Agricultural Machine Navigation via Optical Coordinate Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural work machines lack integrated navigation devices, requiring drivers to manually input GPS coordinates, which is time-consuming and prone to errors, especially for new or temporary drivers.

Innovation Solution

The agricultural work machine provides an optical pattern with navigation information, which can include GPS coordinates, that a mobile navigation device can read optically, initiating a navigation routine to the target location with reduced time and error susceptibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If GPS coordinates are manually entered into a mobile navigation device, then navigation functionality is achieved, but time expenditure increases and error susceptibility increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation accuracyVSAvoidtime for coordinate entry
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual input process with an optical reading system. The mobile navigation device uses its camera to optically capture and automatically read GPS coordinates displayed on the agricultural machine's display, eliminating the need for manual keyboard or touchscreen input and thereby reducing both time expenditure and error susceptibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an optical copy of the navigation information by displaying GPS coordinates on the agricultural machine's display and having the mobile device capture this visual representation through its camera. This optical copying process enables automatic data transfer without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If GPS coordinates are manually entered into a mobile navigation device, then navigation functionality is achieved, but error susceptibility increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework efficiencyVSAvoidcoordinate input accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the error-prone manual input mechanism with an automated optical recognition system. The mobile device's camera captures the displayed coordinates and automatically processes them, eliminating human errors in transcription and entry while improving both productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service navigation setup where the mobile device automatically reads and processes the GPS coordinates displayed on the agricultural machine without requiring manual intervention. This self-reading capability reduces errors and improves work efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of time

If optical pattern with navigation information is provided by the agricultural work machine, then time expenditure is reduced and error susceptibility is reduced, but additional system components are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for navigation setupVSAvoidnavigation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the existing display component of the agricultural machine for dual purposes: displaying operational information and displaying GPS coordinates for navigation. The mobile device's camera, already present for other functions, is used to capture the coordinates. This multi-functionality approach reduces the need for additional dedicated components while achieving automatic navigation setup.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables efficient and accurate navigation of agricultural work machines by simplifying the entry of navigation information, reducing time consumption, and minimizing errors, particularly benefiting new or temporary drivers.

Implementation Method 1

a mobile navigation device detects this optical pattern, in particular optically

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection:

Data Source

PatentEP4238403B1Navigation of an agricultural machine
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 CLAAS E SYSTEMS GMBH
  • EP4238403B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4238403B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Method for navigating an agricultural machine (1), characterized in that the agricultural machine (1) provides an optical pattern (2) with navigation information, and that a mobile navigation device (3) detects the optical pattern (2) and determines the navigation information from the detected optical pattern (2) and initiates a navigation routine for destination guidance based on this navigation information; and corresponding system (7).