Center Pivot Agricultural System for Soil Compaction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current farming practices using wheeled equipment lead to soil compaction, rutting, and damage to fields due to the need for large, expensive machinery and animal traffic, which limits productivity and optimal growing conditions.
Innovation Solution
An automatic, rotating agricultural system with a center pivot frame and frame segments that rotate to irrigate, plant, and harvest crops, using radial conveyors and cutterheads to minimize soil contact and allow for all-weather, 24/7 operations, while storing cut forage in a feed storage bin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wheeled equipment is used to plant or harvest crops, then farming operations can be performed, but soil compaction and rutting occur causing damage to the field
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional wheeled mechanical equipment with a rotating robotic system that uses tracked or minimal-contact movement mechanisms. The robotic system performs planting and harvesting operations without the heavy wheel-based machinery that causes soil compaction, thereby maintaining productivity while eliminating soil damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental movement parameter from wheeled contact to rotating platform movement with minimal ground contact. The robotic system can adjust its weight distribution and contact pressure, allowing it to perform farming operations while maintaining optimal soil conditions by controlling the degree of ground interaction.
2Productivity
If large wheeled equipment is used to complete farming tasks quickly, then productivity is improved, but the equipment size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the farming system into multiple independent robotic units or modular components that can operate simultaneously or be deployed as needed. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high productivity through parallel operations while keeping individual unit sizes and costs manageable, avoiding the need for single large expensive machines.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic farming system is designed with multi-functional capabilities, where a single robotic platform can perform multiple farming tasks such as planting, harvesting, and monitoring. This universality reduces the need for multiple specialized large machines, thereby decreasing overall equipment size requirements and costs while maintaining productivity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If wheeled equipment operates in wet conditions, then farming can continue, but soil damage and rutting are exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic farming system incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities that allow it to adapt its movement and operational characteristics based on real-time soil conditions. When wet conditions are detected, the system can adjust its weight distribution, slow down operations, or modify its movement pattern to minimize soil disturbance, enabling continuous farming without exacerbating soil damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention integrates sensors and feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor soil moisture and condition. This feedback allows the robotic system to make real-time adjustments to its operations, preventing soil damage in wet conditions by modifying its behavior based on environmental conditions while maintaining farming operation continuity.
4Productivity
If current forage harvesting systems cut forage near ground height, then harvesting efficiency is improved, but plant growth is harmed
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic forage harvesting system incorporates preliminary assessment and planning capabilities that allow it to optimize cutting height and pattern before harvesting begins. By pre-planning the harvest strategy based on plant characteristics and growth stage, the system can maintain high harvesting efficiency while preserving plant health and promoting future growth through appropriate cutting heights.
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 system maintains optimal growing conditions by minimizing soil compaction and allowing for continuous, high-productivity farming, enabling all-weather operations and reducing the need for extensive machinery and animal traffic, thereby enhancing crop yield and field recovery.
Implementation Method 1
at least one cutterhead coupled to the cutter trolley beam to cut forage or crop
Implementation Method 2
The radial conveyor moves the cut forage or crop in the radial direction of the section frame
Implementation Method 3
The cutter conveyor moves the cut forage or crop from the cutterhead to the radial conveyor
Implementation Method 4
The frame segments are connected to the center pivot frame and are configured to pivot or rotate about the center pivot frame
Implementation Method 5
At least one of the frame segments may have a driving wheel to drive the frame segments connected to each other to pivot or rotate about the center pivot frame
Implementation Method 6
The frame segments may include irrigation supply pipes to supply water to sprinklers or nozzles connected to the irrigation supply pipes
Implementation Method 7
The agricultural system may include a solar panel unit that includes a plurality of solar panels that produce electrical energy
Implementation Method 8
The at least one power source may include one or more rechargeable batteries
Data Source
AI summary
The automatic, rotating agricultural system rotates around a central pivot point in either a full rotation or a partial arc to irrigate, plant and/or harvest a field. The agricultural system includes a center pivot frame, a plurality of frame segments connected to each other, and a feed storage bin connected to the center pivot frame and the frame segments. The frame segment includes a section frame including wheels to enable movements, a cutter trolley beam extends in a radial direction of the section frame, a cutterhead coupled to the cutter trolley beam to cut forage or crop, a radial conveyor that moves the cut forage or crop in the radial direction of the section frame, and a cutter conveyor that moves the cut forage or crop from the cutterhead to the radial conveyor.