Vehicle control apparatus and method
US6144910A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 7, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P60/14
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In the field of agricultural tractor and implement combinations, there have been numerous attempts at improving the efficiency of isolated sub-systems such as the engine, the implement control and the transmission. Such sub-systems have individually successfully been automated, but previous attempts to automate the entire control of a tractor during eg. plowing operations have previously failed. Accordingly, a control apparatus has been provided for a tractor/implement combination to include a control apparatus comprising a plurality of microprocessors. The microprocessors are arranged in a hierarchical control strategy that includes a steady state reference model of various performance parameters of the tractor/implement combination. The tractor/implement combination can therefore be controlled in an automated, integrated way such that the tractor operator does not have to operate any of the sub-systems while maximizing the performance against a chosen criterion such as minimum fuel consumption or maximum work rate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.