Method of displaying work vehicle information in a field and system thereof
An agricultural work vehicle for operating in a field includes a chassis, a cab mounted to the chassis for an operator to control the work vehicle, a controller for controlling operation of the work vehicle, a lighting system of the work vehicle comprising at least one array field light, and a light control module disposed in electrical communication with the controller. The light control module operably controls the at least one array field light. The controller transmits a signal to the light control module indicative of information about the work vehicle. The at least one array field light projects the information onto the field at a location visible to the operator while operating the work vehicle.
1. An agricultural work vehicle for operating in a field, comprising:
a chassis;
a cab mounted to the chassis and including a work space for an operator to control the agricultural work vehicle;
a controller for controlling operation of the agricultural work vehicle;
a lighting system of the agricultural work vehicle comprising at least one array field light;
a light control module disposed in electrical communication with the controller, the light control module configured to operably control the at least one array field light;
a field map input disposed in communication with the controller, the field map input providing a layout of the field, wherein the at least one array field light projects the layout of the field onto the field;
wherein, the controller transmits a signal to the light control module indicative of information about the agricultural work vehicle;
further wherein, the at least one array field light projects the information onto the field at a location visible to the operator while operating the agricultural work vehicle.
2. The agricultural work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one array field light comprises a high-definition pixel LED lighting module.
3. The agricultural work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller receives an input regarding a diagnostic trouble code, the at least one array field light projecting the diagnostic trouble code onto the field.
4. The agricultural work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one array field light is mounted to a front portion of the cab or chassis.
5. The agricultural work vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a second array field light mounted to a rear portion of the work vehicle.
6. The agricultural work vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a second array field light mounted to a side portion of the agricultural work vehicle.
7. The agricultural work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural work vehicle operates in an operation type including at least a field mode and a transport mode, the at least one array field light projecting the information only in the field mode.
8. The agricultural work vehicle of claim 1 , the field map input includes one or more of field boundaries, roadways, fences lines, or obstacles to avoid.
9. The agricultural work vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a speed sensor disposed in communication with the controller, the speed sensor configured to detect vehicle speed;
wherein the at least one array field light projects the vehicle speed onto the field.
10. The agricultural work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one array field light comprises a first array field light and a second array field light;
further wherein, the light control module selectively operates either the first or second array field light to project information onto the field.
11. The agricultural work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one array field light comprises a first array field light and a second array field light;
further wherein, the light control module selectively operates both the first and second array field lights to project information simultaneously onto the field.
12. The agricultural work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller operably receives the signal from a remote location.
13. A method of communicating information to an operator of an agricultural work vehicle, comprising:
operating the agricultural work vehicle in a forward direction in a field;
providing the agricultural work vehicle with a cab for an operator to control the agricultural work vehicle, a controller, a lighting system including an array field light, and a light control module;
receiving a signal by the controller indicative of information about the agricultural work vehicle and a field map input disposed in communication with the controller, the field map input providing a layout of the field;
communicating the signal by the controller to the light control module;
commanding the array field light to display the information; and
projecting with the array field light the information in the forward direction onto the field at a location visible to the operator positioned in the cab.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the array field light comprises a high-definition pixel LED lighting module.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the projecting step comprises projecting information related to a diagnostic trouble code, vehicle speed, vehicle performance, or vehicle location in the field.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising varying an illumination output of the array field light by the light control module.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the agricultural work vehicle is operable in an operation type including at least a field mode and a transport mode;
the operating step is executed in the field mode;
the projecting step is executed in the field mode.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
providing a second array field light;
controllably operating the second array field light by the light control module to display a second information; and
projecting with the second array field light the second information in the forward direction onto the field at a second location visible to the operator positioned in the cab.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising controlling with the light control module the second array field light independently of the array field light.
20. A lighting system of a work vehicle operating in a field, comprising:
a light control module;
a plurality of high-definition pixel LED field lights coupled at different locations to the work vehicle, the plurality of high-definition pixel LED field lights operably controlled by the light control module;
wherein, a first high-definition pixel LED field light of the plurality of high-definition pixel LED field lights receives a signal from the light control module indicative of information to display for an operator of the work vehicle, wherein the information includes a field map input providing a layout of the field;
wherein, the first high-definition pixel LED field light projects the information onto the field at a location in front of the work vehicle, the information being visible to the operator positioned in a cab of the work vehicle.