System and method for communication of automated control system diagnostics

1 . A method for providing diagnostic information to an end user of an off-road vehicle, the method comprising:

determining a set of sensors or components that are required for an automated system of the off-road vehicle to perform an automated function at each of a plurality of predetermined automated system functional levels, wherein the automated function includes automation components comprising a sensing automation component, a deciding automation component, and an acting automation component;

evaluating an operational status of the determined set of sensors or components;

determining whether the evaluated operational status of any required sensor or components falls below a first threshold required for a higher functional level;

determining whether the evaluated operational status of any required sensor or component is equal to or greater than a second threshold required for a lower functional level;

displaying or indicating to the end user on a user interface, for each of the automation components, a maximum functional level of the required sensor or components of the automated system among the first threshold and the second threshold;

generating an alert message on the user interface of the off-road vehicle when the maximum functional level of the automated system is lower than required for a proper minimum functional level; and

disabling the automated system when the maximum functional level of the automated system is lower than required for a proper minimum functional level.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the user interface of the off-road vehicle is remotely located from the off-road vehicle.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining at least one algorithm that is required for the automated system of the off- road vehicle to function at each of a plurality of predetermined automated system functional levels;

evaluating an operational status of the determined at least one algorithm;

determining whether the evaluated operational status of the determined at least one algorithm falls below a first threshold required for a higher functional level;

determining whether the evaluated operational status of the determined at least one algorithm is equal to or greater than a second threshold required for a lower functional level; and

displaying or indicating to the end user a maximum functional level of the determined at least one algorithm of the automated system among the higher threshold and the lower threshold.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:

determining at least one action implementation that is required for the automated system of the off-road vehicle to function at each of a plurality of predetermined automated system functional levels;

evaluating an operational status of the determined at least one action implementation;

determining whether the evaluated operational status of the determined at least one action implementation falls below a first threshold required for a higher functional level;

determining whether the evaluated operational status of the determined at least one action implementation is equal to or greater than a second threshold required for a lower functional level; and

displaying or indicating to the end user a maximum functional level of the determined at least one action implementation of the automated system among the higher threshold and the lower threshold.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the off-road vehicle comprises a combine.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the automated system comprises a plurality of automated combine functions, and wherein each of the automated combine functions utilize a respective set of one or more of the sensors, algorithms and action implementations.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the sensing automation component comprises tracking statuses corresponding to the set of sensors or components;

the deciding automation component comprises processing data associated with the set of sensors or components; and

the acting automation component comprises a status of execution or adjustment of the automated function.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor for providing diagnostic information to an end user of an off-road vehicle, the instructions comprising:

instructions executable to determine a set of sensors or components that are required for an automated system of the off-road vehicle to perform an automated function at each of a plurality of predetermined automated system functional levels, wherein the automated function includes automation components comprising a sensing automation component, a deciding automation component, and an acting automation component;

instructions executable to evaluate an operational status of the determined set of sensors or components;

instructions executable to determine whether the evaluated operational status of any required sensor or components falls below a first threshold required for a higher functional level;

instructions executable to determine whether the evaluated operational status of the determined set of sensors or components is equal to or greater than a second threshold required for a lower functional level;

instructions executable to display or indicate to the end user on a user interface, for each of the automation components, a maximum functional level of the determined set of sensors or components of the automated system among the higher functional level and the lower functional level;

instructions executable to generate an alert message on the user interface of the off-road vehicle when the maximum functional level of the automated system is lower than required for a proper minimum functional level; and

instructions executable to disable the automated system when the maximum functional level of the automated system is lower than required for a proper minimum functional level.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8 , wherein the user interface of the off-road vehicle is remotely located from the off-road vehicle.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8 , further comprising:

instructions executable to determine at least one algorithm that is required for the automated system of the off-road vehicle to function at each of a plurality of predetermined automated system functional levels;

instructions executable to evaluate an operational status of the determined at least one algorithm;

instructions executable to determine whether the evaluated operational status of the determined at least one algorithm falls below a first threshold required for a higher functional level;

instructions executable to determine whether the evaluated operational status of the determined at least one algorithm is equal to or greater than a second threshold required for a lower functional level; and

