System and method for providing data to a machine control system

• US 20040024510A1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Price, Robert J., Gatz, Michael C., Finley, Jeffrey L., Kweram, David R., Grober, John T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,928,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 59/00 Devices specially adapted for connection between animals or tractors and agricultural machines or implements A01B63/00 takes precedence; vehicle connections in general B60D; draught assemblies for animal drawn vehicles, in general B62C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 71/02 Setting or adjusting mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2663 Tractor

Abstract

A system and method for updating parameter data available to a machine control system. A work machine having an implement attached thereto includes a machine control system for controlling the machine and the implement and for providing additional functionality, such as mapping and payload systems, to the machine. The machine control system is configurable for operation of a variety of work implements. Data associated with the attached work implement is retrieved from a remote system and utilized to adjust the machine control system to accommodate the attached implement.

Claims

1. A method for updating parameter data for a work machine, comprising the steps of:

identifying an attached implement;

determining if the identified implement has associated data in the machine data storage system; and

if not, retrieving the associated data from a remote system.

2. The method, as set forth in claim 1, further including the steps of:

storing the retrieved associated data in the machine data storage system; and

setting at least one machine parameter based on the retrieved data.

3. The method, as set forth in claim 1, further including the steps of:

disabling the implement;

setting at least one machine parameter based on the retrieved data; and

enabling the implement.

4. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the implement is identified by an indicator.

5. The method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the indicator includes an operator input.

6. The method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the indicator includes a radio frequency telemetry system.

7. A system for updating machine data for a work machine, comprising:

an indicator for identifying an implement attached to the work machine;

a machine communications system for retrieving data associated with the attached implement; and

a machine data storage system for storing the associated data.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7, further including:

a machine control system having at least one machine parameter,

wherein the machine parameter is set based on the associated data.

9. The system, as set forth in claim 8, further including:

a remote data storage system for storing the associated data prior to the retrieval of the associated data by the machine communications system.

10. The system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the associated data is retrieved from the remote data storage system for storage in the machine data storage system.

11. The system, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the indicator includes an operator input.

12. The system, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the indicator includes a radio frequency telemetry system.

14. The system, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the indicator includes an operator input.

15. The system, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the indicator includes a radio frequency telemetry system.

13. A system for modifying a machine control system of a work machine, the work machine having an implement attached thereto, comprising:

an indicator for identifying the implement attached to the work machine;

a machine processor for determining if data associated with the identified implement is available;

a machine communications system for retrieving the associated data if it is not available,

wherein the machine control system includes at least one machine control for controlling operation of the machine, the machine control being adjustable based on the associated data.

16. The system, as set forth in claim 13, further including:

a remote data storage system for storing the associated data.

17. The system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein if the associated data is not available, the machine processor disables the implement prior to the machine communication system'"'"'s retrieval of the associated data.

18. The system, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the associated data is stored remotely from the machine for retrieval by the machine communications system.