Motion-Aware Agricultural Application Rate Calibration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current material application systems in agricultural machines face challenges in achieving accurate material application rates while traveling, leading to errors that increase costs and reduce profitability due to the introduction of measurement errors from bouncing or shaking, necessitating halted operations for calibration.

Innovation Solution

A system that allows for material rate calibration while the machine is traveling by detecting calibration conditions and adjusting the material application rate control based on these conditions, while also identifying the cause of errors, using sensors to monitor tank contents and machine stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the machine operates while traveling, then productivity increases, but measurement precision deteriorates due to bouncing or shaking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial application rate calibrationVSAvoidmaterial quantity measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the calibration process to account for machine motion. The control system receives sensor data indicating machine state (traveling vs. stationary) and adapts the calibration operation accordingly, enabling accurate calibration during travel by compensating for vibration and motion effects through dynamic parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from sensors (load cells, GPS, vibration sensors) to continuously monitor material quantity and machine state. This feedback loop allows the control system to detect measurement deviations caused by motion and apply corrective adjustments, maintaining measurement precision while the machine travels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the machine halts for calibration, then measurement precision improves, but productivity decreases due to operational downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial application rate accuracyVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables continuous calibration operations while the machine remains in motion. By eliminating the requirement to halt for calibration, the useful action of material application continues uninterrupted, maintaining both measurement precision and productivity simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary assessments of calibration conditions (machine stability, sensor readiness) before initiating calibration. This allows the control system to determine optimal calibration timing and execute calibration operations during suitable intervals without requiring complete operational shutdowns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If calibration is performed while traveling, then productivity is maintained, but reliability may worsen due to motion-induced measurement errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidcalibration accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously receives feedback from multiple sensors (load cells, GPS, vibration sensors) to monitor calibration conditions. This feedback enables real-time detection of motion-induced errors and application of corrective algorithms, maintaining calibration reliability during travel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters based on machine state. When vibration or motion exceeds acceptable thresholds, the control system adjusts calibration parameters or temporarily suspends calibration until conditions improve, thereby maintaining reliability while allowing continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250311658A1Continuous material application rate calibration with error identification and cause identification cart tank contents

Publication Date: 2025.10.09 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A mobile agricultural material application machine includes one or more ground engaging traction elements configured to carry the machine along a travel path, one or more material tanks configured to hold a material, one or more material quantity sensors configured to detect a quantity of the material in the one or more material tanks and generate material quantity sensor data indicative thereof, one or more calibration conditions sensor configured to detect one or more calibration conditions and generate calibration conditions sensor data indicative thereof, and a control system configured to determine conditions are suitable to perform a material application rate calibration operation while the mobile agricultural travels along the travel path based on the calibration conditions sensor data and perform the material application rate calibration operation while the mobile agricultural material application travels along the travel path based on the determination that conditions are suitable to perform the material rate calibration operation.