Machine Sink Mapping for Agricultural Field Route Planning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural vehicles, such as tractors and harvesters, often sink and experience excessive compaction in fields with high moisture content and loose soil, leading to vehicle damage, downtime, and loss of productivity.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses sensors, including ground penetrating radar, to predict field conditions and generate a machine sink map, providing guidance paths to avoid sinking areas, and includes an intelligent control system to adjust vehicle configurations or alert operators to potential issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If agricultural vehicles traverse fields with high moisture content and loose soil, then the vehicle can access more field areas for operation, but the vehicle experiences sinking and excessive compaction leading to damage and downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield operation coverageVSAvoidvehicle stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of field conditions using ground penetrating radar and sensors before the vehicle traverses the field. It generates a machine sink map identifying areas prone to sinking, allowing operators to plan routes in advance that avoid problematic areas while still accessing productive field zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary system between the vehicle and the field - a detection and mapping system that mediates by providing information about field conditions. This intermediary layer (the machine sink map) allows the vehicle to navigate safely through complex field conditions without direct exposure to sinking risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the vehicle avoids areas with poor field conditions, then sinking and damage are prevented, but the operational area and productivity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle stabilityVSAvoidfield operation coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by creating a detailed machine sink map that identifies specific local areas within the field that are prone to sinking. Rather than avoiding the entire field, the system enables selective navigation around problematic local zones, allowing the vehicle to operate in safe areas while maintaining maximum productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

By performing preliminary detection and mapping of problematic areas before operation, the system allows operators to plan optimal routes that maximize field coverage while avoiding sinking zones. This preliminary action enables proactive route planning rather than reactive avoidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If traditional methods without detection systems are used, then the system complexity is low, but the ability to detect and respond to poor field conditions is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidfield condition detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical trial-and-error approaches with an intelligent detection system using ground penetrating radar and sensors. This substitution of mechanical exploration with electronic detection dramatically improves measurement precision of field conditions while the system integrates seamlessly into existing vehicle operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The detection system operates autonomously, with sensors automatically scanning the field and the processor independently generating the machine sink map without continuous human intervention. The system serves itself by automatically detecting, analyzing, and presenting field condition information to operators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Prevents vehicle sinking and damage by proactively identifying and navigating around poor field conditions, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing downtime.

Implementation Method 1

A system and method that uses sensors, including ground penetrating radar, to predict field conditions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGround penetrating radar: Radar

Data Source

PatentUS12535388B2Apparatus, method and system for assessing field conditions

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 DEERE & CO

AI summary

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for identifying field conditions of a field. Site conditions of a target site affecting machine sink can be identified using real-time or historical data. Soil conditions, weather conditions, moisture levels, and other factors may be used to determine whether a target site may result in machine sink of a target piece of equipment. The machine sink information can be identified for a target area, that comprises a target site, and a machine sink map can be generated for the site. Target equipment specifications can be used to determine whether the target equipment may effectively traverse the target site based on the machine sink map. Further, a travel path may be generated for a piece of target equipment based on the machine sink map, site conditions, and the equipment specifications.