Harvester with control system considering operator feeback

• US 20030216158A1
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Bischoff, Lutz
• Granted Patent: US 6,726,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 460/6
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/127 Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines

Abstract

A control system utilizes operator satisfaction information for controlling an agricultural harvesting machine having adjustable crop processing means. The control system includes actuators for controlling the crop processing means, and a controller connected to the actuators. Operator satisfaction information for at least one quality parameter of the harvesting process is entered on an operator input device, and the controller is operable to control the actuators based on the operator input. The controller can be connected to at least one sensor measuring a quality parameter of the harvesting process. The controller stores information about the relationship between the output of the sensor and the associated inputted information about the operator'"'"'s satisfaction with the quality parameter. This relationship information can then be used for subsequent control purposes.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling an agricultural harvesting machine having adjustable crop processing means affecting quality parameters of the harvesting process, the control system comprising actuators arranged to control operating parameters of the crop processing means, and a controller arranged to control the actuators and connected to an operator interface device, characterized in that the operator interface device is operable to receive an operator input containing an information about the operator'"'"'s satisfaction with at least a quality parameter of the harvesting process, and that the controller is operable to control the actuators based on the operator input.

2. A control system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the controller is operable to read initial operating parameters of the actuators from a memory based on information on at least one of actual crop characteristics and harvest conditions.

3. A control system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the information on at least one of actual crop characteristics and harvest conditions is at least one measured by means of a sensor and inputted via the operator input device.

4. A control system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the controller is operable to receive the operator input containing information about the operator'"'"'s satisfaction with at least a quality parameter of the harvesting process after a harvesting time has elapsed.

5. A control system as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the controller is operable to receive the operator input repeatedly until the operator input indicates that the operator is satisfied with the quality parameter.

6. A control system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the controller is operable to control the actuators based on known influences of alterations to the operating parameters of the crop processing elements onto the quality parameters of the harvesting process.

7. A control system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the controller is operable to receive an operator input on a relative importance of at least two quality parameters and to control the actuators (202-214) based on the relative importance of the quality parameters.

8. A control system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the controller is connected to at least one sensor arranged to measure a quality parameter of the harvesting process, and that the controller is operable to store an information about the output of the sensor and a related information about the inputted operator'"'"'s satisfaction with the quality parameter.

9. A control system as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the controller is operable to store information on the sensor output only when the operator input indicates that the operator is satisfied with all quality parameters.

10. A control system as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the controller is operable to control the actuators based on the output of the sensor and on the previously stored information on the output of the sensor and the related information about the operator'"'"'s satisfaction with the quality parameter.

11. A control system as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the controller is operable to store the information about the relationship between the output of the sensor and the associated inputted information about the operator'"'"'s satisfaction with the quality parameter together with information on at least one of actual crop. characteristics and harvest conditions.

12. A control system as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the controller is operable to control the actuators based upon information on at least one of actual crop characteristics and harvest conditions and information on at least one of the crop characteristics and harvest conditions when the relationship between the output of the sensor and the associated inputted information about the operator'"'"'s satisfaction with the quality parameter was recorded.

13. A method of controlling an agricultural harvesting machine having adjustable crop processing means affecting quality parameters of the harvesting process, wherein a controller controls actuators influencing operating parameters of the crop processing means, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing an operator interface device;

b. inputting operator satisfaction information for at least a quality parameter of the harvesting process to the operator interface device; and

c. controlling the actuators with the controller based on the inputted operator satisfaction information.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 including the step of receiving operator satisfaction information at the controller from the operator interface device until the operator satisfaction information indicates that the operator is satisfied.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 including:

providing at least one sensor having an output indicative of a quality parameter of the harvesting process, and

storing information in the controller about the relationship between the output of the sensor and the associated inputted information about operator satisfaction with the quality parameter.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein step c. includes controlling the actuators based on the output of the sensor and on the previously stored information about the relationship between the output of the sensor and the associated inputted information about the operator satisfaction with the quality parameter.