Modular Autonomous Field Equipment for Low-Cost Task Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional agricultural and non-agricultural tasks require human intervention and utilize costly machines, limiting efficiency and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A mobile integrated field-deployed task-based equipment automation system, comprising autonomous mobile field equipment systems and a system orchestrator, which deploy, control, and coordinate tasks in various deployment locations, including agricultural sites, using modular and interchangeable task-based actuators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional machines are used for agricultural tasks, then task completion is achieved, but equipment cost and maintenance cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides agricultural equipment into modular functional units (seeding unit, fertilizing unit, spraying unit, harvesting unit, etc.) that can be independently deployed and combined. Each unit is a self-contained module with its own actuators, sensors, and control systems, allowing selective deployment based on task requirements rather than deploying entire expensive conventional machines.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous mobile field equipment systems are designed with interchangeable task-based actuators that can perform multiple agricultural functions. A single autonomous platform can be equipped with different actuator sets to perform seeding, fertilizing, spraying, harvesting, and other tasks, replacing the need for multiple specialized conventional machines.
2Productivity
If human operators control conventional equipment, then tasks are completed with flexibility, but labor costs and human intervention requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous field equipment systems perform agricultural tasks independently without human operators in the field. The systems self-navigate to deployment locations, self-coordinate task execution through onboard computing systems, and self-manage actuator operations based on sensor feedback and orchestrator instructions, eliminating the need for human intervention during task execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor field conditions, equipment status, and task progress. This feedback is transmitted to the field equipment computing systems and the system orchestrator, enabling real-time adjustments and coordinated control of multiple autonomous units to optimize task execution without human intervention.
3Manufacturing precision
If specialized equipment is deployed for each agricultural task, then task-specific performance is optimized, but device complexity and deployment logistics increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system configuration is dynamic rather than static. The system orchestrator dynamically assigns tasks to autonomous field equipment systems based on real-time conditions, and actuators are dynamically exchanged or reconfigured on the autonomous platforms to match task requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows optimized task performance without permanent complex configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system orchestrator acts as an intermediary between the central planning system and the autonomous field equipment. It receives high-level task assignments, breaks them down into specific actuator operations, coordinates multiple autonomous units, and manages actuator exchanges, thereby simplifying the complexity of deploying and coordinating specialized equipment for each task.
Data Source
AI summary
Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing mobile integrated field-deployed task-based equipment automation system. In various embodiments, a system includes autonomous mobile field equipment systems, an equipment transport system, and a system orchestrator. The system orchestrator is configured to deploy, control, and coordinate the equipment transport system to transport, load, deploy, and receive autonomous mobile field equipment systems, and configured to deploy, control, and coordinate each autonomous mobile field equipment systems to perform the tasks within a deployment location. Each autonomous mobile field equipment system includes a propulsion system, a set(s) of task-based actuators, sensors, a computing system, a communications system, and a power supply system. The set(s) of task-based actuators is configured to perform a set of tasks. The computing system is configured to control and coordinate the propulsion system and/or the set(s) of task-based actuators, based at least in part on sensor data collected by the sensors.