Agricultural Animal Detection System with Adaptive Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural implements face challenges in reliably detecting animals in complex grassland conditions, such as unmown meadows, due to interference from upright vegetation and varying environmental signals, which can lead to false identifications and potential machine-animal collisions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a detection system with sensors that scan the ground at a steep angle, using a limited scanning range and wavelength spectrum analysis, to differentiate animal signals from environmental influences, combined with targeted illumination and modular sensor designs for enhanced accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors scan the ground at a steep angle with limited scanning range, then animal detection reliability is improved, but the scanning coverage area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning area is divided into multiple zones with different scanning angles. The sensor system scans different ground areas at different angles, with steeper angles for areas closer to the machine and shallower angles for areas farther away, thereby maintaining both detection reliability and comprehensive coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning angle is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The sensor system can adaptively change scanning angles based on detected signal characteristics and environmental conditions, allowing optimization between detection reliability and coverage area for different operational scenarios
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are used to improve detection accuracy, then animal identification reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor types (infrared sensors, optical sensors, and optionally radar sensors) are merged into a single integrated detection system. The sensors work together to provide complementary information, improving detection reliability while sharing common processing and control infrastructure to manage complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed with multi-functionality, where the same sensor array can detect different types of objects (animals, stones, other obstacles) and can operate in different scanning modes. This universal design reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate dedicated systems for each function
3Measurement precision
If wavelength spectrum analysis is used to differentiate animal signals, then measurement precision is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of analyzing the complete wavelength spectrum, the system focuses on specific wavelength ranges or spectral features that are most indicative of animal presence. This partial analysis approach maintains sufficient measurement precision while significantly reducing data processing complexity compared to full spectral analysis
4Measurement precision
If pulsed lighting is used to reduce interference, then detection precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system operates periodically with pulsed illumination rather than continuous lighting. The pulsed light is synchronized with the sensor detection cycles, providing illumination only when needed for detection. This periodic operation maintains detection precision by ensuring adequate illumination during scanning while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous lighting
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides more reliable animal identification, minimizing false positives and enabling timely intervention to prevent collisions, even in challenging grassland conditions, by analyzing signal curves across different wavelengths and using pulsed lighting to reduce interference.
Implementation Method 1
the detection device having at least one sensor for scanning the working path in the direction of travel in front of the working unit
Implementation Method 2
the sensing signals react to various environmental influences, which makes it difficult to distinguish signal excursions caused by animals from other signal excursions
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to an agricultural implement, in particular a grassland implement, with at least one working unit (3, 4, 5) and a detection device (6) for detecting animals in the working path (10, 11, 12) of the working unit (3, 4, 5), wherein the detection device (6) has at least one sensor (8, 9) for scanning the working path (10, 11, 12) in the direction of travel in front of the working unit (3, 4, 5) and an evaluation unit (13) for evaluating the signal of the sensor (8, 9) for animal detection. The invention further relates to a method for detecting animals or stones or the like in the working path of the working unit (3, 4, 5) of an agricultural implement (1), in which the said working path (10, 11, 12) is scanned with a detection device (6) comprising at least one sensor (8, 9) and the signal of the infrared sensor is evaluated for the presence of an animal or stone by means of an evaluation unit (13).According to one aspect of the present invention, the possibly pre-evaluated sensor signal is compared with at least one threshold value and a safety and/or quick-switching device is activated when the threshold value is exceeded and/or fallen below, wherein an adaptive threshold adjustment depending on stored machine operating data is provided.