System consisting of a purely manually guided soil processing device and an automatically operated soil processing device and method for operating such a system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soil cultivation systems lack efficient integration of manually guided and automatically operated devices, limiting their ability to optimize behavior and coverage in environments, especially in areas with obstacles and varying soil types.

Innovation Solution

A networked system where a manually operated soil cultivation device records its movement path and activities, transmitting this information via wireless communication to an automatically operated device, allowing the latter to replicate the path and activities, enabling semi-automatic optimization and specialized cleaning tasks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a manually guided soil cultivation device is used, then the user can navigate around obstacles and adapt to varying soil types, but the coverage area and productivity are limited by manual operation speed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to obstacles and varying soil typesVSAvoidcoverage area per unit time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The manually operated device performs a preliminary reconnaissance journey to map the environment and identify optimal paths, storing this information for later use. This preliminary action enables the automatically operated device to subsequently cover the same area more efficiently without manual intervention during the actual cultivation operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The automatically operated device copies the movement path and operational parameters detected by the manually guided device during reconnaissance. By replicating the adaptive path planning and soil cultivation activities detected during manual operation, the automatic device achieves both adaptability to environmental conditions and increased productivity through automated execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If an automatically operated soil cultivation device is used, then productivity and coverage area are increased, but the device cannot adapt to obstacles and varying soil types without manual guidance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage area per unit timeVSAvoidadaptability to obstacles and varying soil types
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The manually operated device detects environmental features, obstacles, and soil characteristics during reconnaissance, providing feedback information about the environment. This feedback is stored and used by the automatically operated device to adapt its path planning and cultivation activities, enabling the automatic device to respond to environmental variations without real-time manual control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary environmental assessment and path planning through manual operation, storing detection results for later automated execution. This preliminary action allows the automatic device to operate productively while inheriting the adaptability decisions made during the reconnaissance phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Extent of automation

If the manually operated device records and transmits movement path information, then the automatically operated device can replicate the path, but additional detection and communication equipment is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic path following capabilityVSAvoiddetection and communication equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manually operated device is equipped with detection means that serve dual purposes: guiding the manual device during operation and recording environmental information for automatic device replication. The communication device transmits both control signals and environmental data, reducing the need for separate specialized equipment on the automatic device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the automatic device to have identical detection equipment, the system copies the detection data from the manually operated device. The automatic device receives and processes transmitted information about movement paths and environmental conditions, achieving automatic path following with simplified hardware requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Area of stationary object

If the automatically operated device replicates the movement path, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but the transmission and processing of path information requires additional time and energy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidenergy for data transmission and processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system transmits only the essential path and environmental data required for replication, rather than complete sensor data streams. This partial action approach ensures comprehensive coverage is achieved while minimizing the energy required for data transmission and processing by focusing only on critical information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The automatic device receives condensed path information from the manual device and replicates only the essential movement pattern and key operational parameters. This selective copying reduces the volume of data that needs to be transmitted and processed, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining comprehensive area coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3685722B1System consisting of a purely manually guided soil processing device and an automatically operated soil processing device and method for operating such a system
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH
  • EP3685722B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3685722B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3685722B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a system comprising a first soil cultivation device (1) that is operated exclusively manually by a user within an environment and a second soil cultivation device that is operated exclusively automatically, wherein the second soil cultivation device is designed to orient and locate itself within an environment.To further develop such a system advantageously, it is proposed that the first soil cultivation device (1) is configured to detect a movement path (3) of the first soil cultivation device (1) during a movement of the first soil cultivation device (1) guided manually by the user and to transmit information about the detected movement path (3) to the second soil cultivation device via wireless communication, wherein the second soil cultivation device is configured to receive the information and to move autonomously along the movement path (3) within the environment on the basis of the information.