Wireless mobile work machine component detection and control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12189368-B2
Application number	US-202318152384-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2023
Priority date	Oct 31, 2019
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

An agricultural machine includes a plurality of components. Each component, of the plurality of components, has a transmitter configured to transmit a component identifier that identifies the component. A sensor is configured to detect the component identifiers of the plurality of components, and a control system is configured to control a controllable subsystem of the agricultural machine to perform an agricultural operation on a field, compare the detected component identifiers to a predefined set of component identifiers, detect an anomalous configuration based on a discrepancy between the detected component identifiers and the predefined set of component identifiers, and generate an output indicative of the anomalous configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural machine comprising:
one or more controllable subsystems comprising a plurality of components, wherein
each controllable subsystem, of the one or more controllable subsystems, is configured to perform a respective agricultural operation on a field, and
each respective component, of the plurality of components, has a transmitter configured to transmit a component identifier that identifies the respective component;

a sensor configured to detect the component identifiers of the plurality of components; and
a control system configured to:
control the one or more controllable subsystems;
compare the detected component identifiers to a predefined set of component identifiers;
detect an anomalous configuration of the one or more controllable subsystems based on a discrepancy between the detected component identifiers and the predefined set of component identifiers; and
generate an output indicative of the anomalous configuration.

2. The agricultural machine of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural machine comprises at least one of a tractor, a sprayer, or a planter.

3. The agricultural machine of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a wireless sensor.

4. The agricultural machine of claim 3 , wherein the wireless sensor is configured to utilize radio frequency identification (RFID).

5. The agricultural machine of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to determine a target machine operation that at least partially accommodates for the anomalous configuration, wherein the output comprises a control signal that controls a controllable subsystem, of the one or more controllable subsystems, in accordance with the target machine operation.

6. The agricultural machine of claim 5 , wherein the control signal represents a setting adjustment of the controllable subsystem.

7. The agricultural machine of claim 1 , wherein the output comprises at least one of:
a user interface display that renders an indication of the anomalous configuration, or
an alert.

8. The agricultural machine of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural machine comprises an agricultural implement having a plurality of row units, wherein the control system is configured to:
determine a configuration of each row unit, of the plurality of row units, based on the detected component identifiers; and
correlate the anomalous configuration to a particular row unit of the plurality of row units.

9. A method performed by an agricultural system, the method comprising:
receiving signals from one or more transmitters corresponding to a plurality of machine components on at least one of a tractor, a sprayer, or a planter;
based on the signals, obtaining a plurality of detected component identifiers that identify the plurality of machine components;
comparing the plurality of detected component identifiers to a predefined set of component identifiers;
detecting an anomalous configuration based on a discrepancy between the plurality of detected component identifiers and the predefined set of component identifiers; and
generating an output indicative of the anomalous configuration.

10. The agricultural machine of claim 1 , and further comprising:
one or more ground engaging elements configured to convey the agricultural machine over the field.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the signals comprises wirelessly receiving the signals from the one or more transmitters.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the signals comprise radio frequency identification (RFID) signals.

13. The method of claim 9 , and further comprising:
determining a target machine operation that at least partially accommodates for the anomalous configuration, and wherein generating the output comprises generating a control signal that controls a machine subsystem in accordance with the target machine operation.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein generating the output comprises:
generating a user interface display that renders an indication of the anomalous configuration.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein generating the output comprises:
generating an alert indicative of the anomalous configuration.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of machine components comprises row unit components, and further comprising:
determining a configuration of each row unit, of a plurality of row units, based on the detected component identifiers; and
correlating the anomalous configuration to a particular row unit of the plurality of row units.

17. An agricultural implement for row crop use, the agricultural implement comprising:
a sensor configured to receive signals from one or more transmitters corresponding to row unit components of a plurality of row units; and
a controller configured to:
obtain, based on the signals, a plurality of detected component identifiers that identify one or more row unit components of the plurality of row units;
compare the plurality of detected component identifiers to a predefined set of component identifiers;
detect an anomalous configuration based on a discrepancy between the plurality of detected component identifiers and the predefined set of component identifiers; and
correlate the anomalous configuration to a particular row unit of the plurality of row units.

18. The agricultural implement of claim 17 , wherein agricultural implement comprises at least one of a planter or a sprayer.

19. The agricultural implement of claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a target machine operation that at least partially accommodates for the anomalous configuration; and
generate a control signal that controls a machine subsystem in accordance with the target machine operation.

20. The agricultural implement of claim 17 , wherein the sensor comprises a wireless sensor.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Harmon Andrew W
• Casper Robert T
• Garner Elijah B

Classifications

• G06K7/10366

  the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications · CPC title

• G05B2219/45017

  Agriculture machine, tractor · CPC title

• A01C23/007

  Metering or regulating systems · CPC title

• A01C7/105

  Seed sensors · CPC title

• A01M7/00

  Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass · CPC title