Autonomous Farm Vehicle Deployment Control Without On-Site Operators

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current autonomous agricultural production machines require an operator to be present for remote control and monitoring, limiting their autonomy and efficiency in agricultural operations.

Innovation Solution

An assistance system utilizing electronic data exchange enables autonomous agricultural production machines to operate independently by planning and controlling deployment, monitoring, and executing work steps without human intervention, using communication interfaces, processors, and data processing devices to communicate with autonomous vehicles and external servers, allowing for remote monitoring and control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If an operator is present for remote control and monitoring, then the autonomous agricultural production machine can be controlled and monitored, but the autonomy and efficiency are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveautonomyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into multiple independent functional modules: deployment planning module, information module, control module, and monitoring module. Each module operates independently but communicates through standardized interfaces, allowing the autonomous vehicle to execute complex agricultural tasks while maintaining manageable system complexity. The segmentation enables the vehicle to autonomously handle different aspects of operation without requiring a single complex control system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An assistance system acts as an intermediary between the operator and the autonomous vehicle. This intermediary processes deployment plans, translates them into executable information modules, and coordinates control and monitoring functions. The intermediary reduces the complexity burden on the vehicle itself while maintaining high autonomy, as the assistance system handles the computationally intensive planning and coordination tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If remote control and monitoring are implemented, then human intervention is possible, but the need for human presence reduces efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveefficiencyVSAvoidoperational simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The deployment planning module creates comprehensive deployment plans before execution, and the information module prepares all necessary operational parameters in advance. This preliminary action allows the autonomous vehicle to execute tasks efficiently without requiring frequent human intervention during operation. The system handles real-time decision-making autonomously based on pre-planned parameters, maintaining both efficiency and operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring module continuously collects data from sensors and actuators, providing real-time feedback to the control module. This feedback loop enables the vehicle to autonomously adjust its operation based on actual conditions while maintaining efficiency. The feedback mechanism ensures safe operation without requiring constant human monitoring, as the system self-regulates based on sensor inputs and performance data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If autonomous execution without human presence is enabled, then efficiency increases, but safety and quality control may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveefficiencyVSAvoidsafety and quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring module implements comprehensive feedback by continuously monitoring vehicle status, sensor data, and operational parameters. This real-time feedback ensures safety and quality control during autonomous execution, as the system can detect and respond to anomalies immediately. The feedback mechanism maintains reliability while enabling efficient autonomous operation without human presence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The autonomous vehicle performs self-service through automated monitoring, diagnostics, and adaptive control. The system independently ensures its own safety and operational quality by processing sensor data and adjusting operations in real-time. This self-service capability maintains high reliability during autonomous execution, eliminating the need for continuous human oversight while preserving safety and quality standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20230350407A1Autonomous agricultural production machine
Publication Date: 2023.11.02 CLAAS E SYSTEMS GMBH
  • US20230350407A1 patent drawing
  • US20230350407A1 patent drawing
  • US20230350407A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An assistance system based on electronic data exchange for enabling an autonomous vehicle to act as an autonomous agricultural production machine and an autonomous agricultural production machine is disclosed. The assistance system is configured to plan the deployment of at least one autonomous vehicle, to transmit the information required for the deployment to the autonomous vehicle, to at least partially control the autonomous vehicle during working mode and to monitor the working mode of the autonomous vehicle.