Farming Machine Priority Control for Quality, Savings, and Productivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing farming machine operations lack the ability to dynamically adjust to user priorities for treatment metrics such as treatment quality, treatment product savings, and farming machine productivity, especially in real-time based on sensor data.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a farming machine that involves a control system sending user interfaces to a client device to request and receive user priority values for treatment metrics. The system then operates the farming machine according to these priorities, determines actual metric values based on sensor data, and updates operations based on updated user inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the farming machine operates at high speed to improve productivity, then farming machine productivity increases, but treatment quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts operating parameters including speed based on real-time sensor data and user priority values. The control system modifies machine operations on-the-fly to balance productivity and treatment quality according to changing field conditions and user preferences.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters such as speed, spray rate, and other treatment parameters based on sensor data and user priorities. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system optimizes the trade-off between productivity and treatment quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If the farming machine applies treatment product generously to improve treatment quality, then treatment quality increases, but treatment product savings deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system adjusts treatment parameters such as spray rate, application timing, and dosage based on sensor data detecting plant conditions, weed presence, or other field variables. This allows precise control of treatment product application to achieve quality while minimizing waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies treatment product selectively based on local field conditions detected by sensors. Different areas receive different treatment intensities according to actual needs, rather than uniform application, thereby improving quality where needed while saving product elsewhere.
3Manufacturing precision
If the farming machine operates slowly to improve treatment quality, then treatment quality increases, but farming machine productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts speed and other operational parameters based on real-time sensor data and user priority values. When treatment quality is prioritized, the system slows down; when productivity is prioritized, the system increases speed, creating an adaptive balance between the two competing objectives.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the system provides real-time monitoring and adjustment capabilities, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensor data collection and feedback loops that continuously monitor field conditions and machine performance. This feedback enables real-time adjustments to operational parameters, improving adaptability while the modular architecture helps manage complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system serves multiple functions: it monitors sensor data, processes user priority inputs, adjusts operational parameters, and provides real-time feedback. By consolidating these functions into a unified control platform, the system achieves high adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
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Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Some embodiments relate to a control system sending for display a first user interface requesting user priority values for treatment metrics. The control system receives, as input from a user interacting with the first user interface, user priority values. The control system operates the farming machine according to the user priority values. Based on sensor data generated as the farming machine operates in the field, the control system determines actual values of the treatment metrics. The control system sends for display on the client device a second user interface including the actual values for the treatment metrics. The control system receives updated user priority values from the client device for the treatment metrics. The updated user priority values are received as input from the user interacting with the second user interface. The control system updates operation of the farming machine according to the updated user priority values.