Agricultural Implement Camera Overlay for Edge and Working Zone Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of wide agricultural implements face challenges in determining the outer edge and working zone due to parallax and the implement's position behind them, leading to difficulty in maneuvering around obstacles and reducing field capacity through overlapping previous passes.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing cameras and display units with associated software to project indicia on a user interface, indicating the outer edge and working zone of the implement, allowing operators to visualize and navigate more accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the implement width is increased to improve field coverage, then the working efficiency is improved, but the operator's ability to determine the outer edge and working zone is worsened due to parallax and implement position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an imaging system as an intermediary between the operator and the implement edges. Cameras mounted on the implement capture images of the outer edges and working zone, which are then displayed on a user interface. This intermediary visual information allows the operator to accurately determine edge locations despite the implement's width and position behind the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the implement edges and working zone through imaging. The camera system captures real-time images of the physical edges and displays them on the user interface, providing the operator with a visual representation (copy) of the implement's position and boundaries, enabling accurate maneuvering without directly observing the actual edges.
2Productivity
If the implement width is increased to improve field coverage, then the working efficiency is improved, but the maneuverability around obstacles is worsened due to difficulty in identifying outer edge location
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system serves as an intermediary that provides visual information about the implement's outer edges and working zone to the operator. This allows the operator to maneuver the wide implement around obstacles with greater ease, as the system compensates for the operator's inability to directly observe the edges due to the implement's width and position.
3Reliability
If overlapping of previous passes is performed to compensate for edge location uncertainty, then the risk of missing areas is reduced, but the field capacity is reduced due to decreased effective working width
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system provides real-time visual feedback to the operator about the implement's position, outer edges, and working zone. This feedback allows the operator to accurately track the implement's location and maintain precise pass alignment, eliminating the need for conservative overlapping and maximizing field capacity while ensuring complete coverage.
4Measurement precision
If auto-guidance systems are used to improve edge location accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the system cost and complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a simpler approach by creating visual copies of the implement edges through imaging and displaying them on a user interface. This avoids the complexity of auto-guidance systems while still providing the operator with accurate edge location information, achieving measurement precision without the associated cost and complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for displaying images of certain surroundings of an agricultural implement, for example one including a frame extending between opposing distal ends of a length transverse to a working direction of the agricultural implement. Individual image regions of the surroundings of the agricultural implement are captured using cameras arranged on the agricultural implement and directed toward a working area in the working direction, wherein a corresponding display is generated on a user interface. One or more traveling conditions (e.g., an edge of the working area and/or an edge of the frame, respectively corresponding to a first end and/or second end of the frame) may be automatically projected in the working direction, wherein respective indicia corresponding to the projected traveling conditions are superimposed on the generated display. The indicia may optionally be modified dynamically based on determined changes in a projected course of the working direction.