Autonomous Barn Cleaning Vehicle With Load-Adaptive Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic barn cleaning solutions operate on predefined schedules regardless of the actual need, leading to inefficient energy use and wear on components, as they travel unnecessary distances and perform cleaning when not required.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous agricultural vehicle equipped with a load sensor and control arrangement that monitors and adjusts its cleaning schedule and route based on historical data of manure accumulation patterns, optimizing cleaning when and where it is needed, thereby reducing unnecessary cleaning and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the autonomous agricultural vehicle operates on a predefined cleaning schedule, then the cleaning routine is executed regularly, but energy is wasted performing cleaning when not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors the actual load quantity (manure amount) in real-time and feeds this information back to the control circuit, which then adjusts the cleaning schedule dynamically. This feedback mechanism enables the vehicle to respond to actual cleaning needs rather than following a rigid predefined schedule, thereby reducing energy waste while maintaining reliable cleaning execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning schedule transitions from a static predefined plan to a dynamic adaptive plan that changes based on monitored load conditions. The control circuit continuously adjusts cleaning parameters (timing, frequency, intensity) according to actual manure accumulation, making the system flexible and responsive to varying operational conditions.
2Reliability
If the autonomous agricultural vehicle travels to predefined cleaning locations, then coverage is ensured, but unnecessary distance is travelled when cleaning is not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The load sensing system provides continuous feedback on actual manure presence and quantity at different locations. The control circuit uses this feedback to dynamically modify the cleaning route, directing the vehicle only to areas where cleaning is actually needed rather than traversing the entire predefined path, thus reducing energy loss while maintaining adequate coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system transitions from uniform treatment of all areas to localized targeted cleaning. Different zones are cleaned with different frequencies and intensities based on their specific manure accumulation characteristics, allowing the vehicle to focus energy on high-need areas while skipping or reducing service in low-need areas.
3Reliability
If the autonomous agricultural vehicle performs cleaning frequently, then cleanliness is maintained, but wear on components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors load quantity and uses this feedback to determine cleaning frequency dynamically. Cleaning is performed frequently only when load monitoring indicates high manure accumulation, while cleaning frequency is reduced when load levels are low, thereby maintaining cleanliness standards while minimizing unnecessary component wear from excessive cleaning cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning parameters (frequency, intensity, duration) are adjusted based on monitored load conditions. When load is high, cleaning parameters increase to maintain cleanliness; when load is low, parameters are reduced to minimize wear, creating an adaptive cleaning regime that responds to actual contamination levels.
4Ease of operation
If the autonomous agricultural vehicle follows a fixed cleaning plan, then operational simplicity is maintained, but cleaning effectiveness decreases when manure accumulation varies
Solution Approach 1:
The load sensing system provides automatic feedback that enables the control circuit to adjust cleaning operations dynamically without requiring complex manual intervention. This automated feedback-loop maintains operational simplicity from the user perspective while significantly improving cleaning effectiveness by adapting to varying manure accumulation patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment based on its own sensor data. The vehicle autonomously monitors its own cleaning needs through load sensors and automatically modifies its cleaning plan without external input, combining operational simplicity with adaptive effectiveness. The system serves itself by using its sensor data to optimize its own operation.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to barn cleaning and in particular the disclosure relates to an autonomous agricultural vehicle comprising a cleaning device suitable for removing manure a livestock area. According to a first aspect, this disclosure proposes a method for operating an autonomous agricultural vehicle in accordance with a cleaning plan. The method comprises monitoring S1 at a plurality of individual times, while operating the autonomous agricultural vehicle in accordance with the cleaning plan, a load quantity representing an amount of material moved by the cleaning device, and adjusting S5 the cleaning plan of the autonomous agricultural vehicle based on a variation in the monitored load quantity among the individual times. The disclosure also relates to a method for operating the autonomous agricultural vehicle and to a computer program for performing the method.