US 12,219,898 B2
Virtual sensor for grain loss in combine harvester
Wentao Yu, Bettendorf, IA (US); Volker Fuchs, Saarburg (DE); and William D. Todd, Bettendorf, IA (US)
Assigned to Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US)
Filed by Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US)
Filed on May 31, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/427,861.
Prior Publication US 2020/0375104 A1, Dec. 3, 2020
Int. Cl. A01D 41/127 (2006.01); G06N 3/04 (2023.01); A01F 12/44 (2006.01); G06N 3/08 (2023.01)
CPC A01D 41/1273 (2013.01) [G06N 3/04 (2013.01); A01F 12/44 (2013.01); G06N 3/08 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for determining an amount of grain loss during operation of a combine harvester, the method comprising:
determining, by an electronic processor, values for a set of operating parameters, the set of operating parameters not including any direct measurement of grain loss; and
applying, by the electronic processor, an artificial neural network trained to receive as inputs the set of operating parameters and to produce as an output a value indicative of an estimated amount of grain loss;
receiving, by the electronic processor, an output from a physical grain loss sensor indicative of an amount of grain loss measured by the physical grain loss sensor;
determining, by the electronic processor, a difference in the amount of grain loss measured by the physical grain loss sensor and the estimated amount of grain loss based on a comparison of the output from the physical grain loss sensor and the output of the artificial neural network;
confirming, by the electronic processor, proper operation of the physical grain loss sensor based at least in part on the difference; and
while a toggle switch is in a first position and proper operation of the physical grain loss sensor is confirmed, defining, by the electronic processor, an amount of grain loss during operation of the combine harvester based on the output of the physical grain loss sensor,
while the toggle switch is in the first position and it is determined, based on the comparison, that the physical grain loss sensor is not operating properly, defining, by the electronic processor, the amount of grain loss during operation of the combine harvester based on the output of the artificial neural network, and
in response to determining that the toggle switch is in a second position, defining the amount of grain loss during operation of the combine harvester with the set of operating parameters based on the output of the artificial neural network,
wherein the amount of grain loss during operation is related to the values for the set of operating parameters.