Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a discharge pressure of a variable displacement hydraulic pump. The apparatus and method includes a swashplate pivotally attached to the pump, a valve plate located on the pump to allow hydraulic fluid to enter the pump through an intake port on the valve plate, and to exit the pump through a discharge port on the valve plate, the hydraulic fluid entering and exiting the pump responsively creating a pressure carry over angle &ggr;, a control servo operable to control an angle of the swashplate relative to the pump, a servo valve having an output port hydraulically connected to the control servo and an input port hydraulically connected to the pump output port, and means for controlling the servo valve as a function of the discharge pressure of the pump and responsively balancing a torque induced by the pressure carry over angle &ggr; with a torque generated by a control pressure Pc at the control servo.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing logs from a forestry site. The apparatus and method includes a primary mobile machine having means attached to a rearward portion thereof for holding a first end of a first log cluster. The apparatus and method also includes a first secondary mobile machine with a first end having means for holding a second end of the first log cluster, and a second end having means for holding a first end of a second log cluster. The primary mobile machine and the first secondary mobile machine are interconnected by the first log cluster.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine using energy stored in a capacitor. The method and apparatus includes at least one battery for providing energy at a low voltage, an inverter for receiving the energy at the low voltage and producing energy at a high voltage, a capacitor for receiving and storing the energy at the high voltage, means for removing the low voltage source from the inverter, and at least one starter motor adapted to receive the energy at the high voltage from the capacitor and responsively start the engine.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a process for automated bucket loading of a work machine having an engine and a work implement. The work implement includes a bucket. The method includes the steps of determining when the bucket engages a pile of material, initiating the automated bucket loading process in response to the bucket engaging the pile of material, determining an actual engine speed relative to a full engine speed, and adjusting a lift velocity command to the work implement, the lift velocity command adjustment being made as a function of a comparison of the actual engine speed to full engine speed.

Abstract: A method for controllably moving a work implement attached to a work machine. The method includes the steps of inputting a velocity command, determining a plurality of desired cylinder positions as a function of the desired velocity command, and comparing the desired cylinder positions to allowable cylinder positions. The allowable cylinder positions are a function of a combination of the plurality of desired cylinder positions. The method also includes the steps of moving the work implement to a desired work implement position as a function of the desired cylinder positions, and stopping the movement of the work implement in response to at least one desired cylinder position being at a limit defined by a corresponding at least one allowable cylinder position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a mobile machine during start-up. The mobile machine has a prime power source, a means for transport, and at least one auxiliary system; the means for transport and the at least one auxiliary system are controllably driven by the prime power source. The method and apparatus includes determining an actual angle of steering of the mobile machine, comparing the actual angle of steering with a desired angle of steering, starting the prime power source, enabling engagement of the at least one auxiliary system, and disabling engagement of the means for transport in response to the difference between the actual angle of steering and the desired angle of steering being greater than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A rollover protective structure for a mobile machine. The structure includes a base member, a plurality of lower post portions attached to the base member, and a plurality of upper post portions, each associated with a corresponding lower post portion. Each corresponding upper and lower post portion includes either a tapered portion extending out from an end or a hollow portion to receive the tapered portion. Each post portion having the hollow portion also includes a pair of inclined wedges attached to opposing sides of the post portion. The structure also includes a canopy attached to the upper post portions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the inflation pressure on a pneumatic compactor. The method and apparatus includes means for dynamically determining a level of density of a material to be compacted, a control system for determining a desired inflation pressure as a function of the density, and an inflation pressure system for adjusting the inflation pressure in response to the desired inflation pressure.

Abstract: The system includes a path planning system adapted to store a site model of the field. The site model includes data defining a plurality of parameters associated with the field. The path planning system is further adapted to receive information indicative of a work implement connected to the agricultural machine, and a desired work operation of the agricultural machine. A plurality of desired paths for the agricultural machine to traverse are planned as a function of the plurality of field parameters, the work implement, and the desired work operation. An autoguidance control system is adapted to receive the plurality of desired paths, and responsively produce a control signal upon activation of the autoguidance control system. A machine control system receives the control signal, and responsively controls the operation of the agricultural machine with respect to the plurality of desired paths.

Abstract: A system and method for providing autoguidance for an agricultural machine. The system includes a main machine control module to control steering of the agricultural machine, a position determining system, and a guidance map. The system also includes an autoguidance control module to receive a position signal from the position determining system and data from the guidance map, and responsively determine a current position and a desired path to traverse by the agricultural machine, wherein the desired path to traverse is determined with respect to rows of crop in a field, and wherein the main machine control module is adapted to receive a control signal from the autoguidance control module and control steering of the agricultural machine in response to activation of the autoguidance control module control signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a hydraulic pressure differential proportional to a downstream pressure. The apparatus includes a first chamber having a first cross section area, a main chamber portion, a first end, and a second end; a first spool portion located in the first chamber, the first spool portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first spool portion being located at the location of the downstream pressure; a second chamber having a second cross section area, a first end, and a second end; and a second spool portion located in the second chamber, the second spool portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second spool portion being located generally adjacent the second end of the first spool portion and the second end of the second spool portion being located at the location of the upstream pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining an area of crop being harvested by a harvesting machine having a cutter bar of a known total width. The method and apparatus includes a position determining system located on the harvesting machine, and a processor located on the harvesting machine. The processor is adapted to receive position signals from the position determining system and to determine a first position of the harvesting machine, determine a first effective cutter bar width, determine a second position of the harvesting machine, determine a second effective cutter bar width, and responsively determine an area of a polygon bounded by the first and second positions, and the first and second cutter bar widths.

