Agricultural Machine Control Unit Ring Buffer Event Memory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural work machines lack efficient data evaluation capabilities, particularly for 'events' such as errors, which are often fleeting and not available for analysis after their occurrence.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural work machine equipped with a main control unit that processes machine software for operating the machine and service software for accessing machine information. This setup includes a ring memory for continuous storage of current machine information and an event memory for storing event-relevant data, allowing for persistent storage and external analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data is stored in volatile memory for real-time processing, then processing speed is improved, but data availability for later analysis is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The memory system is segmented into two distinct parts: volatile memory for real-time processing and non-volatile memory for persistent storage. This segmentation allows each memory type to serve its specific purpose optimally - speed for processing, persistence for analysis - resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
A data transfer mechanism acts as an intermediary between the volatile memory processing system and non-volatile memory storage system. This intermediary ensures that data is copied from volatile to non-volatile memory, preserving information for later analysis while maintaining the speed benefits of volatile memory for active processing.
2Loss of information
If event data is stored for later analysis, then data evaluation capabilities are improved, but storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Only the necessary event-related data is extracted from the complete data stream and stored in non-volatile memory. This selective extraction approach preserves essential information for analysis while minimizing the quantity of data stored, thereby reducing storage space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Data is prepared and structured for analysis before being stored in non-volatile memory. This preliminary action includes filtering, formatting, and organizing data in a way that optimizes both analysis capabilities and storage efficiency, reducing the need for extensive storage space.
3Loss of information
If continuous data storage is implemented, then data availability for analysis is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous data transfer, the system uses periodic action to copy data from volatile to non-volatile memory at scheduled intervals. This periodic approach maintains data availability for analysis while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation, as the data transfer and processing occur only when necessary.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an agricultural machine (1), preferably an agricultural implement (1), with a main control unit (10) which is designed and configured to operate the machine (1), wherein the main control unit (10) is designed and configured to process the following computer programs during operation: • machine software (10a) for operating the machine (1) and • service software (10b) for accessing machine information from the machine software (10a) and • a ring buffer (10c) for continuously storing current machine information from the machine software (10a) and/or • an event memory (10d) for storing event-relevant machine information from the machine software (10a).