Agricultural Machine Group Coordination via Server-Based Field Settings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for optimizing operating parameters of agricultural working machines consider each type of machine in isolation, failing to account for dependencies between different types, which leads to suboptimal overall economic results when working together.

Innovation Solution

A method where coordinated data sets for setting operating parameters are shared on a central server, allowing for optimized combinations across different types of machines, including executable programs, and considering the entire processing chain, with automatic data transmission and usage-based billing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If operating parameters are determined ad hoc for each working machine, then flexibility is maintained, but the complexity of determining optimal combinations for multiple machine types increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter adjustment flexibilityVSAvoidoptimization coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coordinating and storing service data sets on a server before the working machines operate. The coordinated operating parameters for multiple machine types are prepared in advance and made available for retrieval, eliminating the need for complex real-time coordination during field operations while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary between multiple working machines, storing and distributing coordinated service data sets. This intermediary eliminates the need for direct complex coordination between machines while maintaining the ability to provide adapted settings for different machine types, thus reducing optimization complexity while preserving flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3139235B1Method for operating agricultural working machines
Publication Date: 2021.11.24 CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP3139235B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3139235B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating agricultural working machines (1 a-c). The method according to the invention is characterized in that a working group (4) of agricultural working machines (1 a-c) for the continuous processing of a field (5) is defined, that the working group (4) has a first working machine (1 a, b) for a first type of working of the field (5) and a second working machine (1 c) for a second type of processing of the field (5), that a service data record (9) for setting the processing of the field (5) is selected, which service data record (9) is based on one of the server (10) remote from the working machines (1 a-c) is stored, that a first partial data set (11a) of the service data set (9) for setting the first type of processing is transmitted wirelessly to the first working machine (1 a, b) and that a second partial data set ( 11 b) of the service data record (9) for setting the second type of processing is transmitted wirelessly to the second working machine (1 c).