Automated header float optimization and field learning for a work vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12075729-B2
Application number	US-202017008312-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2020
Priority date	Aug 31, 2020
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

A work vehicle includes a chassis, and a work implement movably coupled to the chassis, the work implement configured to perform a field-engaging function. The work vehicle also includes an actuator coupled to the work implement and configured to adjust a position of the work implement relative to a ground surface, and a controller in communication with a communication module. The controller is configured to monitor a location of the work machine via the communication module, and load a field map that identifies spatial information about a corresponding field, and a characteristic of the actuator associated with the spatial information. The controller is further configured to partition the spatial information into at least one pass traversable by the work machine. The controller is also configured to create an adjustment event to adjust the actuator in response to the location of the work machine moving within the at least one pass.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A work machine comprising:
a chassis;
a work implement movably coupled to the chassis, the work implement configured to perform a field-engaging function;
an actuator coupled to the work implement and configured to adjust a position of the work implement relative to a ground surface; and
a controller in communication with a communication module, the controller configured to:
monitor a location of the work machine via the communication module,
load a field map from a field map database, the field map identifying spatial information about a corresponding field and a fluid pressure of a hydraulic fluid acting on the actuator, the fluid pressure being associated with the spatial information,
partition the spatial information into at least one pass traversable by the work machine in the field,
determine whether an average value of the fluid pressure for the at least one pass is greater than or less than a predetermined value,
in response to the average value of the fluid pressure for the at least one pass being greater than the predetermined value, create a first adjustment event to adjust the actuator in response to the location of the work machine moving within the at least one pass, and
in response to the average value of the fluid pressure for the at least one pass being less than the predetermined value, create a second adjustment event to adjust the actuator in response to the location of the work machine moving within the at least one pass.

2. The work machine of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a float cylinder configured to adjust a float pressure of the work implement.

3. The work machine of claim 2 , wherein the first adjustment event to adjust the float cylinder further comprises increasing the float pressure of the work implement via the float cylinder.

4. The work machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to update the field map to include the first and second adjustment events and upload the updated field map to the field map database.

5. The work machine of claim 2 , wherein the second adjustment event to adjust the float cylinder further comprises decreasing the float pressure of the work implement via the float cylinder.

6. The work machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to maintain a mapped setting for the actuator in response to the average value of the fluid pressure for the at least one pass being equal to the predetermined value.

7. The work machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pass comprises a first pass and a second pass, and the controller is configured to create one of the first adjustment event and the second adjustment event for each of the first pass and the second pass.

8. A work machine comprising:
a chassis;
a work implement movably coupled to the chassis, the work implement configured to perform a field-engaging function;
an actuator coupled to the work implement and configured to adjust a position of the work implement relative to a ground surface; and
a controller in communication with a communication module, the controller configured to:
monitor a location of the work machine via the communication module,
load a field map from a field map database, the field map identifying spatial information about a corresponding field and at least one impact event associated with the spatial information, the at least one impact event comprising a geotagged location and a characteristic of the work machine associated with the geotagged location,
partition the spatial information into at least one pass traversable by the work machine in the field, and attribute the at least one impact event to the at least one pass, and
determine whether the characteristic of the work machine for the at least one impact event is greater than or less than a predetermined value,
in response to the characteristic of the work machine for the at least one impact event being greater than the predetermined value, create a first adjustment event to adjust the actuator in response to the location of the work machine moving within the at least one pass and approaching within a predetermined distance from the geotagged location, and
in response to the characteristic of the work machine for the at least one impact event being less than the predetermined value, create a second adjustment event to adjust the actuator in response to the location of the work machine moving within the at least one pass and approaching within the predetermined distance from the geotagged location.

9. The work machine of claim 8 , further comprising a tilt cylinder coupled to the work implement, and wherein the characteristic of the work machine is a fluid pressure of a hydraulic fluid acting within the tilt cylinder.

10. The work machine of claim 9 , wherein the actuator comprises a float cylinder configured to adjust a float pressure of the work implement.

11. The work machine of claim 9 , wherein the actuator comprises a lift cylinder configured to adjust a height of the work implement relative to the ground surface.

12. The work machine of claim 8 , wherein the at least one pass comprises a first pass and a second pass, and the controller is configured to create one of the first adjustment event and the second adjustment event for each of the first pass and the second pass.

13. The work machine of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to update the field map to include the first and second adjustment events and upload the updated field map to the field map database.

14. A work machine comprising:
a chassis;
a work implement movably coupled to the chassis, the work implement configured to perform a field-engaging function;
an actuator coupled to the work implement and configured to adjust a position of the work implement relative to a ground surface; and
a controller in communication with a communication module, the controller configured to:
monitor a location of the work machine via the communication module,
load a field map from a field map database, the field map identifying:
spatial information about a corresponding field,
a first impact event associated with the spatial information, the first impact event comprising a first geotagged location, and
a second impact event associated with the spatial information, the second impact event comprising a second geotagged location,

partition the spatial information into at least one pass traversable by the work machine in the field along a travel direction, and attribute the first geotagged location and the second geotagged location to the at least one pass sequentially along the travel direction,
determine whether the second geotagged location is located within a predetermined minimum distance from the first geotagged location along the travel direction, and
in response to the second geotagged location being located within a predetermined minimum distance from the first geotagged location along the travel direction, maintain a mapped setting of the actuator in response to the location of the work machine moving within the at least one pass and approaching within a predetermined distance from the second geotagged location along the travel direction.

15. The work machine of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to update the field map to include the mapped setting of the actuator and upload the updated field map to the field map database.

16. The work machine of claim 14 , wherein the second impact event further comprises a characteristic of the work machine associated with the second geotagged location, and wherein the con

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Karst Austin J

Classifications

• A01B63/10

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01B63/008

  Vertical adjustment of tools (A01B63/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F15B15/14

  of the straight-cylinder type · CPC title

• A01D41/145

  Header lifting devices · CPC title

• A01D41/141

  Automatic header control · CPC title