Agricultural Voice Input for In-Field Cloud Data Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cloud-based agricultural database systems lack integration with agricultural processes, leading to inefficient processing of status and planning data, which are often decoupled from actual farm activities and rely heavily on user memory, resulting in wasted time and personnel resources.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a local voice input unit to edit and process status and planning data within a cloud-based agricultural database system, employing a semantic model to translate voice commands and integrating with agricultural working machines, allowing for data processing during ongoing agricultural activities without distracting from machine control, and using smartphones as efficient input units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a cloud-based agricultural database system is used to collect and consolidate data from diverse sources, then data consolidation capability is improved, but integration with actual agricultural processes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consolidation capabilityVSAvoidintegration with agricultural processes

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces voice input as an intermediary interface between the agricultural worker and the cloud-based database system. This mediator allows natural language interaction without requiring the worker to directly operate the system, thus maintaining process integration while enabling data consolidation. The voice interface acts as a bridge that connects the agricultural activity context with the database system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically processing voice inputs and updating the database without requiring manual intervention or direct system operation. The agricultural worker simply speaks the information needed, and the system autonomously handles data capture, processing, and storage, thus integrating seamlessly into the workflow while maintaining data consolidation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If mobile devices and built-in operator terminals are used for controlling agricultural machinery, then control capability is improved, but user distraction increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol capabilityVSAvoiduser distraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical interaction (touching screens, pressing buttons on mobile devices or operator terminals) with acoustic interaction (voice input). This substitution eliminates the need for visual attention and manual操作中, allowing the worker to control the system while maintaining focus on the agricultural machinery operation, thus improving control capability without increasing distraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If voice input is used to edit status data and planning data during agricultural activities, then time utilization is improved, but speech recognition accuracy under background noise deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime utilizationVSAvoidspeech recognition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and filtering voice signals before full recognition. It anticipates potential noise issues by implementing preprocessing steps that prepare the speech signal for more accurate recognition, thus maintaining high accuracy even in noisy agricultural environments while enabling time-efficient voice input during activities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Loss of information

If extensive manual input of status data and planning data is required, then data completeness is improved, but personnel resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata completenessVSAvoidpersonnel resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service data entry where the agricultural worker independently captures and inputs data through voice commands during normal activities. This eliminates the need for separate personnel to collect and enter data manually, achieving complete data capture while reducing personnel resource requirements. The worker serves both as the operator and the data entry person through the voice interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4008166A1Method for controlling a cloud-based agricultural database system

Publication Date: 2022.06.08 CLAAS 365FARMNET GMBH

Figure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for controlling a cloud-based agricultural database system (1) by means of a control system (2), wherein the control system (2) comprises a local voice input unit (3), wherein a user (B) performs an agricultural activity, in particular with an agricultural machine (4), in an agricultural environment, wherein the agricultural activity, the user (B), and the agricultural environment are embedded in an agricultural context, and wherein status data and/or planning data representing the agricultural context are stored in the agricultural database system (1). It is proposed that the user (B) processes, in particular supplements, the status data and/or planning data via voice input using the local voice input unit (3) while performing the agricultural activity.