22A and/or maintaining a position of implement 22A, such as sensor 42.

The posture calculator of improper implement detection module 82 may be configured to receive signals 102 from sensors 32, 34, and 36 to determine the posture of machine 12. The posture may be the position of an end of stick 20 and/or a position of implement 22. The posture calculator may use other information, such as positions detected with one or more position sensors 38 and swing sensor 40 to determine this posture, and any combination of these sensors may be suitable. In at least some examples, the posture calculator may receive implement commands from controller 84 and use these commands to calculate the posture of machine 12, instead of or in addition to signals 102 from sensors 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40.

The pressure correlator may allow improper implement detection module 82 to detect and monitor hydraulic pressure over time and correlate this pressure with a posture that was determined with the posture calculator. For example, the pressure correlation functions of module 82 include detecting an instantaneous pressure of hydraulic fluid (e.g., by one or more of sensors 32, 34, 36, and 44) and correlating this pressure with a predetermined maximum pressure threshold associated with the determined posture or with a predetermined maximum pressure threshold associated with performing a particular task. In addition or as an alternative, module 82 correlates detected pressure with a minimum pressure threshold associated with the current posture or with a current movement. Moving averages may be used, if desired, instead of or in addition to instantaneous pressure measurements.

Improper implement detection module 82 includes, in at least some configurations, an acceptable implement characteristics dataset that includes data identifying a particular maximum pressure threshold that is associated with the posture and/or the movement being performed. The information included in the characteristics dataset may be associated with dimensions of each appropriate-sized implement 22A (FIGS. 1A and 2A). If desired, the maximum pressure threshold represents the expected pressure that would be exceeded when an improper implement 22B (FIGS. 1B and 2B) is installed. Further, a minimum pressure threshold may be included in the acceptable implement characteristics dataset, this minimum pressure threshold representing a lowest expected pressure for a particular posture or movement of machine 12 when a suitable implement 22A is present. A pressure below the minimum pressure threshold may indicate, for example, that the installed implement is underweight and designed for performing tasks for which the machine is not designed, or that no implement is installed. The maximum and minimum pressure thresholds may represent a range of pressures such that pressures within this range are expected during operation of machine 12 and associated with installation of an appropriate implement 22A. Therefore, installation of improper implement 22B may be associated with: detected pressures that, at times, exceed a corresponding maximum pressure threshold, or detected pressures that, at times, are below a corresponding minimum pressure threshold.

The maximum pressure threshold may be applicable to postures in which an implement is installed, the implement is empty, and the implement is not in contact with the ground, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In some examples, this threshold may be associated with the heaviest suitable implement 22A, such that installation of an overweight implement 22B causes the detected pressure to exceed the maximum pressure threshold when implement 22B is in the air.

A minimum pressure threshold may be applicable to postures in which implement 22A or 22B is expected to be in contact with ground 90, as shown in FIG. 1A. Sensed pressure may drop below this minimum when a suitable implement 22A contacts the ground in one of a plurality of expected postures associated with different suitable implement 22A. However, a pressure below the minimum pressure threshold may be observed when machine 12 is in the posture illustrated in FIG. 1B, due to the installation of an oversized implement 22B.

Another minimum pressure threshold may be applicable when implement 22A or 22B is expected to be above ground 90. Installation of improper implement 22B may be associated with pressures below the first or second minimum pressure thresholds.

In another example, a minimum pressure threshold may be associated with the lowest pressure that would be expected when performing a particular task. In the case of an excavator, when the implement curls to engage ground 90, hydraulic pressure will tend to increase. However, if an implement other than a bucket is installed, this motion may occur without the implement contacting ground 90, resulting in pressure that remains below the corresponding threshold.

The worksite information module may represent information related to the worksite at which machine 12 operates. For example, the worksite information may include a map of the worksite and may indicate the height of the ground 90 or other terrain for the location of machine 12. This information may be retrieved based on a geographic location of machine 12 measured with a positioning system, such as a global navigation satellite system receiver, enabling terrain information for the geographic location of machine 12 to be retrieved from ECM 80 or from one or more remote systems. This information may be used to correlate a maximum pressure or a minimum pressure with the posture of machine 12 based on the height of the ground 90.

Implement controller 84 may generate commands for adjusting the operation of pumps 14 and valves 16. These commands may control the pressurization and flow of hydraulic fluid for cylinders 24, 26, and 28, the flow of fluid changing the position of boom 18, stick 20, and implement 22A or 22B, respectively.

Outputs 110 may be generated by ECM 80 (e.g., with module 82 or controller 84) to display notifications and/or for taking other action when an improper implement is detected. Outputs 110 from ECM 80 may include a notification 122 for backend system 120 and/or a notification 132 for on-machine control system 130. Outputs 110 may also include commands (not shown) from implement controller 84. These commands may allow implement controller 84 to modify the position of the implement.

Notifications 122 and 132 may provide information to a supervisor of machine 12 or a supervisor for a worksite or fleet of machines 12, via backend system 120, or an operator of machine 12, via on-machine control system 130. Notifications 122 may indicate that a particular machine 12 has an improper implement 22B installed or is suspected of having an improper implement 22B installed. Notification 122 may include information identifying the machine (e.g., location, machine type, current operator) and may indicate that the currently-installed implement is oversized, overweight, underweight, undersized, or otherwise improper. Notification