Autonomous Litter Aerator with Dynamic Scarifier Height Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for automating litter maintenance in poultry breeding enclosures are inadequate for ensuring optimal litter conditions, as they fail to provide effective aeration and protection from ground imperfections, leading to inefficient treatment and high maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A mobile assembly with a motorized base and a scarification system featuring adjustable blades, energy load measurement, attitude sensing, and a control device to modify blade depth, combined with protective discs to prevent ground contact, ensuring efficient aeration and reduced maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the scarification blades penetrate deeply into the litter for effective aeration, then the litter treatment quality improves, but the risk of blade damage from ground contact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scarification system employs dynamic height adjustment of the scarifier axis relative to the mobile base, allowing the blades to adapt their penetration depth into the litter based on real-time conditions. This dynamic positioning enables deep aeration when needed while reducing penetration or lifting blades when ground contact risk increases, thus resolving the contradiction between aeration quality and blade durability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by adjusting the height position of the scarifier axis and blade penetration depth into the litter. By varying these parameters dynamically rather than maintaining fixed positions, the system optimizes aeration effectiveness while minimizing the risk of blade damage from ground imperfections
2Productivity
If the mobile assembly operates autonomously with advanced control systems, then the litter treatment effectiveness improves, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically adjusts operational parameters including scarifier height, blade penetration depth, and mobile base speed based on energy load measurements. By adapting these parameters to available energy resources, the system maintains effective autonomous operation while optimizing energy consumption and preventing energy depletion
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through sensors that measure energy load, litter conditions, and operational parameters. This feedback enables the control device to continuously optimize the balance between treatment effectiveness and energy consumption, adjusting operations in real-time based on measured conditions
3Area of stationary object
If the scarifier axis is fixed at a low position for continuous litter contact, then the aeration coverage improves, but the maintenance costs increase due to blade damage
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than fixing the scarifier axis at a permanently low position, the system dynamically adjusts the height position based on terrain conditions and operational needs. This allows the blades to maintain contact with litter for aeration coverage while lifting or reducing penetration when ground contact risks arise, thereby reducing maintenance requirements
4Manufacturing precision
If the blades penetrate deeply into the litter, then the aeration depth improves, but the energy required for scarification increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system varies the blade penetration depth parameter dynamically based on measured litter conditions and energy availability. By adjusting this parameter rather than maintaining constant deep penetration, the system achieves precise aeration depth control while optimizing energy consumption to match available energy load
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention concerns a movable assembly (1) for aerating a litter covering the ground of an enclosure, comprising a movable base (300) capable of moving autonomously in said enclosure and a scarifying system (10) comprising a scarifying shaft (2) on which scarifying blades (20-20'') are installed, said scarifying shaft (2) being rotated by motorised drive means (30-32), the scarifying system (10) being installed so as to be able to rotate relative to the movable base (300), the movable assembly (1) comprising a control device (40) for controlling the scarifying system (10) capable of modifying the height of the scarifying shaft (2) relative to the movable base (300) depending on at least the measured available energy load and the measured attitude (α, ω) of the movable base (300).