Crop Protection Advice Logic Program for Real-Time Product Mix

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods struggle to determine and apply the optimal mix of crop protection products in real-time based on dynamic field conditions, such as crop growth stage and target infestations, due to complexity and the need for immediate action.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented system that accesses configuration data structures to generate executable code snippets, creating an advice logic program that determines the appropriate mix of crop protection products for immediate application, considering factors like crop identifier, target identifier, and growth stage code.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual determination of crop protection product mix is used, then accuracy of product selection can be maintained, but response time becomes too slow for immediate application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of product selectionVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-generates executable code snippets from configuration data structures before field conditions arise. These code snippets contain pre-validated product mix logic that can be instantly executed when field conditions are detected, eliminating the need for manual real-time determination while maintaining expert-level accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual expert analysis (mechanical human decision-making) with an automated computer-implemented system that generates and executes code snippets. This substitution enables instantaneous response to field conditions while preserving the accuracy of expert product selection through pre-validated logic.

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

2Reliability

If complex interdependencies of crop protection products are fully considered, then optimal product mix can be determined, but system complexity increases making real-time processing difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptimality of product mixVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the complex product mix determination into modular configuration data structures and executable code snippets. Each snippet handles specific product compatibility rules and interdependencies, allowing the complex problem to be divided into manageable, independently validated units that can be executed in sequence without overwhelming system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Complex product interdependency logic is pre-processed into validated code snippets during system setup, not during real-time operation. This preliminary action captures all complex relationships in advance, allowing the runtime system to simply execute pre-validated logic rather than re-evaluate complex interdependencies in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If real-time code generation is implemented, then near-real-time response is achieved, but computational overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of product mix determinationVSAvoidcomputational overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs computationally intensive code generation and validation in advance, creating executable snippets that contain pre-processed logic. During real-time operation, the system only needs to execute these pre-generated snippets rather than perform full code generation, dramatically reducing computational overhead while maintaining near-real-time response capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates lightweight executable code snippets that are copies of the essential decision logic, separated from the heavy configuration data structures. These copied snippets can be rapidly executed multiple times with minimal computational overhead, as they contain only the necessary execution logic without the full complexity of the original configuration system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3688690B1System and method for optimisation of crop protection
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 BASF SE
  • EP3688690B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3688690B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A
  • EP3688690B1 patent drawingFigure 3B~4

AI summary

A system (100), method and computer program product for optimization of crop protection. A generator module (120) accesses one or more configuration data structures (220) wherein the one or more configuration data structures include data fields to store crop data (221), advice data (222) related to respective crop data, and crop protection product data (223) related to respective advice. Further, it accesses a plurality of code snippets (230) wherein each code snippet (231, 232, 233) has a condition which relates either to at least one property field of the one or more data structures (220) or to a result of another code snippet, and further includes generic program logic associated with the condition, and wherein each property field is used in the condition of at least one code snippet. The plurality of code snippets is applied to the one or more configuration data structures to generate an advice logic program. The system receives input (210) reflecting a real world field situation. A processor module (150) of the system to applies the generated advice logic program (130) to the received input (210) to generate a crop protection product mix instruction (140) applicable to the real world field situation.