Agricultural Vehicle Control System for Dynamic Work Context Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural vehicle control systems struggle to efficiently operate and adapt to external influences such as machine defects or weather changes, as they require pre-planned data that may become outdated or irrelevant by the time of operation.
Innovation Solution
A control system that allows for flexible operation by compiling relevant data at the start of the work context, using a control unit connected to on-board and external computers, position sensors, and remote servers to identify the work context and adjust settings dynamically, enabling real-time data access and vehicle reassignment as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is pre-planned and transmitted to the agricultural vehicle before operation, then the vehicle can operate with predetermined settings and routes, but the data becomes outdated and irrelevant when external influences such as machine defects or weather changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines data requirements based on the actual work context identified by position sensors and vehicle sensors, rather than using static pre-planned data. The control unit continuously updates operational parameters based on real-time conditions including weather, machine status, and location, making the system adaptable to changing external influences while maintaining operational efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses position sensors and vehicle sensors to provide feedback about the actual work context and vehicle status. This feedback loop allows the control unit to identify the current work context, compare it with planned operations, and adjust data requirements and operational settings in real-time, ensuring data remains relevant despite external changes
2Adaptability or versatility
If the control unit is located outside the commercial vehicle, then multiple vehicles can be controlled and distributed to work contexts according to their capabilities, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The external control unit serves multiple agricultural vehicles simultaneously, providing a universal platform for work context identification and data management. This multi-functional approach allows efficient distribution of vehicles to appropriate work contexts based on their capabilities, maximizing resource utilization while the modular design keeps system complexity manageable through standardized interfaces
3Ease of operation
If the control unit identifies work context based on driver input, then the system is simple to implement, but input errors occur and reduce accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
Position sensors serve as an intermediary between the driver's intended location and the control unit's work context identification. The sensors objectively determine the vehicle's actual position and match it with predefined work contexts, eliminating manual input errors while maintaining ease of operation through automatic identification. The driver simply needs to arrive at the work area, and the system automatically identifies the context based on position data
4Loss of information
If data compilation occurs at a later point in time close to vehicle operation, then the data is more up-to-date and relevant, but there is less time to prepare and respond to urgent work requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of the work context using position sensors before the vehicle arrives at the work area. This allows the control unit to proactively determine data requirements and retrieve relevant operational data in advance, ensuring data is both up-to-date and prepared in time for immediate vehicle operation without last-minute delays
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A system for controlling the operation of at least one agricultural vehicle (1) comprises a control unit (18; 19; 22) which is configured to first determine a work context in which the agricultural vehicle (1) is to be used, and secondly to compile data relevant for the operation of the agricultural vehicle (1) in the determined work context.