Modular Carrier Interface for AI-Guided Weed Control and Tillage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural technologies for weed control and soil tillage are inflexible, labor-intensive, and lack real-time data processing capabilities, particularly in organic farming, and existing automated systems are limited by their specialized designs and slow data processing.
Innovation Solution
A modular carrier system with interchangeable mobile devices, including sensors and tools, allows for real-time control and analysis of flora and fauna, utilizing a detachable design with a communication interface, GPS, and AI-powered data processing to facilitate rapid adaptation to agricultural needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If specialized trolley-based carrier systems are used for automated weed control, then automation level increases, but adaptability to different crops and farming scenarios decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal carrier system with standardized mounting interfaces that can accommodate multiple types of mobile devices (weed control robots, harvesters, inspection devices). The carrier includes standardized power supply interfaces, communication interfaces, and mounting structures that enable different specialized devices to be attached to the same carrier platform, thus achieving multi-functionality and adaptability across various agricultural tasks and crop types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual weed removal methods are used in organic farming, then adaptability to crop proximity requirements improves, but labor intensity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device incorporates autonomous navigation capabilities with sensors (cameras, LIDAR, GPS) that enable it to independently identify crops, detect weeds, and navigate around crop plants without human intervention. The device autonomously determines treatment zones based on real-time environmental sensing and automatically executes weed removal or soil tillage operations, eliminating the need for manual labor while maintaining adaptability to complex crop arrangements.
3Device complexity
If blind tilling control based on known crop position is used, then device complexity decreases, but measurement precision and selective control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical position-based control with optical and electromagnetic sensing systems. Cameras, LIDAR sensors, and GPS receivers detect crop positions and generate digital maps of the field environment. This sensor-based approach provides high measurement precision for crop location and orientation without requiring complex mechanical positioning systems, enabling selective control of tilling and weed removal operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a carrier system (10) comprising a carrier (12) and a mobile device (14) for tilling the soil and/or for manipulating flora and fauna, the carrier (12) having: a drive (16) for moving the carrier system (10); a control system (12b); an energy source (24), which co-operates with the drive (16) and provides the voltage required for operation; a receptacle (12a) for receiving and connecting to the mobile device (14); a communication unit (30); a first communication interface (36a) that co-operates with the communication unit (30) in order to exchange data with the mobile device (14) which has a dedicated interface (36b); and a second communication interface (32) that co-operates with the communication unit (30) and that at least receives control data and forwards said data to the control system (12b) for the pre-defined movement of the carrier system (10).