Patent Document ID: 20140156152
Application ID: 13690757
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A method of determining an optimum performance in a track-type tractor, the method comprising: receiving, at a processor of the track-type tractor, inputs from the track-type tractor related to current operating conditions and a current operating state; calculating a current performance based on the current operating conditions and the current operating state; generating an estimated operating environment using the current operating conditions and the current operating state; iteratively solving, via a processor of the track-type tractor, a performance equation that incorporates the estimated operating environment over a range of values of an input variable to determine a peak value of the performance equation and an input state required to achieve the peak value, wherein the peak value corresponds to the optimum performance of the track-type tractor; normalizing the current performance to the optimum performance to produce a normalized performance; and providing the normalized performance, the optimum performance, and the input state required to achieve the optimum performance to a device for use in adjusting the current operating state to improve or maintain a performance of the track-type tractor.