Agricultural Driver Assistance System with Quality Criterion Visualization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural machine driver assistance systems lack clear visualization of how changes in setting parameters for one quality criterion affect other quality criteria, leading to unclear operational consequences for operators.

Innovation Solution

A driver assistance system with a graphical user interface that allows operators to adjust setting parameters for agricultural machines, providing real-time visualization of expected effects on other quality criteria, enabling informed decision-making by highlighting potential deteriorations and allowing for compromise adjustments through virtual control elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the driver assistance system adjusts setting parameters to achieve a higher degree of fulfillment for one quality criterion, then that quality criterion is improved, but other quality criteria may deteriorate without clear visualization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality criterion fulfillmentVSAvoidinformation about effects on other quality criteria
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring and displaying the effects of parameter changes on multiple quality criteria. When an operator adjusts a setting parameter, the system calculates and presents the expected effects on other quality criteria, enabling informed decision-making about trade-offs between competing objectives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The graphical user interface uses color-coded visual indicators to represent the expected effects on quality criteria. Different colors indicate positive, neutral, or negative effects, allowing operators to quickly assess the impact of parameter changes without analyzing numerical data, thus preventing information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Loss of information

If the system provides detailed information about all quality criterion interactions, then operator awareness is improved, but the complexity of the control system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation about quality criterion interactionsVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by providing detailed information specifically at the point where the operator needs it - in the graphical user interface during parameter adjustment. The complexity is localized to the information processing and display layer, while the core control system remains relatively simple, focusing only on calculating and presenting the effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The graphical user interface acts as an intermediary between the simple control system and the operator. It translates complex parameter interactions into easily understandable visual representations, allowing the control system to remain relatively simple while still providing comprehensive information about quality criterion interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the system visualizes all expected effects of parameter changes, then operator decision-making is improved, but the processing time and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator decision-makingVSAvoidprocessing time for calculating effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculations of quality criterion effects based on pre-established models and relationships. When an operator adjusts a parameter, the system quickly retrieves and displays the pre-calculated expected effects, minimizing processing time while still providing comprehensive information for decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3501255B2Agricultural working machine for executing an agricultural work process
Publication Date: 2024.01.24 CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP3501255B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3501255B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3501255B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an agricultural work machine (1, 2) for carrying out an agricultural work process, with several working elements (20) and with a driver assistance system (28) for controlling the working elements (20) to achieve at least one sensorially detectable quality criterion (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5) of the work process, wherein specific setting parameters for controlling the working elements (20) can be preset by the driver assistance system (20) in order to fulfill the at least one quality criterion (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5) of the work process, wherein the driver assistance system (28) comprises a memory (30) for storing data and a computing unit (31) for processing the data stored in the memory (30), wherein the driver assistance system (28) has a graphical user interface (32) through which the respective degree of fulfillment of the at least one quality criterion (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5) can be displayed. Q5) is changeable,wherein, due to a change in the degree of fulfillment of at least one quality criterion (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5), the expected effects on other quality criteria (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5) can be determined by the driver assistance system (28), and that, by means of the graphical user interface (32), the quality criterion (Q2) or those quality criteria (Q1, Q2) for which a deterioration is to be expected due to the change in the degree of fulfillment can be visually highlighted.