Implement performance
View Patent ↗In work implements, power machines and methods of operating implements and power machines using machine and implement controllers, an implement controller receives information from a power machine, with which the work implement is paired, indicative of operational characteristics of the power machine. The implement controller is configured to responsively provide information to the power machine to direct operation of the power machine based upon the received information.
1. A work implement configured to be paired with any of a plurality of different types of power machines to perform a work function, the work implement comprising:
an implement controller configured to receive information from a power machine with which the work implement is paired indicative of operational characteristics of the power machine, wherein the implement controller is configured to responsively make operational decisions, based on the received information, regarding operation of the work implement with the power machine and to provide information to the power machine based on the operational decisions to direct operation of the power machine.
2. The work implement of claim 1 , wherein the implement controller is configured to make the operational decisions and provide the information to the power machine based on the operational decisions to direct operation of the power machine based upon the received information with the operational characteristics including the type of power machine with which the implement is paired.
3. The work implement of claim 1 , wherein the implement controller is configured to make the operational decisions and provide the information to the power machine based on the operational decisions to direct operation of the power machine based upon the received information with the operational characteristics being indicative of hydraulic fluid flow capability of a power conversion system of the power machine.
4. The work implement of claim 1 , wherein the implement controller is configured to make the operational decisions and provide the information to the power machine based on the operational decisions to direct operation of the power machine based upon the received information with the operational characteristics being indicative of whether the power machine has electronic control of drive or throttle systems.
5. The work implement of claim 1 , wherein the implement controller is configured to make the operational decisions and provide the information to the power machine based on the operational decisions to direct operation of the power machine based upon the received information with the operational characteristics being indicative of dynamic operational characteristics of the power machine.
6. The work implement of claim 5 , wherein the implement controller is configured to make the operational decisions and provide the information to the power machine based on the operational decisions to direct operation of the power machine based upon the dynamic operational status information for the power machine including at least one of hydraulic oil temperature, engine RPM, power machine travel speed, and power machine turning status.
7. The work implement of claim 1 , wherein the implement controller is configured to make the operational decisions and provide the information to the power machine based on the operational decisions to direct operation of the power machine based upon the received information with the operational characteristics being indicative of a software version of software installed on the power machine.
8. A power machine in combination with a work implement, comprising:
a machine controller configured to provide information related to identification and operational characteristics of the power machine; and
an implement controller configured to communicate with the machine controller to receive the identification and operational characteristic information, wherein the implement controller is configured to responsively make operational decisions, based on the received identification and operational characteristic information, regarding operation of the work implement with the power machine and to send instructions to the machine controller based on the operational decisions for displaying operational instructions to control the work implement.
9. The power machine of claim 8 , and further comprising at least one operator input device operably coupled to the machine controller and configured to provide control signals to the machine controller to communicate control intentions of an operator of the power machine, wherein the implement controller is further configured to send the instructions to direct operation of the power machine, and wherein the machine controller is configured to control operation of the power machine in response to both the control signals from the at least one operator input device and the instructions from the implement controller.
10. The power machine of claim 9 , wherein in response to the instructions from the implement controller, the machine controller is configured to control operation of the power machine to limit travel speed of the power machine.
11. The power machine of claim 9 , wherein in response to the instructions from the implement controller, the machine controller is configured to control operation of the power machine by setting or limiting an engine rotations per minute (RPM) of an engine of the power machine.
12. The power machine of claim 9 , wherein in response to the instructions from the implement controller, the machine controller is configured to control operation of the implement to limit operation of the implement to a reduced functionality relative to functional capabilities of the implement.
13. The power machine of claim 9 , wherein the machine controller is configured to provide the information related to operational characteristics including at least one of the type of power machine with which the implement is paired, hydraulic oil flow capability of a power conversion system of the power machine, and whether the power machine has electronic control of drive or throttle systems.
14. The power machine of claim 9 , wherein the machine controller is configured to provide the information related to operational characteristics including dynamic operational status information for the power machine comprising at least one of hydraulic oil temperature, engine rotations per minute (RPM), power machine travel speed, and power machine turning status.
15. A method of coordinating operation of a power machine paired with a work implement, comprising:
receiving information from the power machine at an implement controller, the information being indicative of identification of the power machine; and
using the implement controller to make operational decisions, based on the received information from the power machine, regarding operation of the work implement with the power machine and providing operational control information, based upon the operational decisions, from the implement controller to the power machine directing control of an operational characteristic of the power machine.
16. The method of claim 15 , and further comprising using a machine controller on the power machine to control operation of the power machine as a function of the operational control information from the implement controller.
17. The method of claim 16 , and further comprising receiving control signals at the machine controller from a user input device on the power machine, and wherein using the machine controller on the power machine to control operation of the power machine further comprises using the machine controller to control operation of the power machine as a function of both the operational control information from the implement controller and the control signals from the user input device.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising using a machine controller, responsively to the operational control information from the implement controller, to display on a display device of the power machine operational instructions to control the work implement.