Agricultural Vehicle Control via Rate of Change Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural machine performance, such as planting machines, is affected by various factors including seed spacing, seed depth, and seed-to-soil contact, which can impact crop yields, and existing control systems do not effectively adjust based on real-time sensor data to optimize these parameters.

Innovation Solution

A system that senses variables indicative of machine performance, calculates the rate of change of these variables, and generates control signals to adjust the agricultural vehicle's operation, including speed and downforce, to optimize planting conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If real-time sensor data is used to control agricultural vehicle operations, then manufacturing precision of planting parameters is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplanting parameter consistencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors planting parameters (seed spacing, depth, soil contact) using sensors and adjusts vehicle operations in real-time based on the sensed data, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains precision without requiring complex manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically adjusts planting parameters by processing sensor data and generating control signals without operator intervention, allowing the agricultural vehicle to self-optimize its performance based on real-time conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If control signals are generated based on rate of change of sensed variables, then adaptability to varying field conditions is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse to field conditionsVSAvoidsensed variable accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates the rate of change of sensed variables before making control adjustments, allowing it to anticipate and respond to trends in planting parameter deviations rather than merely reacting to instantaneous values, thereby improving adaptability while managing measurement precision requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If multiple planting parameters are controlled simultaneously, then crop yield is improved, but loss of time in processing sensor data increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop yieldVSAvoiddata processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control system operates continuously, processing sensor data and adjusting planting parameters without interruption throughout the field operation, ensuring that all planting parameters are optimized simultaneously without significant time loss that would reduce overall productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS9883626B2Controlling an agricultural vehicle based on sensed inputs

Publication Date: 2018.02.06 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A variable is sensed that is indicative of a performance of a machine. A rate of change of the sensed variable is determined, and a control signal is generated for controlling an agricultural vehicle, based upon the rate of change in the value of the sensed variable.