Camera Arrangement on Discharge Spout for Obstacle Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural working machines, such as combines and forage harvesters, face challenges in overseeing their surroundings due to their large size, leading to a risk of collisions with obstacles or persons during shunting operations.
Innovation Solution
The existing camera system on the discharge spout, used for guiding the crop stream, is repurposed to detect obstacles and persons by adjusting its orientation and activation during reversing, with the ability to move vertically and use 3D imaging to create a point cloud for object recognition, complemented by additional sensors for comprehensive detection and an operator assistance system for warnings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the agricultural working machine uses a large size for harvesting operations, then the harvesting capacity and efficiency are improved, but the ability to oversee the area directly around the machine deteriorates, increasing collision risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical limitation of the driver's field of view with an optical/electronic detection system. A camera mounted on the discharge spout captures images of the surrounding area, which are then processed by an image processing unit to detect obstacles and persons, substituting human visual oversight with automated electronic detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system between the driver and the surrounding environment. The camera acts as an intermediary that captures visual information from areas the driver cannot directly see, and the image processing unit serves as an intermediary that analyzes this information and presents it to the driver in a usable format.
2Reliability
If a separate obstacle detection system is added to the agricultural working machine, then the collision detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the camera originally designed for guiding the crop stream into the container to also serve as an obstacle and person detection device. The same camera hardware is used for both its original purpose and the new safety function, eliminating the need for a completely separate detection system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the obstacle detection function with the existing crop guidance camera system. By combining these functions into a single camera unit, the patent reduces the overall number of components and simplifies the system architecture while achieving both crop guidance and safety detection objectives.
3Device complexity
If the camera is fixed in position on the discharge spout, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the detection coverage area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustability to the camera system by mounting it on a pivotable discharge spout. The camera's position and orientation can be dynamically changed as the spout moves to different angles during operation, allowing the detection coverage area to expand and adapt to different operational scenarios without requiring multiple fixed cameras.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
The invention relates to an agricultural working machine with a machine body (2), with a discharge spout (3) attached to the machine body (2) for overloading crop from the agricultural working machine (1) to a transport vehicle and with a camera arrangement (4) comprising a camera (5) attached to the discharge spout (3) for generating image data of a section (6) of environment of the discharge spout (3) captured by the camera (5). It is suggested that the camera arrangement (4) is configured to detect an obstacle (7) and/or or a person (8) appearing on the ground behind the agricultural working machine (1).