US 6,553,300 B2 · Harvester with intelligent hybrid control system

Abstract

A control system for a harvester or similar implement includes a supervisory controller, a set of low-level controllers and a neuro-fuzzy inference system. The supervisory controller employs human expert knowledge and fuzzy logic. The controller monitors the quality of the harvesting process, such as gain loss, dockage, grain damage and the like. Based on the measurements, setpoints for all critical functional elements of the implement are determined. The neuro-fuzzy inference system determines machine settings according to operating conditions and learns from harvester experience. The parameters of the neuro-fuzzy inference system are stored in on-board memory. The neuro-fuzzy system can be used for harvester set-up and as one of the knowledge sources for repeated adjustments during the harvest.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A control system for controlling an agricultural harvesting implement operable in varying operating conditions and having a plurality of adjustable output devices including two or more of the following output devices affecting harvesting implement cleaning and separation operations:

a rotor with adjustable speed, a concave with an adjustable opening, a sieve with an adjustable sieve opening, a chaffer with an adjustable chaffer opening, and a fan with adjustable fan speed, the control system comprising:
a plurality of actuators connected to the output devices;
feedback devices providing feedback signals indicative of the adjustments of the output devices;
a plurality of sensors providing input signals indicative of implement input condition and controlled variables;
a controller connected to the actuators and responsive to the feedback signals and the input signals for automatically controlling at least two of the output devices;
and
wherein the controller includes a neuro-fuzzy inference system that learns and stores parameters from implement experience, the inference system thereby providing a knowledge source to the control system to vary control of at least two or more of the cleaning and separating output devices to improve implement performance based upon past implement experience.

4 more elements

A control system for controlling a combine operable in varying operating harvesting conditions and having a plurality of adjustable output devices affecting implement output, the control system comprising:

a plurality of actuators connected to the output devices;
feedback control sensors providing machine performance feedback signals;
a plurality of sensors providing implement input condition signals;
an automatically adjustable controller connected to the actuators and responsive to the input condition signals and the feedback signals for automatically controlling the output devices on-the-go during harvesting;
an operator interface connected to the automatically adjustable controller for entering adjustment information;
wherein the automatically adjustable controller comprises an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system for receiving the signals and learning operating conditions, a supervisory controller connected to the actuators and the neuro-fuzzy inference system, the supervisory controller including a selector responsive to input condition signals and the adjustment information for facilitating determination of the control of the output devices, and fuzzy controller structure connected to the selector and providing quantitative information for output device control;
and wherein the fuzzy controller structure includes fuzzy controllers providing adjustment information for two or more controlled combine variables from the following list of variables:
a) rotor speed;
b) concave clearance;
c) fan speed;
d) chaffer opening;
e) sieve opening;
and
f) combine speed.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Harvester with intelligent hybrid control system

Life of this patent

Harvester with intelligent hybrid control system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29