Long-Wave Infrared Guidance for Agricultural Machine Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural machine operator assistance systems fail to provide effective guidance in low light conditions, leading to inefficient field coverage, uneven cultivation, and increased operational time and costs due to reduced visibility and reliance on external navigation systems, especially in uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
A guidance system utilizing a long-wave infrared camera to capture and process infrared images, distinguishing between cultivated and non-cultivated soil based on thermal characteristics, and generating images to assist operators in navigating the terrain, optionally combined with additional sensing modalities for enhanced precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external navigation systems (RTK-GNSS) are used for guidance in uneven terrain, then navigation coverage is provided, but precision deteriorates and resource consumption increases due to large overlap requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces external navigation systems (RTK-GNSS) with an optical sensing system (infrared camera) that directly detects cultivated and non-cultivated soil areas. This substitution eliminates dependency on satellite-based positioning and enables precise navigation through thermal image analysis, thereby improving measurement precision while reducing the need for large overlap margins and associated resource consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the infrared camera to detect thermal characteristics of the terrain itself, allowing the agricultural machine to navigate based on self-detected environmental information rather than external navigation signals. The camera identifies cultivated versus non-cultivated areas through their different thermal signatures, enabling the machine to autonomously determine its position and track without external assistance
2Loss of information
If operator assistance systems use conventional sensing technology, then additional information is provided to operators, but effectiveness deteriorates in low light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the detection parameter from visible light (conventional cameras) to infrared thermal radiation. By detecting thermal characteristics in the infrared spectrum rather than relying on visible light, the system provides continuous information availability regardless of illumination conditions, enabling effective operation in low light, dusk, or nighttime environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional visible light sensing systems with infrared thermal imaging technology. This substitution allows the system to detect thermal radiation emitted by the soil, providing operational information independent of ambient light levels and eliminating the limitation of conventional cameras that require sufficient illumination
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and efficient field coverage even in low light conditions, ensuring uniform cultivation and reducing operational time and costs by providing real-time guidance and automated navigation.
Implementation Method 1
A long-wave infrared camera system for capturing an infrared image at least in front of the agricultural machine
Implementation Method 2
The soil characteristics for example comprise one of more of (i) the soil temperature and (ii) the soil heat capacity and/or thermal conductivity
Data Source
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AI summary
A guidance system is provided for an agricultural machine which cultivates a terrain surface. A long-wave infrared camera system captures an infrared image at least in front of the agricultural machine. The captured image is processed determine soil characteristics of different areas of the terrain in front of the agricultural machine and thereby identify which areas of the terrain in front of the agricultural machine have already recently been cultivated. An image is then generated which represents the already-cultivated regions and the non-cultivated regions.