Receiving Vehicle Fill-Level Mapping for Harvester Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for detecting fill levels in receiving vehicles during material transfer operations, such as those used in agricultural and construction vehicles, do not effectively assist operators in coordinating the positioning of multiple receiving vehicles, leading to inefficiencies and wasted fuel and time due to miscommunication and misplacement.
Innovation Solution
A system that integrates a camera on the material loading vehicle to detect the fill level of receiving vehicles, generates a unique identifier for each vehicle, and communicates this information through a mobile app to create a geographic map displaying vehicle locations and fill levels, allowing operators to efficiently position receiving vehicles for continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple receiving vehicles operate with multiple harvesters using manual radio communication, then operators can attempt to coordinate fill levels, but drivers cannot know where to go or when to arrive, causing vehicles to wait and waste fuel and time
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic feedback by having the harvester's image processing system continuously monitor fill levels of receiving vehicles and transmit this data via GPS and mobile devices to all operators. This eliminates manual communication delays and ensures real-time information availability, allowing drivers to know exactly when and where to position their vehicles without waiting or guessing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication system consisting of GPS devices, mobile devices, and a central processing system that mediates between the harvester's fill level detection and the drivers. This intermediary automatically translates visual fill level data into actionable location and timing information, solving the communication gap between harvester operators and vehicle drivers.
2Ease of operation
If receiving vehicles line up at different fields without coordinated information, then drivers can be in the wrong places, but this causes fuel waste and operational inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by providing drivers with advance information about which receiving vehicle is needed at which field before they arrive. The mobile device displays predetermined location information and fill level status, allowing drivers to position their vehicles correctly on the first attempt without unnecessary travel or waiting, thereby reducing fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time feedback through mobile devices informs drivers of the exact field and position where their receiving vehicle is needed, enabling precise navigation and eliminating wasteful travel to incorrect locations. The system continuously updates vehicle positions and fill levels, allowing drivers to make informed routing decisions.
3Productivity
If the harvester waits for a receiving vehicle while other vehicles are lined up at different fields, then continuous operation is disrupted, but coordination between multiple vehicles and harvesters becomes extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains harvester continuous operation through automatic feedback loops where image processing systems continuously monitor all receiving vehicles, GPS devices track positions, and mobile devices relay real-time status to all operators. This automated coordination eliminates the complexity of manual communication while ensuring the harvester always has the correct receiving vehicle ready, maximizing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coordination system serves itself by automatically matching receiving vehicles with harvesters based on real-time fill level data and location information. The system self-regulates vehicle assignment and positioning without requiring complex human coordination, allowing multiple harvesters and receiving vehicles to operate efficiently simultaneously.
Data Source
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AI summary
A detector detects an overall fill level of a receiving vehicle. A mobile device on the receiving vehicle includes a mobile application that receives and displays the overall fill level of the receiving vehicle. The overall fill level can be overlaid on a geographic map that shows locations of multiple receiving vehicles, in which case an overall fill level indicator for each receiving vehicle is displayed on the geographic map as well.