Fill level detection and control
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsSebastian Blank, Oliver Grüenewald
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Dynamic change information is detected on a vehicle, that is transporting a load receiving structure. The dynamic operational information is monitored to identify a period of dynamic change in the operation of the vehicle. The period of dynamic change is used to define a sampling window. The dynamic operational information, during the sampling window, is provided to fill level classifier logic that identifies a fill level corresponding to the dynamic operational information. A fill level metric, indicative of the identified fill level, is generated, and an action signal is generated based upon the fill level metric.
Claims20
A vehicle transports a load receiving structure that receives material, the vehicle comprising:
- a propulsion system;
- an operator interface mechanism that receives operator inputs to control the propulsion system;
- a sensor that senses motion of the vehicle and generates a motion signal indicative of the sensed motion;
- sampling window identifier logic that identifies, as a sampling window, a time during which the motion signal indicates a high dynamic change in motion of the vehicle, the high dynamic change in motion being a change in which the vehicle exhibits a high change in acceleration relative to a low dynamic change in which the vehicle exhibits a lower change in acceleration;
- fill level classifier logic that receives sensor data, indicative of values of the sensor signal corresponding to the sampling window, and identifies a fill level of the load receiving structure corresponding to the sampling window, the fill level indicating how full the load receiving structure is of the material;
- and
- a control signal generator that generates an action signal based on the fill level.
A computer implemented method of controlling a vehicle that transports a load receiving structure that receives material, the method comprising:
- sensing motion of the vehicle;
- generating a motion signal indicative of the sensed motion;
- identifying, as a sampling window, a time during which the motion signal indicates a high dynamic change in motion of the vehicle, the high dynamic change in motion being a change in which the vehicle exhibits a high change in acceleration relative to a low dynamic change in which the vehicle exhibits a lower change in acceleration;
- receiving sensor data, indicative of values of the sensor signal corresponding to the sampling window;
- identifying a fill level of the load receiving structure corresponding to the sampling window, based on the received sensor data, the fill level indicating how full the load receiving structure is of the material;
- and
- generating an action signal based on the fill level.
A control system for controlling a vehicle that transports a load receiving structure that carries material, the control system comprising:
- a sensor that senses motion of the vehicle and generates a motion signal indicative of the sensed motion;
- sampling window identifier logic that identifies, as a sampling window, a time during which the motion signal indicates a high change in acceleration relative to a lower change in acceleration;
- fill level classifier logic that receives sensor data, indicative of values of the sensor signal corresponding to the sampling window, and identifies a fill level of the load receiving structure corresponding to the sampling window, the fill level indicating how full the load receiving structure is of the material;
- and
- a control signal generator that generates an action signal based on the fill level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.