Abstract: A simplified method and system for determining a loading condition on a powertrain of a machine resulting from a loading condition on an implement thereof. The method includes the steps of inputting a predetermined plurality of parameter signals representative of the loading condition on the implement into an implement loading model to determine a plurality of implement loading modeled values as a function of the inputted loading parameter signals and inputting the implement loading modeled values into a kinematic linkage model to determine a plurality of modeled linkage loading values as a function of the inputted implement loading modeled values and a plurality of known linkage parameter values and inputting the modeled linkage loading values into a machine powertrain loading model to determine a plurality of powertrain loading modeled values indicative of the loading condition on the powertrain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing autoguidance for a plurality of agricultural machines. Each agricultural machine has a work implement attached to it. The method includes the steps of determining a reference path by a first agricultural machine, communicating the location of the reference path to each remaining agricultural machine, and determining a plurality of desired paths parallel to the reference path by each of the plurality of agricultural machines. Each plurality of desired paths is determined as a function of the width of the corresponding work implement for each respective agricultural machine.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a method and apparatus for determining compaction performance of a material by a compactor having a known compaction width. The method and apparatus includes determining a lift thickness of the material, determining a rolling resistance of the compactor, determining a level of compactive energy delivered to the material as a function of the compaction width, the lift thickness and the rolling resistance, and determining the compaction performance of the material as a function of the compactive energy. In a second embodiment, a method and apparatus for determining compaction performance of a material by a compactor. The method and apparatus includes determining a ground speed of the compactor, determining a rolling resistance of the compactor, determining a propelling power of the compactor as a function of the ground speed and the rolling resistance, and determining the compaction performance of the material as a function of the propelling power of the compactor.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for responding to the detection of an obstacle in the path of a mobile machine as the mobile machine traverses the path at a work site. The method includes the steps of scanning a field of interest, detecting the presence of an obstacle, and determining a set of parameters as a function of the mobile machine, the obstacle, and the work site. The method also includes the steps of determining a level of predictability of motion of the obstacle, defining ranges of a plurality of zones as a function of the level of predictability and the parameters, and initiating an action in response to the obstacle being in one of the zones.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensing a parameter of a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump includes a housing and an input shaft. The shaft is rotationally driven relative to the housing and electrically coupled to the housing. The hydraulic pump forms a variable capacitor. The apparatus includes an electrode portion positioned adjacent to the input shaft and is electrically isolated from the housing and input shaft. The electrode portion and the input shaft form a fixed capacitor. The fixed capacitor and the variable capacitor are coupled. The apparatus supplies electrical energy to the electrode portion and produces a capacitive signal indicative of the capacitance value of the variable capacitor. The apparatus further applies a filter to the capacitive signal and produces a filtered capacitive signal. The parameter of the hydraulic pump is determined as a function of the filtered capacitive signal.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method to control the steering of a tracked machine having a clutch/brake steering system. The tracked machine has a left drive and a right drive. The left drive has a clutch and brake and the right drive has a clutch and brake. The present invention includes a navigator to determine a desired trajectory, determine a desired left drive velocity and a desired right drive velocity, and generate desired left and right drive velocity signals. The present invention also includes a left speed sensor and a right speed sensor to determine actual left and right drive velocities, and generate actual left and right drive velocity signals. A clutch/brake controller is included to receive the desired left and right drive velocity signals and the actual left and right drive velocity signals, and control at least one of the left and right drive velocities.

Abstract: A computer-aided farming system having a first control system which receives data defining a plurality of parameters. The first control system responsively determines a plurality of nodes located at an agricultural field, and determines a condition status associated with each node. The system also has a second control system located on an agricultural machine which receives data defining the nodes and the condition status at each node. The second control system then plans a path as a function of the nodes, and determines a desired work operation relative to each node. A machine controller controls the agricultural machine to perform the desired work operation at each node.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preparing a hydraulic work machine for towing in response to a dead engine condition. The apparatus includes a source of hydraulic fluid, a standby pump system hydraulically connected to the source, a plurality of pilot controls adapted for electrical activation by the standby pump system, and a hydraulic brake system. The apparatus also includes a supply valve connected to the pilot controls, and at least one lift cylinder connected to the supply valve and adapted to lift an implement on the work machine. The hydraulic brake system and the lift cylinder are enabled for hydraulic control in response to activation of the standby pump system.