instructions executable to display or indicate to the end user a maximum functional level of the determined at least one algorithm of the automated system among the higher threshold and the lower threshold.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 10 , further comprising:

instructions executable to determine at least one action implementation that is required for the automated system of the off-road vehicle to function at each of a plurality of predetermined automated system functional levels;

instructions executable to evaluate an operational status of the determined at least one action implementation;

instructions executable to determine whether the evaluated operational status of the determined at least one action implementation falls below a first threshold required for a higher functional level;

instructions executable to determine whether the evaluated operational status of the determined at least one action implementation is equal to or greater than a second threshold required for a lower functional level; and

instructions executable to display or indicate to the end user a maximum functional level of the determined at least one action implementation of the automated system among the higher threshold and the lower threshold.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein:

the sensing automation component comprises tracking statuses corresponding to the set of sensors or components;

the deciding automation component comprises processing data associated with the set of sensors or components; and

the acting automation component comprises a status of execution or adjustment of the automated function.

13 . A system for providing diagnostic information to an end user of an off-road vehicle, the system comprising:

a set of sensors or components that are required for an automated system of the off-road vehicle to perform an automated function at each of a plurality of predetermined automated system functional levels, wherein the automated function includes automation components comprising a sensing automation component, a deciding automation component, and an acting automation component;

a display device accessible to the end user;

a processor in communication with the set of sensors and the display device;

a memory in communication with the processor and storing computer readable instructions executable by the processor for providing the diagnostic information; and

wherein the processor is configured by the computer readable instructions to:

evaluate an operational status of the set of sensors;

determine whether the evaluated operational status of any of the set of sensors falls below a first threshold required for a higher functional level;

determine whether the evaluated operational status of the set of sensors is equal to or greater than a second threshold required for a lower functional level;

display on the display device to the end user, for each of the automation components, a maximum functional level of the set of sensors of the automated system based on the determination of whether the evaluated operational status is below the first threshold, or is equal to or greater than the second threshold;

generate an alert message on the user interface of the off-road vehicle when the maximum functional level of the automated system is lower than required for a proper minimum functional level; and

disable the automated system when the maximum functional level of the automated system is lower than required for a proper minimum functional level.

14 . The system according to claim 13 , wherein the display of the off-road vehicle is remotely located from the off-road vehicle.

15 . The system according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured by the computer readable instructions to:

determine at least one algorithm that is required for the automated system of the off-road vehicle to function at each of a plurality of predetermined automated system functional levels;

evaluate an operational status of the determined at least one algorithm;

determine whether the evaluated operational status of the determined at least one algorithm falls below the first threshold required for a higher functional level;

determine whether the evaluated operational status of the determined at least one algorithm is equal to or greater than the second threshold required for a lower functional level; and

display or indicate to the end user a maximum functional level of the determined at least one algorithm of the automated system.

16 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured by the computer readable instructions to:

determine at least one action implementation that is required for the automated system of the off-road vehicle to function at each of a plurality of predetermined automated system functional levels;

evaluate an operational status of the determined at least one action implementation;

determine whether the evaluated operational status of the determined at least one action implementation falls below the first threshold required for a higher functional level;

determine whether the evaluated operational status of the determined at least one action implementation is equal to or greater than the second threshold required for a lower functional level; and

display or indicate to the end user a maximum functional level of the determined at least one action implementation of the automated system among the first threshold and the second threshold.

17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the off-road vehicle comprises a combine.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the automated system comprises a plurality of automated combine functions, and wherein each of the automated combine functions utilize a respective set of one or more of the sensors, algorithms and action implementations.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein a plurality of automated combine systems associated with the plurality of automated combine functions includes a ground speed automation system, a harvest setting automation system and a terrain settings automation system, and wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is shared by two of the automated combine systems.

20 . The system of claim 13 , wherein:

the sensing automation component comprises tracking statuses corresponding to the set of sensors or components;

the deciding automation component comprises processing data associated with the set of sensors or components; and

the acting automation component comprises a status of execution or adjustment of the automated function.