Agricultural Machine Path Planning Around In-Field Obstacles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural path planning systems fail to adequately account for in-field obstacles, leading to inefficiencies and potential overlap in machine passes.
Innovation Solution
A control system that determines an operational path for agricultural machines by considering the environment's boundary and obstacle characteristics, adjusting the path to bypass or encompass obstacles, and controlling operational components to navigate efficiently around them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If path planning is performed manually by the operator, then the system is simple to operate, but the operational efficiency and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the agricultural machine autonomously determines its own operational path by processing GPS data, obstacle information, and field characteristics through onboard controllers, eliminating the need for manual path planning while maintaining operational efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical path planning with an automated electronic control system that uses GPS receivers, processors, and algorithms to calculate and guide operational paths, substituting human operator actions with automated electronic decision-making
2Productivity
If existing path planning systems are used, then the basic path guidance is provided, but the in-field obstacles are not accounted for leading to overlap and inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously receives GPS position data, compares the current location with the planned path, and adjusts the operational path in real-time to account for obstacles and prevent overlap, ensuring both efficiency and accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary path planning by pre-calculating operational paths that account for known obstacles and field characteristics before execution, and then makes real-time adjustments to maintain accuracy throughout the operation
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for planning an agricultural operation in a working environment. Both a boundary for the working environment and one or more characteristics of at least one obstacle within the working environment are determined. Using this, an operational path for an agricultural machine is determined in dependence on the boundary for the working environment and the characteristic(s) of the obstacle(s). One or more operational components associated with the agricultural machine are then controlled in dependence on the determined operational path.