Agricultural Guidance Paths Using Lead Vehicle Offset Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Precise navigation of agricultural equipment, such as grain carts, requires significant skill and leads to operator fatigue, necessitating improved automated navigation systems.
Innovation Solution
An automated navigation system that utilizes vehicle path data, including leading vehicle data and sensor data, to generate optimized guidance paths for following vehicles, such as grain carts, by applying offsets and adjustments for roll, pitch, yaw, and collision warnings, and integrates with automatic steering systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automated navigation system is implemented, then operator skill level requirement decreases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses GPS satellites as intermediaries to provide positioning signals to the agricultural vehicle. The system receives signals from multiple GPS satellites, processes this data through algorithms, and generates guidance paths without requiring complex manual navigation equipment. This intermediary approach simplifies the operator's task while managing system complexity through standardized communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical steering with an automated electronic control system. The system uses electronic processors to calculate optimal paths and automatically controls the vehicle's direction, substituting the mechanical steering operation with electronic computation and control, thereby reducing the skill level needed while managing complexity through software-based solutions.
2Ease of operation
If automated navigation system is implemented, then operator fatigue decreases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-navigation by automatically receiving GPS signals, processing position data, calculating guidance paths, and executing steering commands without continuous human intervention. The automated system serves itself by autonomously managing the navigation function, which reduces operator fatigue while containing complexity through integrated self-managing algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the operator's manual steering actions with an automated electronic control system that continuously monitors vehicle position and adjusts direction automatically. This substitution eliminates the physical and mental fatigue of manual navigation while managing system complexity through electronic control algorithms.
3Measurement precision
If precise navigation is achieved, then navigation accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the navigation function into distinct modular components: GPS signal reception, position calculation, guidance path generation, and steering control. Each module performs a specific function independently, allowing the system to achieve high navigation accuracy through specialized algorithms in each segment while managing overall complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses GPS satellites as intermediaries to provide precise positioning data. By receiving signals from multiple satellites and processing this data through computational algorithms, the system achieves high navigation accuracy without requiring complex onboard sensing equipment, managing complexity through standardized signal processing.
4Productivity
If automated steering is implemented, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated steering system operates continuously without interruption, constantly receiving GPS signals, calculating position, generating guidance paths, and adjusting steering. This continuous operation eliminates the start-stop nature of manual steering and maximizes productivity while managing complexity through uninterrupted data flow and real-time processing algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual steering operations with automated electronic control that continuously adjusts vehicle direction based on real-time position data. This substitution enables continuous productive operation without the interruptions inherent in manual steering, improving productivity while managing complexity through electronic control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to the system and methods for generating a guidance path for automated navigation of large agricultural equipment. Vehicle path data from leading vehicles can be recorded, stored or inputted into the system for generation of guidance paths offset from the swaths traversed by the leading vehicle. Combines, planters sprayers and other vehicles utilizing guidance system can be used to record leading vehicle data for use by the following vehicle in real time or in subsequent cycles. Enterprise systems can manage multiple grain carts and/or combines or other vehicles to maximize efficiency.