Field Guidance Line Generation for Implement-Specific Crop Row Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automated agricultural vehicle systems fail to accurately navigate and perform operations on fields due to errors in crop row location sensing, leading to crop damage and inefficiency, especially when different implements with varying widths are used, and manual guess rows result in inconsistent spacing and increased variability.
Innovation Solution
The system generates guidance lines based on field maps created from location data and implement sensors, allowing vehicles to accurately traverse fields and perform operations while avoiding crop rows, using GPS and inertial data to account for terrain and implement width differences, and enabling precise positioning for operations like harvesting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional automated vehicle systems use standard guidance lines, then automation is achieved, but crop row location accuracy deteriorates leading to crop damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping of the field during a first operation to record actual crop row locations. This preliminary action creates a reference field map that is later used to generate accurate guidance lines for subsequent operations, eliminating the need for real-time sensing and avoiding crop damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy (field map) of the physical field layout including crop row locations. This copy is then used to generate guidance lines for subsequent operations, replacing the need for direct physical sensing during operation and maintaining high accuracy without crop contact.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different implements with varying widths are used, then operational versatility is improved, but guidance line accuracy deteriorates due to inconsistent spacing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping that captures the actual field layout and crop row positions. When a different implement is used, the system retrieves this preliminary data and generates new guidance lines specifically tailored to the implement's width and configuration, ensuring precision is maintained despite implement changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance line generation system dynamically adapts to different implements by adjusting guidance parameters based on the specific implement's width and operational characteristics. This dynamic reconfiguration maintains guidance accuracy regardless of which implement is attached to the vehicle.
3Ease of operation
If manual guess rows are used for spacing, then ease of operation is improved, but spacing consistency deteriorates leading to increased variability
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical estimation (guess rows) with an automated electronic guidance system. The electronic system uses GPS and field map data to calculate and display precise guidance lines, eliminating the need for manual spacing estimation and ensuring consistent spacing across all operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback to the operator through displayed guidance lines that show the exact path to follow. This feedback mechanism replaces manual judgment with automated guidance, ensuring spacing consistency by constantly referencing the pre-mapped field layout and calculated optimal paths.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for field operations based on historical field operation data. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a guidance line generator to generate a guidance line for operation of a vehicle during a second operation on a field, the guidance line based on (1) a field map generated from location data collected during a first operation in the field, the field map including a plurality of crop rows and (2) an implement of the vehicle, the implement to perform the second operation on the field. The example apparatus further includes a drive commander to cause the vehicle to traverse the field along the guidance line, and an implement commander to cause the implement to perform the second operation as the vehicle traverses the field along the guidance line.