Crop-Row Steering Correction Using Alignment Sensor and GPS Offset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural vehicles face challenges in maintaining precise alignment between crop rows during field operations, especially when the crop canopy obscures the soil, leading to potential damage and deviations in row spacing due to swaying or drifting, which existing GPS and automated steering systems struggle to accurately address.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced automated steering system that incorporates an alignment sensor, such as a tactile sensor, to measure the vehicle's position relative to the crop rows, adjusting GPS data to ensure precise alignment and prevent crop damage, utilizing a correction system that communicates with the vehicle's on-board steering to modify the steering commands based on real-time proximity measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If GPS automated steering systems are used to guide vehicle operation between crop rows, then automation level is improved, but measurement precision of vehicle position relative to crop rows deteriorates when crop canopy obscures the soil
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an alignment sensor as an intermediary device that physically contacts the crop rows to directly measure the vehicle's alignment with the rows. This mediator bypasses the limitation of GPS visual obstruction by providing tactile feedback about row position, thereby maintaining measurement precision while preserving GPS automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely optical/electronic GPS positioning system with a hybrid system that incorporates mechanical alignment sensing. The tactile sensor physically engages with the crop rows to detect alignment, substituting the visual measurement method that fails under canopy cover with a mechanical contact method that remains effective.
2Ease of operation
If planter swaying or drifting is allowed during operation, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision of row spacing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the alignment sensor continuously monitors the vehicle's position relative to the crop rows and provides real-time data to the steering system. This feedback loop enables the automated steering to make continuous adjustments, maintaining precise row spacing despite planter swaying or drifting, while requiring minimal operator intervention.
3Measurement precision
If vehicle wheels are manually kept between crop rows by operator, then alignment precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to operator workload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the steering system to serve itself by implementing automated control that uses alignment sensor data to self-correct the vehicle's position between rows. The system performs the alignment function autonomously without requiring continuous manual operator intervention, thereby maintaining high alignment precision while preserving operator productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated steering system for an agricultural vehicle operating in a row crop field. The automated steering system includes a correction system having a controller and an alignment sensor. The alignment sensor is disposed between two adjacently spaced crop rows and generates output signals indicative of the alignment sensor's lateral position relative to the two adjacently spaced crop rows as the vehicle advances in the forward direction of travel. The controller receives the generated output signals from the alignment sensor and determines an offset distance of said alignment sensor from a centerline between the two adjacently spaced crop rows. The controller outputs a modified vehicle position signal corresponding to the latitude and longitude position received from said GPS receiver shifted by the offset distance. The vehicle's on board navigation controller causes the vehicles on-board steering control system to steer the vehicle based on the modified vehicle position signal.