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DE-102025140059-A1 - Destination transporter identification and selection system for a material transfer vehicle

DE102025140059A1DE 102025140059 A1DE102025140059 A1DE 102025140059A1DE-102025140059-A1

Abstract

A destination identification system identifies a multitude of potential destination transporters for receiving material from a material handling vehicle. The destination identification system generates an output displaying the possible destination transporters for a selection system. The selection system processes one or more selection criteria and chooses a destination transporter based on these criteria. A control signal is then generated to control the material handling vehicle based on the selected destination transporter.

Inventors

  • Stephen R Corban
  • Grant J Wonderlich
  • Ryan Russel

Assignees

  • DEERE & COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251001
Priority Date
20241113

Claims (15)

  1. A computer-implemented method comprising: automatically detecting (212) a plurality of possible destination transport vehicles available to receive harvested material from a material transfer vehicle (106); automatically selecting (222) a selected destination transport vehicle from the plurality of possible destination transport vehicles to receive harvested material from the material transfer vehicle (106); and generating (224) a control signal based on the selected destination transport vehicle.
  2. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 1 , further comprising: identifying (212) the plurality of possible destination transport vehicles; and generating (310) a set of possible destination transport vehicle identification data that identifies each of the plurality of possible destination transport vehicles, wherein the automatic selection (222) comprises the automatic selection of a selected destination transport vehicle from the plurality of possible destination transport vehicles based on the set of possible destination transport vehicle identification data.
  3. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 2 , wherein the automatic selection of a selected destination transport vehicle comprises: Evaluating (382) a selection criterion; and Selecting (396) the selected destination transport vehicle based on the selection criterion.
  4. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 3 , wherein the evaluation of a selection criterion includes: Evaluating (386) a location-based selection criterion that corresponds to each of the multitude of possible transport vehicles.
  5. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 4 , wherein evaluating a location-based selection criterion comprises: recognizing (312) the proximity of each of the multitude of possible destination transport vehicles relative to the material handling vehicle (106) as proximity criteria, wherein selecting (396) the selected destination transport vehicle based on the selection criterion comprises selecting (396) the selected destination transport vehicle based on the proximity criteria.
  6. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 4 , wherein evaluating a location-based selection criterion includes: recognizing (314, 316, 318) the proximity of each of the multitude of possible destination transport vehicles relative to a field feature of a field in which the material transfer vehicle (106) is traveling, as proximity criteria, wherein selecting (396) the selected destination transport vehicle based on the selection criterion includes selecting the selected destination transport vehicle based on the proximity criteria.
  7. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 4 , wherein evaluating a location-based selection criterion comprises: recognizing (316) the proximity of each of the multitude of possible destination transport vehicles relative to an unloading zone as proximity criteria, wherein selecting (396) the selected destination transport vehicle based on the selection criterion comprises selecting the selected destination transport vehicle based on the proximity criteria.
  8. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 1 , wherein the automatic selection of a chosen destination transport vehicle comprises: detecting (386) arrival data corresponding to each possible destination transport vehicle; identifying (386) a first-in-first-out (FIFO) sequence corresponding to the multitude of possible destination transport vehicles based on the arrival data; and selecting (396) the chosen destination transport vehicle based on the FIFO sequence.
  9. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 3 , wherein evaluating a selection criterion includes: recognizing (384) transporter assignment data indicating whether a material handling vehicle (106) is assigned to one of the multitude of possible destination transport vehicles, wherein selecting (396) the selected destination transport vehicle based on the selection criterion includes selecting the selected destination transport vehicle based on the assignment data.
  10. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 3 , wherein evaluating a selection criterion includes: detecting (388) transporter accessibility data indicating whether any of the multitude of possible destination transport vehicles is inaccessible to the material handling vehicle (106), wherein selecting (396) the selected destination transport vehicle based on the selection criterion includes selecting the selected destination transport vehicle based on the accessibility data.
  11. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 3 , wherein evaluating a selection criterion includes: recognizing (390) van-specific capacity data indicating remaining capacity in each of the plurality of possible destination transport vehicles (106), wherein selecting (396) the selected destination transport vehicle based on the selection criterion includes selecting the selected destination transport vehicle based on the van-specific capacity data.
  12. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 3 , where evaluating a selection criterion includes: comparing (398) the selection criterion with a criteria priority hierarchy.
  13. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 3 , wherein evaluating a selection criterion comprises: calculating (382) a plurality of selection criteria for each of the plurality of possible destination transport vehicles; and selecting (396) the selected destination transport vehicle based on the plurality of selection criteria.
  14. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 13 , wherein selecting the chosen destination transport vehicle based on the plurality of selection criteria includes: applying (402) the plurality of selection criteria to a machine learning model; and generating (406) a selection output with the machine learning model based on the plurality of selection criteria indicating the chosen destination transport vehicle.
  15. Computer-implemented method according to Claim 1 , wherein generating a control signal includes: generating (418) a control signal to control an operator interface.

