Autonomous Barn Mapping for Reliable Farm Vehicle Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal farm systems with autonomous vehicles lack accurate and efficient barn map information, making it laborious for farmers to program routes and navigate, especially in dynamic environments with moving objects and unexpected obstacles.
Innovation Solution
An animal farm system where a user inputs barn map information using real-time data from the vehicle's position determining and sensor systems, allowing for step-by-step creation and updating of barn maps, enabling the vehicle to use this information for navigation and route planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If barn map information is manually entered by the farmer, then the vehicle can navigate using accurate map data, but the process becomes laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle performs self-mapping by autonomously navigating through the barn, collecting sensor data, and automatically generating barn map information. This eliminates the need for manual data entry by the farmer while maintaining high accuracy through the vehicle's position determining system and sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The manual process of entering barn map information is replaced by an automated electronic system. The vehicle uses its position determining system, sensors, and communication device to automatically capture and transmit barn map data, substituting the mechanical/manual data entry process with an automated electronic mapping system
2Ease of manufacture
If the vehicle operates without barn map information, then the system is simpler to set up, but the vehicle cannot navigate efficiently and may get lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping actions automatically during the vehicle's initial operation. The vehicle collects position data and sensor information, and the external communication device generates barn map information in advance, so that navigation capabilities are established before full operational use begins
Solution Approach 2:
An external communication device acts as an intermediary between the vehicle's sensor system and the navigation system. This intermediary processes sensor data, generates barn map information, and provides it to the vehicle's control unit, enabling navigation without requiring complex onboard processing while maintaining ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
An animal farm system includes a barn, animal related structures within the barn, such as a feeding alley and/or a milking system, and an autonomous vehicle arranged to perform an animal related action and move about in the barn. The vehicle includes a control unit to move the vehicle about, a position determining system for determining a position of the vehicle in the barn, a sensor system to determine a value of a parameter related to a position of the vehicle with respect to the barn or an object therein, such as the at least one structure therein, and a vehicle communication device. The control unit further is arranged to contain barn map information, and receive motion control and navigation information via the vehicle communication device.