Harvester Surrounding Detection with Map-Based Sensitivity Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing harvester technologies face challenges in accurately detecting objects within a field, as the sensitivity settings for obstacle detection are not sufficient to differentiate between un-reaped and reaped land, leading to erroneous detections and delays.

Innovation Solution

A surrounding condition detection system that sets operational modes for detection modules based on the harvester's position on a map, distributing detection ranges and sensitivities to prevent erroneous detections, particularly during turning and traveling in different land conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the sensitivity of obstacle detection is set high within a field, then the detection range is enlarged, but erroneous detection occurs when detecting crops in un-reaped land

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection rangeVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by setting different sensitivity levels for different regions within the field. Specifically, the operational mode setting section configures detection modules to have high sensitivity in reaped land areas and low sensitivity in un-reaped land areas, allowing the system to adapt detection parameters to local conditions and avoid erroneous detection of crops while maintaining effective obstacle detection in harvested areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the sensitivity setting changeable based on the harvester's position and the land condition. The system dynamically adjusts the operational mode of detection modules according to whether the harvester is in reaped or un-reaped land, allowing real-time adaptation of detection parameters to current working conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the sensitivity is set low outside the field, then erroneous detection is reduced, but detection of objects in reaped land may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoiddetection range
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by configuring different sensitivity levels for different locations within the field. Detection modules are set to high sensitivity specifically in reaped land areas where obstacle detection is critical, while maintaining low sensitivity in un-reaped land areas, thus ensuring adequate detection coverage where needed without causing erroneous detections elsewhere

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts sensitivity settings based on the harvester's current position and the land condition. When the harvester enters reaped land, the detection modules automatically switch to high sensitivity mode to ensure proper obstacle detection, and switch to low sensitivity mode when in un-reaped land, providing adaptive detection coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If multiple detection modules are used to cover the entire field, then detection coverage is improved, but detection delay and erroneous detection increase due to distributed loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection coverageVSAvoiddetection delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the field into reaped land areas and un-reaped land areas, and assigning different operational modes to detection modules based on their position relative to these segments. This allows the system to manage multiple detection modules efficiently by activating them selectively based on the harvester's position and the land condition, reducing unnecessary processing loads

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements partial action by not activating all detection modules simultaneously across the entire field. Instead, it selectively activates detection modules in reaped land areas where obstacle detection is necessary, while keeping modules in un-reaped land areas inactive or in low-sensitivity mode, thus reducing overall system load and preventing detection delays

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3841859B1Harvester, surrounding condition detection system, surrounding condition detection program, recording medium recording the surrounding condition detection program and surrounding condition detection method
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3841859B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3841859B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3841859B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A harvester 10 configured to harvest crops while traveling in a field includes a self-machine position detection module 18 included in a machine body and operable to detect a self-machine position, a detection unit 40 included in the machine body and including detection modules 41-44 capable of detecting conditions of surrounding of the machine body, a map creation section 30 operable to create, based on the self-machine position, a map indicative of a position of a reaped land in the field where the crops have been reaped and a position of an un-reaped land in the field where the crops have not yet been reaped and an operational mode setting section 32 setting operational modes of the detection modules 41-44 respectively, based on the map and the self-machine position.