Patent ID: 7146263

Claim:
A predictive load management system, comprising: a power source operable to generate a power output, the power source having a desired operating range; a transmission including a drive member operably connected with the power source and a driven member; and a control system in communication with the power source and the transmission, wherein the control system is operable to: receive at least one input indicative of a load on the transmission, to identify a desired load of the transmission based on the at least one input; receive at least one input indicative of a current power output of the power source; limit desired transmission load applied to the driven member of the transmission based on the current power output of the power source to thereby prevent the power source from operating outside of the desired operating range; sense a transmission motor output speed; and determine a limiting motor command signal by comparing the current power source output power estimate with the current transmission output speed and a maximum acceptable speed droop or overspeed scaling factor.