Agricultural Machine Operator Emotion Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Operators of agricultural working machines often engage in incorrect or inefficient operations due to their emotional state, leading to reduced efficiency and potential losses, which existing systems fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

The method involves recognizing the emotional state of the operator through interactions with the machine's control and regulation device, adapting the operating mode to match the operator's emotional state, and using sensors to detect physical and physiological data to adjust the communication and handling of the machine, thereby reducing the risk of incorrect operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the operator manually monitors and adjusts machine settings, then the machine can be operated with basic control capabilities, but incorrect operation occurs due to emotional state leading to reduced efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidcorrect operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors operator physiological parameters (heart rate, skin conductance, temperature) and provides feedback by automatically adjusting machine operating parameters. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the machine to adapt to the operator's emotional state in real-time, preventing incorrect operations while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The machine performs self-adjustment of operating parameters based on operator state detection, eliminating the need for manual monitoring and adjustment by the operator. The system serves itself by automatically compensating for operator emotional fluctuations, thereby maintaining reliable and efficient operation without additional human intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If the control device provides detailed information and warnings, then the operator can make informed decisions, but the operator may experience overload or boredom affecting performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidoperator workload
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control device dynamically adjusts the amount and type of information presented to the operator based on detected emotional state. When stress or overload is detected, the system reduces information density and simplifies displays. When boredom is detected, the system provides more detailed information and engages the operator more actively, optimizing the information-load balance in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters of the control device (information display density, warning frequency, communication style) based on operator physiological parameters. This allows the same control device to adapt its information presentation to match the operator's current emotional capacity, preventing both overload and boredom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the machine operates in fixed operating modes, then the control system remains simple and reliable, but the machine cannot adapt to operator emotional state causing inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating mode flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-defines multiple operating modes with different parameter sets before operation begins. When an operator's emotional state indicates a need for adaptation, the system automatically transitions to the most appropriate pre-configured mode. This approach provides adaptability without requiring complex real-time calculation and control algorithms, maintaining system reliability while enabling emotional-state-based adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2712754B1Method for operating an agricultural working machine
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP2712754B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2712754B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2712754B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves recognizing the emotional state of an operator (24) during the interaction by the operator with the working machine (1,2) through the interfaces (22,22a). The operating mode of the working machine is adapted to the emotional state of the operator. The emotional state of the operator that is recognized is a complex of properties that influence communication with the interface to the working machine. The interaction of operator is evaluated with control/regulating unit (23) by control/regulating unit to deduce emotional state of operator. An independent claim is included for an agricultural working machine.