Machine controller allowing concurrent functions

A method for controlling an agricultural machine including at least two of a sprayer for distributing an agricultural product at an operator controllable rate, a steering system for steering the agricultural machine along a user controllable path, a foldable sprayer boom supporting the sprayer above a supporting surface and being movable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, and a boom height adjustment mechanism for adjusting a height of the sprayer boom relative to the supporting surface to an operator desired height, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting one of at least two user-selectable selections devices on a joystick, each selection device corresponds to one of the sprayer, the steering system, the sprayer boom and the boom height adjustment mechanism wherein each selection device corresponds to a different one of the sprayer, the steering system, the sprayer boom and the boom height adjustment mechanism;
• moving the joystick to one of a plurality of positions;
• generating a command signal in response to the moving of the joystick to one of the plurality of positions and the selected one of at least two user-selectable selection devices on the joystick;
• transmitting the command signal to a machine controller, the machine controller generating an instruction in response to the command signal received;
• transmitting the instruction to one of the sprayer, the steering system, the sprayer boom and the boom height adjustment mechanism to which the machine controller is operatively connected;
• setting the operator controllable rate in response to receipt of the instruction by the sprayer;
• setting the user controllable path in response to receipt of the instruction by the steering system;
• moving the sprayer boom to one of the folded configuration and an unfolded configuration in response to receipt of the instruction by the sprayer boom;
• and
• setting the operator desired height of the sprayer boom relative to the supporting surface in response to receipt of the instruction by the boom height adjustment mechanism.

An agricultural sprayer, comprising:

• a sprayer for distributing, an agricultural product at an operator controllable rate;
• a sprayer boom extending transversely relative to the agricultural sprayer and supporting the sprayer, the sprayer boom being movable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration;
• a boom height adjustment mechanism for adjusting a height of the sprayer boom relative to a supporting surface to an operator desired height;
• a joystick having at least two user-selectable selection devices and being movable between a plurality of positions by an operator, wherein each selection device corresponds to one of the sprayer, the sprayer boom and the boom height adjustment mechanism wherein each selection device corresponds to a different one of the sprayer, the steering system, the sprayer boom and the boom height adjustment mechanism, and wherein the joystick is configured to receive a command from an operator of the agricultural sprayer, the joystick generating a first command signal in response to one of the at least two user-selectable selection devices being selected by the operator and the command from the operator;
• a touchscreen Human Machine Interface (HMI) being configured to receive a command from an operator of the agricultural sprayer, the HMI generating a second command signal in response to the command from the operator;
• a machine controller operatively connected to the joystick, the touchscreen HMI, the sprayer, the sprayer boom and the boom height adjustment mechanism, the machine controller executing a program stored in a non-transient medium operable to:
• generate a first instruction in response to the first command signal;
• generate a second instruction in response to the second command signal;
• transmit the first instruction to one of the sprayer, the sprayer boom and the boom height adjustment mechanism;
• and
• transmit the second instruction to one of the sprayer, the sprayer boom and the boom height adjustment mechanism;
• wherein:
• the operator controllable rate is set in response to receipt of at least one of the first and second instructions by the sprayer;
• the sprayer boom is moved to one of the folded configuration and an unfolded configuration in response to receipt of at least one of the first and second instructions by the sprayer boom;
• and
• the operator desired height of the sprayer boom relative to the supporting surface is set in response to receipt of at least one of the first and second instructions by the boom height adjustment mechanism.