Implement Wear Monitoring Using Orientation Vectors and Soil Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated farming operations lack effective monitoring of implement wear and states, leading to potential damage to implements and other farming vehicles due to insufficient real-time feedback to operators.
Innovation Solution
An implement management system that uses sensors and machine learning models to detect implement wear and monitor states, modifying the operating mode of a farming vehicle to prevent damage and ensure proper operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated farming operations are implemented, then productivity is improved, but monitoring of implement wear and states deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors implement conditions using sensors and provides real-time feedback to the control system. When wear or state changes are detected, the system automatically adjusts vehicle operations or alerts the operator, ensuring continuous monitoring without requiring manual intervention during automated farming operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The implement management system performs self-monitoring and self-reporting of its condition. The sensors on the implement automatically detect wear and state changes, and the system autonomously communicates this information to the vehicle control system, eliminating the need for external monitoring during automated operations.
2Reliability
If the operator monitors the implement manually, then implement condition is detected, but productivity decreases due to continuous attention required
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous automated feedback on implement conditions through sensors and communication systems, replacing manual monitoring. The control system receives real-time data and can automatically adjust operations or alert the operator only when necessary, maintaining reliability while freeing the operator for other tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual visual monitoring with an automated sensor-based detection system. Sensors, processors, and communication modules substitute for the operator's direct observation, providing continuous monitoring without requiring the operator's continuous attention.
3Productivity
If the implement operates without monitoring, then productivity is maintained, but damage to farming vehicles occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action by detecting implement wear and state changes before they cause damage to the farming vehicle. The control system receives advance warning and can automatically adjust operations or alert the operator to prevent harmful outcomes, maintaining continuous operation while protecting the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system provides continuous feedback on implement conditions and automatically communicates with the vehicle control system. When potential damage risks are detected, the system provides real-time feedback that enables preventive action, allowing continuous operation while mitigating damage risks through automated protection.
Data Source
AI summary
An implement management system detects implement wear and monitors implement states to modify operating modes of a vehicle. The system can determine implement wear using the pull of the implement on the vehicle, the force and angle of which is represented by an orientation vector. The system may measure a current orientation vector and determine an expected orientation vector using sensors and a model (e.g., a machine learned model). Additionally, the implement management system can determine an implement state based on images of the soil and the implement captured by a camera onboard the vehicle during operation. The system may apply different models to the images to determine a likely state of the implement. The difference between the expected and current orientation vectors or the determined implement state may be used to determine whether and how the vehicle's operating mode should be modified.