Agricultural Implement Retrieval via Orientation Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for agricultural machines fail to efficiently record and share geographic information of attachments during unloading, making it difficult for other machines to locate and retrieve them accurately, especially when the machine is in motion or at a height above the ground.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves transmitting geographic coordinates and orientation of a device's parking position to a management system, allowing any agricultural machine to access and retrieve the device by communicating this information, including height above the ground, and using this data to plan a suitable approach route.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If only geographical coordinates are recorded when placing an implement, then the location can be stored, but the orientation information is lost making retrieval difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorientation informationVSAvoiddata transmission requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by recording and transmitting orientation data at the moment of implement placement. The management system stores both geographical coordinates and orientation information (azimuth, pitch, roll) before the implement is picked up, ensuring this critical data is preserved for later retrieval operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If the implement is placed on the ground, then location is straightforward, but height information is lost when placed at elevated positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight informationVSAvoidretrieval difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures height information above ground level at the moment of implement placement and transmits it to the management system. This preliminary recording of vertical position data ensures that retrieval operations can account for elevated storage locations, preventing loss of critical spatial information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If geographic coordinates are transmitted to a management system, then centralization is achieved, but data transmission complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachine independenceVSAvoidcommunication interface requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management system serves as a universal platform that receives implement location and orientation data from any agricultural machine through standardized communication interfaces. This multi-functional system enables any machine to retrieve any implement regardless of which machine originally placed it, achieving system-wide adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Measurement precision

If orientation data is recorded, then precise retrieval is enabled, but data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition accuracyVSAvoiddata processing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary processing of orientation data by converting raw sensor measurements (azimuth, pitch, roll) into standardized format and storing them alongside geographical coordinates in the management system. This advance processing reduces the computational burden during retrieval operations, as the data is already prepared and structured.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4220531A1Method for operating an attachment and management system for same
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 CLAAS TRACTOR
  • EP4220531A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4220531A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4220531A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for operating a device comprising the steps a) transporting the device (2) with a first agricultural machine (1), b) uncoupling the device (2) from the first agricultural machine (1) at a parking position (4), c) transmitting geographical coordinates of the parking position (4) to a management system (3); d) passing the geographical coordinates by the management system (3) to a second agricultural machine, characterized in that step c) further comprises transmitting a geographical orientation of the device (2) at the parking position (4) to the management system (3) and step d) comprises passing the orientation or information derived from the orientation to the second agricultural machine.