Method for operating a system with at least two automatically moving soil working devices and system for carrying out such a method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems with multiple self-propelled soil cultivation devices require an additional navigation robot to create maps and plan activities, leading to inefficiencies and the need for extra resources, as the navigation robot does not perform tillage activities.
Innovation Solution
The first soil cultivation device creates a map of the surroundings and transmits it to the second device, allowing the second device to start its tillage activity simultaneously, with the computing device controlling both devices based on the shared map and position information, enabling coordinated and efficient soil cultivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an additional navigation robot is used to create maps and plan activities, then navigation and task planning are improved, but device complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each soil cultivation device is equipped with both tillage functionality and navigation/map creation capabilities. The devices can perform multiple functions: they can create environmental maps, locate themselves and other devices, plan their own tasks, and execute soil cultivation operations. This eliminates the need for a separate navigation robot and makes each device self-sufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the navigation functions (map creation, self-localization, task planning) with the soil cultivation devices themselves. Instead of having a separate navigation robot, the navigation capabilities are merged into each tillage device, allowing them to perform both navigation and cultivation tasks.
2Productivity
If multiple devices work simultaneously on soil cultivation, then productivity increases, but coordination and communication complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The devices continuously exchange information about their positions, environmental features, and task progress through data communication devices. Each device receives updates about other devices' locations and adjusts its own path and tasks accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables coordinated simultaneous operation without collisions or redundant work.
Solution Approach 2:
The environmental map serves as an intermediary data structure that mediates coordination between multiple devices. Instead of direct complex peer-to-peer communication, devices interact with the shared environmental map and task plan, which acts as a common reference point for coordination.
3Measurement precision
If the second device creates its own environmental map, then navigation accuracy is improved, but time consumption and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first soil cultivation device creates the environmental map and locates itself and the second device before the second device begins its tillage operations. This preliminary mapping action allows the second device to immediately start working without spending time on map creation, while still achieving accurate navigation through the pre-created map.
Solution Approach 2:
The second device uses the environmental map created by the first device instead of creating its own duplicate map. This copying approach allows the second device to achieve the same navigation accuracy without duplicating the time-consuming map creation process, saving both time and computational resources.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a system with a self-propelled first soil cultivation device (1) and a self-propelled second soil cultivation device (2), wherein the first soil cultivation device (1) detects environmental features of an environment of the first soil cultivation device (1), wherein the first soil cultivation device (1) or a computing device (3) jointly assigned to the first soil cultivation device (1) and the second soil cultivation device (2) creates a first environmental map (4) based on the detected environmental features, and wherein the first soil cultivation device (1) further detects the second soil cultivation device (2) and the position of the second soil cultivation device (2) is then stored within the created first environmental map (4).In order to achieve time- and resource-saving soil cultivation of an environment, it is proposed that the second soil cultivation device (2) receives information about a current position of the second soil cultivation device (2) within the first environment map (4) while a first soil cultivation activity is being carried out by the first soil cultivation device (1), and controls a second soil cultivation activity as soon as the first soil cultivation device (1) has detected the second soil cultivation device (2).