Equestrian Harrowing Robot with Adjustable Breaking Depth
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harrowing technologies for indoor and outdoor animal or sport arenas, such as equestrian soils, are inefficient and require manual operation, leading to uneven soil conditions that can hinder horse movement and aesthetics, and lack autonomous capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A harrowing robot equipped with a breaking element featuring protrusions and a grader element, controlled by a drive mechanism and control unit, allowing for autonomous operation and adjustable breaking depths to maintain soil uniformity and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a breaking element is used to break up soil lumps and hardened parts, then soil structure is improved and aeration is enhanced, but the soil becomes uneven and loose which is inconvenient for horse movement and aesthetically displeasing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the breaking element and grader element into a single integrated harrowing mechanism that performs both breaking and grading functions simultaneously. The breaking element breaks up soil lumps while the grader element immediately levels the soil, merging two separate operations into one unified system that improves soil structure without creating uneven surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The harrowing mechanism ensures continuous action by having the grader element immediately follow the breaking element in the soil processing sequence. This continuous operation breaks up and levels the soil in one pass, preventing the creation of uneven surfaces that would hinder horse movement while maintaining constant improvement of soil structure.
2Ease of operation
If traditional man-operated vehicles are used for harrowing, then the harrowing mechanism can be operated and controlled, but operational costs are higher and autonomous operation is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The harrowing mechanism is designed to be self-sufficient by integrating all necessary components (breaking element, grader element, drive mechanism, and control unit) into an autonomous system that can operate independently without requiring manual vehicle operation. The control unit enables the mechanism to autonomously navigate and perform harrowing tasks, eliminating the need for human operators and reducing operational costs.
3Ease of manufacture
If the breaking element is fixed at a constant depth, then the mechanism is simpler to construct, but it cannot adapt to varying soil conditions and hardness levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a drive mechanism that dynamically adjusts the depth and position of the breaking element based on varying soil conditions. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the harrowing mechanism to adapt to different soil hardness levels and compositions, optimizing breaking effectiveness without requiring complex manual intervention while maintaining reasonable construction simplicity.
4Ease of operation
If harrowing is performed manually during daytime, then the operator can monitor soil conditions, but the soil cannot be harrowed at night when no one is available and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous harrowing mechanism with integrated control unit enables the system to independently monitor soil conditions and perform harrowing operations without human presence. This self-service capability allows the mechanism to operate at night or at any time when facilities are closed, eliminating the time loss associated with requiring operator availability while maintaining the ability to assess and respond to soil conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Harrowing robot for harrowing a soil of an indoor or outdoor animal or sport arena, such as an equestrian soil, comprising a harrowing mechanism, comprising: a breaking element configured to break up the equestrian soil; a drive mechanism configured to move the breaking element between a plurality of positions comprising at least: a first soil engaging position wherein the breaking element is configured to be at a first breaking depth in the soil, and a second soil engaging position wherein the breaking element is configured to be at a second breaking depth in the soil, wherein the first breaking depth differs from the second breaking depth; a control unit configured to control the drive mechanism for moving the breaking element between said plurality of positions.