Agricultural Vehicle Refill Guidance System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural vehicle operators face inefficiencies in determining the optimal time and location for refilling containers, leading to wasted time and fuel due to inaccurate estimates of remaining materials and remote refilling locations.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising sensors to detect material levels, a location determining device, and a processing unit that communicates with these components to provide navigation instructions for optimal refilling, including alerts for refilling vehicles, ensuring timely and efficient refilling based on material levels, field dimensions, dispensing rates, and refilling vehicle status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If operator estimates refilling time and location manually, then operational simplicity is maintained, but refilling efficiency and accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefilling efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing the agricultural vehicle to automatically monitor its own material levels, determine its location, calculate remaining field coverage, and autonomously decide when and where to refill without operator intervention or external guidance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensors monitor material levels in real-time, the location determining device tracks position, the processing device calculates coverage based on dispensing rates, and the operator is notified through alerts when refilling is needed, creating a closed-loop control system that continuously optimizes refilling decisions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If operator determines refilling location without system assistance, then device complexity is reduced, but time and fuel are wasted due to incorrect estimates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefilling timeVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculations of field coverage, material consumption rates, and optimal refill timing before the vehicle actually needs refilling, allowing the operator to make informed decisions in advance rather than reacting to material depletion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the operator's manual estimation process with automated electronic calculations based on sensor data, location information, and dispensing rate metrics, substituting human judgment with precise computational analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If refilling is delayed until material depletion, then operational simplicity is maintained, but productivity decreases due to travel to refilling locations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial dispensing continuityVSAvoidfuel consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensors monitor material levels in real-time, the location determining device tracks position, the processing device calculates coverage based on dispensing rates, and the operator is notified through alerts when refilling is needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calculations of field coverage, material consumption rates, and optimal refill timing before the vehicle actually needs refilling, allowing the operator to make informed decisions in advance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Measurement precision

If manual estimation of material levels is used, then device complexity is minimized, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial level detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual visual estimation with automated sensor-based measurement, using electronic detectors to continuously monitor material levels and provide precise quantitative data to the processing device for accurate refilling decisions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8344897B2System and method for assisting in the refilling of agricultural vehicles
Publication Date: 2013.01.01 AGCO CORP
  • US8344897B2 patent drawing
  • US8344897B2 patent drawing
  • US8344897B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system and method for directing when and where an agricultural vehicle should refill a container thereof may comprise a sensor for detecting an amount of material in the container, a location determining device, and a processing device communicably coupled with the sensor and the location determining device, as well as a display, a speaker, and/or an automated steering system. The processing device may use information regarding the amount of material in the container, the location of the agricultural vehicle, and a variety of other factors to determine when the container needs to be refilled and to determine a refill location at which the agricultural vehicle should refill. The processing device may send these refill instructions to the display, the speaker, and/or the automated steering system. The processing device may also alert a refill vehicle to travel to the determined refill location, if necessary.