wherein the start module is configured to generate a start command in response to the verification confirmation; and

a starter device coupled to the controller and configured to energize a prime mover of the work vehicle upon receipt of the start command from the controller.

2. The remote start system of claim 1, further comprising a data store containing the plurality of conditions associated with the work vehicle or work vehicle environment required for the remote start of the work vehicle.

3. The remote start system of claim 2,

wherein the verification module is configured to confirm the plurality of parameters satisfies the plurality of verification conditions by matching each of the plurality of parameters with an associated verification condition of the plurality of verification conditions and automatically determining when the each of plurality of parameters satisfies the associated verification condition of the plurality of verification conditions.

4. The remote start system of claim 1, wherein the verification module is configured to send the plurality of parameters and the plurality of verification conditions to a remote user via the communication unit as a verification status.

5. The remote start system of claim 4, wherein the communication unit is configured to receive a verification approval from a remote user, the verification module configured to generate the verification confirmation upon receipt of the verification approval.

6. The remote start system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of verification conditions includes a verification that the work vehicle is in park.

7. The remote start system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of verification conditions includes a verification that at least one fluid of the work vehicle is above a predetermined level.

8. The remote start system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of verification conditions includes a verification of an implement orientation.

9. The remote start system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors includes an optical sensor configured to capture an image, the verification module configured to evaluate the image as one of the plurality of parameters.

10. The remote start system of claim 1, wherein the verification module, upon receiving the verification request, is configured to activate an electrical system of the work vehicle to power the plurality of sensors and to initiate the detection of the parameters.

11. The remote start system of claim 1, wherein the start module and the verification module are arranged on-board the work vehicle.

12. The remote start system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the start module or the verification module is remote relative to the work vehicle.

13. A remote start method for a work vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a communication unit, a remote start input signal;

generating, by a start module, a verification request in response to the start input signal;

collecting, by a plurality of sensors coupled to the work vehicle, information indicative of a plurality of work vehicle parameters;

confirming, by a verification module, that the plurality of parameters satisfies a plurality of verification conditions associated with the work vehicle or work vehicle environment required for remote start of the work vehicle;

generating, by the verification module in response to the verification request, a verification confirmation upon confirming that the plurality of parameters satisfies a plurality of verification conditions;

confirming that an implement of the work vehicle has a predetermined implement orientation, and confirming that the work vehicle environment is free from obstacles;

generating, by the start module, a start command in response to the verification confirmation; and

energizing, by a starter device, a prime mover of the work vehicle in response to the start command.

14. The remote start method of claim 13, wherein the confirming step includes matching each of the plurality of parameters with an associated verification condition of the plurality of verification conditions and automatically determining when the each of plurality of parameters satisfies the associated verification condition of the plurality of verification conditions.

15. The remote start method of claim 13, further comprising sending the plurality of parameters and the plurality of verification conditions to a remote user via the communication unit as a verification status.

16. The remote start method of claim 15, wherein the confirming step includes receiving a verification approval from the remote user in response to the verification status.

17. The remote start method of claim 13, wherein the confirming step includes confirming that the work vehicle is in park, confirming that at least one fluid of the work vehicle is above a predetermined level.

18. The remote start method of claim 13, further comprising activating, by the start module, an electrical system of the work vehicle to power the plurality of sensors when generating the verification request.

19. The remote start method of claim 13, wherein the start module and the verification module are arranged on-board the work vehicle.