Harvester with Predictive Driving Speed Specification

• US 20150264863A1
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: JUNG, BENEDIKT, MUENCH, PHILLIP, BIANDA SEUNOU, HABIB RIBESS
• Granted Patent: US 9,521,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/02 Self-propelled combines
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/127 Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/1271 for measuring crop flow
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for the speed control of a harvester, in which the density of a crop planting on the field is predictively determined and a speed specification signal for the harvester is planned, in the sense of a continued maintenance of a desired throughput of the harvester, wherein with the predictive planning of the speed specification signal, the accelerations of the harvester are limited to an extent that is comfortable for an operator of the harvester.

Claims

1. Method for the speed control of a harvester, the method comprising:

predictively determining at least one of;

a density of a crop planting in a field;

or

a value depending on the density of the crop planting in the field;

predictively planning a speed specification signal for the harvester to continuously maintain a desired throughput of the harvester;

wherein with the predictive planning of the speed specification signal, an acceleration of the harvester resulting from the speed specification signal, is limited based at least in part on a comfort level of an operator of the harvester; and

controlling the speed of the harvester, based on the speed specification signal.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the predictive planning of the speed specification signal comprises:

a first step, in which the speed signal is planned only on the basis of at least one of the density of the crop or a value dependent thereon; and

a second step, in which a new planning takes place if at least one of;

the amount of the acceleration of the harvester planned in the first step exceeds a stipulated threshold value;

or

the speed of the harvester planned in the first step exceeds a stipulated maximum speed of the harvester.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the predictive planning of the speed specification signal is based at least in part on a maximum speed of the harvester.

4. Method according to claim 2, wherein the predictive planning of the speed specification signal comprises a time move of a speed change forward or backward so as to prevent exceeding a threshold value of the acceleration or speed of the harvester, wherein the speed specification signals following the new planning in time are moved back in time.

5. Method according to claim 2, further comprising using a maximum acceleration or speed in response to the new planning of a speed signal originally exceeding a maximum acceleration or speed respectively.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the predictive planning of the speed specification signal comprises predictively planning the speed specification signal such that the crop throughput does not exceed the desired throughput of the harvester or does not exceed the desired throughput by more than a specifiable extent.

7. An apparatus for the speed control of a harvester, the apparatus comprising:

a device for predictive determination of;

a density of a crop planting in the field;

or

a value dependent on the density of the crop planting in the field;

a planning device for predictive planning of a speed specification signal for the harvester in order to continuously maintain a desired throughput of the harvester;

wherein the planning device is operable to limit, with the predictive planning of the speed specification signal, the accelerations of the harvester resulting from the speed specification signal to an extent that is comfortable for an operator of the harvester; and

means for controlling the speed of the harvester based on the speed specification signal.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the means for controlling the speed of the harvester comprises:

a regulation switch, which is supplied by the planning device with a theoretical value (V (t) ref) of the speed of the harvester and by a speed sensor with an actual value of the speed of the harvester; and

an initial value of a theoretical calculation unit is added to the initial value of the regulation switch, so as to take into consideration the travelling dynamics of the harvester.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is part of a harvester.