System for Controlling a Work Machine

• US 20130116896A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Blank, Sebastian
• Granted Patent: US 8,935,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/20 using a distributed architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A system and a method for controlling a work machine. A plurality of sensor arrangements provide a respective output value. A data transmission network connects the sensor arrangements to a processor unit. The processor unit is operated to convert output values from the sensor arrangement into a standard data format on the basis of formatting data associated with the sensor arrangements and to amalgamate them to form a combined measured value. It is proposed that the processor unit be able to operate to obtain the formatting data via the transmission network.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a work machine, comprising:

a plurality of sensor arrangements, each of which provides an output value;

a processor unit; and

a data transmission network that connects the sensor arrangements to the processor unit, which is configured to convert the output values from the sensor arrangements into a standard data format on the basis of formatting data associated with the sensor arrangements, and to amalgamate the converted output values to form a combined measured value, wherein the processor unit is configured to procure the formatting data via the data transmission network.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein an identification number is assigned to each sensor arrangement, wherein the processor unit is configured to query the formatting data associated with the sensor arrangements on the basis of the identification number from the data transmission network.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data transmission network extends over a work machine and optionally a work apparatus connected to said work machine, wherein the formatting data is made available in memory units connected to the data transmission network and/or in the sensor arrangements.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data transmission network additionally extends over a wireless communication section to a data transmission network of another work machine, which makes available the formatting data in a memory unit connected to the data transmission network and/or in a sensor arrangement, and/or to a stationary computer which stores the formatting data.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the formatting data comprise at least one of the following data:

a physical parameter or parameters determined by the sensor arrangement;

or

a measurement unit, a scaling factor, and a zero offset of the measured value;

or

a dependency of the measured value on intrinsic parameters.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the formatting data comprises information regarding a quality metrics and/or a measurement range of the sensor arrangement.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor device is operated on the basis of the combined measured value of an actuator of the work machine or a work apparatus connected to the work machine.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the formatting data is stored in the factory, or learned during the operation of the work machine.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the formatting data is learned during the operation of the work machine.

10. A work machine having a system according to claim 1.

11. A method for controlling a work machine, comprising:

providing output values by a plurality of sensor arrangements;

transmitting the output values via a data transmission network to a processor unit; and

converting the output values from several sensor arrangements on the basis of formatting data associated with the sensor arrangements to a standard data format and amalgamation of the output values that have been converted to a standard data format into the form of a combined measured value, wherein the formatting data is transferred via the data transmission network to the processor unit.