Autonomous Agricultural Machine Wear-State Detection for Working Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous agricultural machinery lacks the capability to reliably determine the wear state of its working units, posing a risk of critical operational situations due to undiagnosed wear, as there is no operator to visually, haptically, or audibly monitor and control the machine.

Innovation Solution

A method using sensor devices to acquire data on operating parameters before, during, and after work steps, processed by a processing unit with an analysis routine, including machine learning algorithms, to determine wear states and generate instructions for the machine's control unit to prevent critical situations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If autonomous agricultural machinery operates without an operator, then productivity and efficiency are increased, but the ability to monitor and control wear conditions is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidwear condition monitoring
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous agricultural machine performs self-diagnosis of wear conditions through sensor devices and analysis routines that automatically monitor operating parameters and determine wear states without human intervention, enabling the system to serve its own monitoring needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/operator-based monitoring system with an automated electronic system consisting of sensor devices, processing units, and analysis routines that detect and analyze operating parameters to determine wear conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If continuous monitoring of wear state is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear state determinationVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor devices and processing units serve multiple functions: they monitor operating parameters, determine wear states, and provide data for both immediate control decisions and long-term maintenance planning, reducing the need for separate specialized systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously feeds back wear state information to the control unit, which automatically adjusts operating parameters or triggers maintenance alerts, creating a closed-loop control system that improves reliability through continuous monitoring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4268563B1Method for determining a wear state of an autonomous agricultural machine
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP4268563B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for determining the wear state of at least one working unit of an autonomous agricultural machine (4) and/or at least one working unit (5) adapted to the autonomous agricultural machine (4). The method comprises determining data representing operating parameters of the autonomous agricultural machine (4) and/or operating parameters of a working unit (5) adapted to the autonomous agricultural machine (4) by means of a sensor device.The procedure is characterized by transmitting the determined data to a database (3), determining the wear state of the working unit by processing the determined data in an analysis routine, generating an instruction for the autonomous agricultural machine (4) to carry out the work step by means of a processing device (2), transmitting the generated instruction to a control unit of the autonomous agricultural machine (4) and executing the instruction by the control unit.