Autonomous Farm Platform With Telescopic Chassis to Reduce Soil Compaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large agricultural machines cause soil compaction, leading to reduced crop yields due to increased weight and pressure, which complicates soil recovery and affects water infiltration, erosion, and nutrient uptake.
Innovation Solution
Development of smaller, lightweight, electric-powered autonomous machines with interchangeable implements and a docking station for refilling and charging, equipped with on-board computing for navigation and operation, reducing soil compaction by minimizing pressure and improving soil health.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If larger agricultural machines are used to increase operational scale and labor productivity, then productivity is improved, but weight increases leading to soil compaction
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the agricultural operation into multiple smaller autonomous units that can work in parallel. Instead of one large tractor, multiple small autonomous vehicles perform field operations simultaneously, achieving high productivity without the soil compaction problems of heavy machinery.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of machine weight from thousands of pounds to significantly lighter autonomous units. This parameter change enables operation on sensitive soils while maintaining productivity through automated multi-unit coordination and swarm intelligence algorithms.
2Area of stationary object
If larger machines are used to increase operational capacity, then area coverage is improved, but soil compaction worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides field coverage into multiple smaller autonomous units working in parallel. Each unit covers a portion of the field, and their coordinated operation achieves complete area coverage without the concentrated pressure of heavy machinery, preventing soil compaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical force of heavy tractors with lighter autonomous units that use sensors, computer vision, and automated navigation to perform operations. This substitution eliminates the mechanical pressure causing compaction while maintaining field coverage capability.
3Productivity
If heavy machinery is used for field operations, then operational efficiency is improved, but harmful factors such as soil erosion and nutrient uptake reduction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces heavy mechanical tractors with autonomous units that use sensors, computer vision, and precision agriculture techniques. This substitution maintains operational efficiency through automation while eliminating the harmful soil erosion and nutrient uptake reduction caused by heavy machinery pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous units incorporate real-time feedback from sensors, soil moisture detectors, and computer vision systems to adjust their operation. This feedback mechanism enables efficient field work while preventing soil erosion and protecting nutrient uptake by responding to actual soil conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods for performing autonomous agricultural operations are described herein. An exemplary device may include a toolbar to which a plurality of implements may be interchangeably coupled, and a pair of parallel chassis beams mounted perpendicularly on the toolbar. At least a portion of each of the chassis beams may be telescopic and configured to be extended outward from, and retracted inward towards, the toolbar. The device may also include a plurality of drive assemblies each mounted on one of the chassis beams, and a plurality of motors corresponding to the drive assemblies and configured to drive the drive assemblies in accordance with one or more drive parameters to move the device throughout a site. The device may further include a computing device configured to automatically determine the drive parameters, and cause the plurality of motors to drive the corresponding drive assemblies in accordance with the drive parameters.