Autonomous Harvesting Device for Feed Crop Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural methods for harvesting and processing feed crops are inefficient, costly, and often require manual labor or machinery, with limitations such as local processing and potential soil pollution, and lack automation.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous, unmanned device is used to automatically harvest, transport, and process feed crops, eliminating manual labor and soil contact, with a control device monitoring and optimizing the process for continuous operation at a designated crop processing location, enabling efficient and universal feed crop management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If solar drying is used for crop processing, then energy consumption is reduced, but processing efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive solar drying with an active mechanical processing system. The crop processing means includes cutting means, conveying means, and baling means that mechanically process the crop instead of relying on solar evaporation. This substitution dramatically improves processing efficiency while maintaining reasonable energy consumption through automated mechanical operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous unmanned device performs self-service by automatically harvesting, transporting, and processing the crop without human intervention. The device navigates autonomously, operates the processing means, and manages the entire workflow, eliminating the need for manual labor and significantly improving operational efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If all crop-processing operations are performed in the field, then transportation cost is reduced, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing system into two parts: an autonomous harvesting device that operates in the field, and a separate crop processing means located at a processing location. The harvesting device collects and transports crop to the processing location, where the processing means performs the actual processing. This segmentation reduces the complexity and cost of the autonomous device while minimizing transportation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the crop processing means - that acts as a bridge between the field and the final product. Instead of requiring the autonomous device to perform all processing functions, the crop processing means serves as an intermediary that receives harvested crop and completes the processing operations, thereby reducing the complexity burden on the autonomous device.
3Ease of operation
If manual labor is used for harvesting and processing, then operational flexibility is maintained, but labor cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous unmanned device performs self-service by autonomously navigating the field, harvesting crop, transporting it to the processing location, and coordinating with the crop processing means. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual labor and associated costs while maintaining operational flexibility through programmable control and adaptive navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual labor with automated mechanical systems. The autonomous device uses sensors, navigation systems, and mechanical harvesting mechanisms to perform tasks that would otherwise require human workers. This substitution dramatically reduces labor costs while maintaining or even improving operational efficiency through consistent automated performance.
4Ease of manufacture
If crop is temporarily deposited on the soil, then processing simplicity is improved, but crop pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary conveying system that transfers crop from the harvesting device to the processing means without direct soil contact. The crop is transported through enclosed or protected conveying mechanisms, and the processing means is positioned to receive crop without requiring it to be deposited on the ground, thereby preventing pollution while maintaining processing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs protective enclosures and conveying structures that create barriers between the crop and the soil environment. These flexible or rigid shells and films protect the harvested crop from direct contact with contaminated ground surfaces during transport and processing operations, preventing pollution while allowing simple processing workflows.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, using an autonomous, unmanned device, a control device and a crop processor includes automatically harvesting a first amount of feed crop in a part of a crop field by means of the autonomous, unmanned device; automatically loading the first amount of harvested feed crop directly into a storage space provided on the autonomous, unmanned device; automatically transporting the first amount of harvested feed crop from the crop field to a crop processing location provided with the crop processor by means of the autonomous, unmanned device; automatically unloading the first amount of harvested feed crop from the storage space of the autonomous, unmanned device at the crop processing location; and processing the first amount of harvested feed crop at the crop processing location by means of the crop processor. The control device is configured for controlling the autonomous, unmanned device to repeat the steps to harvest a second amount of feed crop, and for monitoring of the processing of the first amount of harvested feed crop by the crop processor.