Hay And Forage Workflow Mapping for Successive Field Path Planning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hay and forage workflow systems lack efficient methods to integrate and optimize successive operations on the same field, leading to inefficiencies in time, fuel usage, and operator performance.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilizes sensor arrays and control systems to collect data from crop cutting, raking, and gathering operations, generating maps and proposed paths for subsequent operations based on previous data, optimizing paths for efficiency and resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional separate planning methods are used for each hay and forage operation, then each operation can be completed independently, but the overall workflow efficiency is reduced due to lack of integration between successive operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate operation plans (cutting, raking, gathering) into a single integrated workflow management system. The system merges data from different operations and generates coordinated paths that optimize the entire workflow sequence, thereby improving overall productivity while managing complexity through unified processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary path planning for successive operations based on historical workflow data before actual operations commence. By pre-generating optimized paths for raking and gathering operations based on previous cutting operation data, the system prepares advance schedules that improve workflow efficiency without requiring complex real-time coordination.
2Loss of time
If optimized paths are generated for successive operations, then time and fuel consumption are reduced, but additional data collection and processing requirements increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a multi-functional data collection framework where a single integrated platform performs multiple functions: collecting workflow data from various operations, storing historical data, analyzing patterns, and generating optimized paths for different operation types. This universal approach reduces time losses by consolidating data handling tasks into one system rather than requiring separate specialized systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates simplified digital representations (maps) of the physical field and operation paths. By working with these copied digital models rather than directly managing complex physical operation coordination, the system reduces processing complexity while still achieving optimized time management for successive operations.
3Measurement precision
If workflow data from multiple operations is integrated, then path optimization accuracy is improved, but data management and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments workflow data into distinct operational categories (cutting, raking, gathering) with specific data elements for each operation type. This segmentation allows the system to manage complex multi-operation data by processing each operation's data separately according to its specific requirements, then integrating the results to achieve high path optimization accuracy without overwhelming data management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a centralized data management intermediary layer that mediates between various operation data sources and the path optimization algorithms. This intermediary handles data collection, validation, storage, and preparation, thereby enabling accurate path optimization across multiple operations while containing data management complexity within a dedicated intermediary component rather than distributing it throughout the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods disclosed provide for hay and forage workflow mapping. The system includes an agricultural vehicle, a sensor array, and a control system communicatively coupled to the agricultural vehicle. The sensor array includes one or more sensors that collect cutting data corresponding to a crop cutting operation, raking data corresponding to a crop raking operation, and gathering data corresponding to a crop gathering operation. The control system includes processing circuitry. The system receives the cutting data and generates a cutting map therefrom. Using the cutting map, the system generates a proposed raking path for the crop raking operation. The system also receives the raking data and generates a raking map therefrom. Using the raking map, the system generates a proposed gathering path for the crop gathering operation. Additionally, the system receives the gathering data and generates a gathering map therefrom. Successive proposed paths are generated from previously generated mappings.