Description

DESCRIPTION This description concerns mobile agricultural machinery. More specifically, it relates to the identification of a destination transporter intended to receive material unloaded from an agricultural material handling vehicle. BACKGROUND There is a wide variety of different types of agricultural equipment. Some of this agricultural equipment includes harvesting vehicles and material handling vehicles. Harvesting vehicles often pick up crops, process them, and unload them into a material handling vehicle, such as a grain wagon pulled by a tractor. The above discussion is provided for general background information only and is not intended as an aid to interpreting the scope of protection of the claimed subject matter. SUMMARY A destination identification system identifies a multitude of potential destination transporters for receiving material from a material handling vehicle. The destination identification system generates an output displaying the possible destination transporters for a selection system. The selection system processes one or more selection criteria and chooses a destination transporter based on these criteria. A control signal is then generated to control the material handling vehicle based on the selected destination transporter. This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form, which are further described in the detailed description that follows. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid to interpreting the scope of protection of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that resolve some or all of the disadvantages noted in the 'Background' section. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 These are partly pictorial, partly block diagrams of examples from an agricultural system.5 is a block diagram showing an example of an identification and selection system for unloading destinations.6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of an identification and selection system for unloading destinations.7 This is a block diagram showing an example of a transporter identification system.8 This is a flowchart that illustrates an example of the operation of a transporter identification system.9 This is a block diagram showing an example of a destination transporter selection system.10 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a destination transporter selection system.11 Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the agricultural system shown in other figures when used in a remote server environment.12 , 13 and 14 show examples of mobile devices that can be used in the architectures and systems depicted in other figures.15 is a block diagram showing an example of a data processing environment that can be used in the systems and architectures shown in other figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION For a better understanding of the fundamentals of this disclosure, reference is now made to the examples illustrated in the drawings, which are described in specific language. However, it is understood that this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the disclosure. Any alterations and further modifications to the described devices, systems, processes, and any further application of the principles of this disclosure are fully taken into account, as would normally be apparent to a person skilled in the art in the field to which the disclosure relates. In particular, it is fully taken into account that the features, components, and/or steps described in relation to one example can be combined with the features, components, and/or steps described in relation to other examples of this disclosure. Once a grain wagon is filled to the desired level, a towing vehicle (such as a tractor or other vehicle) maneuvers toward a transport vehicle, such as a semi-trailer, pulls alongside it, and transfers the harvested material into the transport vehicle. As the towing vehicle approaches the transport vehicle, a control system or operator positions a discharge nozzle or auger, and upon arrival, the auger engages with the grain wagon to unload the harvested material into the transport vehicle. As discussed above, agricultural harvesters often unload harvested material into a material transfer vehicle. The material transfer vehicle then moves the material to the location of a transport vehicle, where the material transfer vehicle unloads the material into the transport vehicle. The transport vehicle could be a semi-trailer, a grain truck, or another type of transport vehicle. There may be several transport vehicles waiting to be loaded. Therefore, it can be difficult for a material transfer vehicle operator to determine which transport vehicle is the best destination for unloading. Furthermore, this problem can be exacerbated with increasing automation of the material tran