Farming Implement Raising and Lowering for Precise Headland Turns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Farming vehicles face challenges in accurately timing the raising and lowering of implements during headland turns, leading to inefficiencies, unnecessary operation on headlands, and potential damage due to improper implement positioning.
Innovation Solution
The farming vehicle measures the time required to lower the implement during a calibration period and adjusts the timing to ensure the implement is fully lowered before exiting the headland, using location sensors and a selective control valve to manage the implement's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the farming vehicle raises the implement too early prior to entering the headland, then the implement is fully raised before entering the headland, but a portion of the field may not be operated on by the implement
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of the implement's lowering/raising time during calibration, then uses this pre-determined time value to calculate the optimal moment to initiate lowering/raising actions. This preliminary action ensures the implement is positioned correctly without affecting field operation coverage.
2Productivity
If the farming vehicle raises the implement too late, then the implement operates on the ground in a portion of the headland, but this results in unnecessary cost, time, or damage to the implement or headland
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses location sensors to continuously monitor the farming vehicle's position and provides feedback to the control system. Based on this feedback and the pre-measured implement response time, the system calculates the precise moment to initiate lowering/raising actions, preventing both early and late positioning that would cause harmful effects.
3Device complexity
If the farming vehicle uses a fixed timing for raising and lowering the implement, then the control system is simple, but the implement positioning accuracy varies with changing vehicle speed
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from fixed timing to dynamic timing by measuring the actual implement lowering/raising time during calibration and using this measured value to calculate initiation moments based on real-time vehicle speed and position. This dynamic approach maintains positioning accuracy while keeping the control system relatively simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method ensures precise control over the implement's position, preventing unnecessary operation on headlands and reducing potential damage, thereby optimizing field operation and resource utilization.
Implementation Method 1
Determining the duration comprises measuring a time based on a flow of oil through a selective control valve
Data Source
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AI summary
TECHNICAL FIELD A farming vehicle (310) is configured to automatically raise and lower an implement (325) for the farming vehicle (310). The farming vehicle (310) may measure a duration to lower the implement (325) during a calibration period or during the first time the farming vehicle (310) lowers the implement (325) to operate on a field. When entering the headland (620) to turn around between rows, the farming vehicle (310) may raise the implement (325) after determining that the entire implement (325) is located within the headland (620). Based on the determined amount of time to lower the implement (325), the farming vehicle (310) may begin lowering the implement (325) with sufficient time such that the implement (325) is fully lowered just prior to exiting the headland (620) and returning onto the field.