Mobile Agricultural Material Applicator In-Motion Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural material application machines, such as mobile air carts, face challenges in achieving accurate material application rates while traveling due to measurement errors caused by bouncing or shaking, leading to increased downtime and reduced profitability.
Innovation Solution
The system includes ground engaging traction elements, material tanks with sensors for quantity measurement, and a control system that allows for material application rate calibration while the machine is traveling by detecting calibration conditions and adjusting the application rate based on sensor data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the machine stops to perform calibration operations, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to increased downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration operation is transformed from a static stopped-state process to a dynamic in-motion process. The system continuously monitors calibration conditions (speed, orientation, acceleration) and performs calibration computations while the vehicle moves through the field, eliminating the need to stop for calibration while maintaining accuracy through real-time condition-based adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessments of calibration suitability by continuously monitoring vehicle conditions (speed, orientation, acceleration) and material distribution patterns. When conditions indicate suitability for calibration, the system automatically initiates the calibration computation and application rate adjustment, preparing and executing calibration at optimal moments without interrupting field operations.
2Productivity
If the machine travels at higher speeds to increase productivity, then material application rate measurement precision deteriorates due to bouncing or shaking
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors vehicle motion parameters (speed, orientation, acceleration) and material distribution patterns, using this feedback to determine when calibration conditions are suitable. The control system adjusts material application rates based on real-time calibration computations that account for current motion conditions, maintaining accuracy despite variable travel speeds and associated vibrations.
3Measurement precision
If traditional calibration methods are used requiring the machine to stop, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to calibration downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration process is integrated into the continuous field operation workflow. The vehicle maintains uninterrupted movement and material application while the control system performs calibration computations and adjustments based on real-time sensor data and monitored calibration conditions, eliminating idle calibration time while preserving accuracy through continuous operational context.
Data Source
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AI summary
A mobile agricultural material application machine (100, 2), comprising: one or more ground engaging traction elements (20, 30) configured to carry the machine over a worksite along a travel path; one or more material tanks (12, 14, 16, 18/ 202, 204, 206, 208); one or more material quantity sensors (345, 349) configured to detect a quantity of the material in the one or more material tanks; one or more calibration conditions sensors (340) configured to generate calibration conditions sensor data; and a control system (314) configured to: determine (824) conditions are suitable to perform a material application rate calibration operation while the machine travels along the travel path based on the calibration conditions sensor data; and perform (826) the calibration operation based on the determination that conditions are suitable to perform the calibration operation. Furthermore, a method of controlling such mobile agricultural material application machine is disclosed.