Obstacle Placement Optimization for Agricultural Fields

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural fields face inefficiencies due to non-optimized placement of obstacles, leading to increased time consumption, excessive fuel use, and machinery wear when working with motorized vehicles, as existing methods lack a systematic approach for determining the optimal position and orientation of obstacles.

Innovation Solution

A computer program product that calculates the optimized position and orientation of new obstacles in an agricultural field by considering field boundaries, obstacle shapes, and vehicle capacity parameters, using analytical or numerical methods to minimize operational costs and enhance working efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If obstacles are placed in arbitrary locations in the field, then the freedom in choosing obstacle locations is high, but the time consumption and fuel consumption increase excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefreedom in choosing obstacle locationsVSAvoidtime consumption in working operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameters of obstacle placement by evaluating multiple candidate positions and orientations, calculating cost functions for each, and selecting the optimal configuration that minimizes working time while satisfying placement constraints

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calculation of optimized obstacle placement before actual field operations begin, determining the optimal positions and orientations in advance to avoid excessive time consumption during the working operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If obstacles are placed in arbitrary locations in the field, then the freedom in choosing obstacle locations is high, but the fuel consumption increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefreedom in choosing obstacle locationsVSAvoidfuel consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system evaluates different placement configurations by calculating cost functions that include fuel consumption metrics, selecting the optimal position and orientation that minimizes energy usage while maintaining placement flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary optimization calculation of obstacle placement to determine the most fuel-efficient configuration before field operations begin, preventing excessive fuel consumption during working operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If obstacles are placed in arbitrary locations in the field, then the freedom in choosing obstacle locations is high, but the wear on working implement or machinery increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefreedom in choosing obstacle locationsVSAvoidwear on working implement or machinery
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system optimizes obstacle placement parameters to minimize the wear cost component of the overall cost function, selecting positions and orientations that reduce excessive wear on working implements and machinery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If obstacles are placed in arbitrary locations in the field, then the freedom in choosing obstacle locations is high, but the area covered more than once increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefreedom in choosing obstacle locationsVSAvoidexcessive area covered more than once
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates cost functions for different obstacle placements that account for area coverage efficiency, selecting the optimal configuration that minimizes excessive coverage of the same area while maintaining placement freedom

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3518649B1A method for determining placement of new obstacles in an agricultural field
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 AGRO INTELLIGENCE APS
  • EP3518649B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3518649B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3518649B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determination of an optimized position and/or orientation of placement of a new obstacle in an agricultural field; said method comprising the steps: a) providing information relating to: i) coordinates relating to the boundaries of said agricultural field; and ii) coordinates relating to the boundaries of the ground shape of said new obstacle to be laid out in said field; b) providing information relating to one or more capacity parameters relating to a specific working vehicle intended for working said field; c) optionally providing information relating to the direct cost of the placing said new obstacle, as dependent on the specific position of placement thereof; d) performing a calculation of an optimized position and/or orientation of placement of said new obstacle; wherein said optimized position and/or orientation of placement is being calculated on the basis of said information retrieved in step a) and step b) and step c).