Agricultural Vehicle Sensor System for Pivot Track Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural vehicles face challenges in automatically detecting and adjusting their guidance systems to account for pivot tracks and boarders, which affects the uniformity and efficiency of field operations, requiring manual intervention to trace and calibrate these features in the autoguidance system.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes sensors coupled to agricultural vehicles and irrigation systems, capable of detecting changes in position over pivot tracks and boarders, using GPS and processing circuits to mark and determine the complete location of these features, thereby automatically populating the autoguidance system and optimizing pathways for uniform swath spacing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual intervention is used to trace and calibrate pivot tracks and boarders in the autoguidance system, then the system can account for these features, but operator time and labor are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of autoguidance systemVSAvoidoperator time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects and maps pivot tracks and boarders using sensors mounted on the agricultural vehicle itself, eliminating the need for external manual intervention. The vehicle's own movement and sensor data are used to self-calibrate the autoguidance system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual tracing and calibration operations are replaced by an automated sensor-based detection system. The mechanical process of manually marking positions is substituted with electronic sensing and automatic coordinate recording.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If sensors are used to automatically detect pivot tracks and boarders, then operator time is reduced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system serves multiple functions: it detects the vehicle's position, identifies pivot tracks, locates boarders, and provides data for autoguidance calibration. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor acts as an intermediary between the physical pivot tracks/boarders and the autoguidance system. It translates physical features into detectable signals that the control system can process and use for navigation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the system automatically populates the autoguidance system with pivot track and boarder locations, then manual tracing is eliminated, but the initial setup and calibration requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of useVSAvoidcalibration difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection and mapping of pivot tracks and boarders during the first pass through the field. This preliminary action establishes the reference data needed for subsequent automated operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors sensor data and compares it against the stored map of pivot tracks and boarders. This feedback mechanism allows for automatic adjustment and verification of the autoguidance system's accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

The system enhances operational efficiency by reducing operator time and ensuring uniformity in field operations, allowing for autonomous guidance and optimized pathing without the need for manual tracing of pivot tracks and boarders.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor is a GPS receiver communicatively coupled to the agricultural vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGPS satellite signal reception and triangulation:

Data Source

PatentUS20240357951A1System and method for automatic detection of pivot tracks and boarders

Publication Date: 2024.10.31 CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC

AI summary

A system and method for automatically detecting pivot tracks and boarders is disclosed. The system includes an agricultural vehicle, a sensor coupled to the agricultural vehicle, and a vehicle control system. The sensor is configured to detect a change in position. The vehicle control system includes a processing circuit. The processing circuit includes a processor and a memory. The memory has instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the processing circuit to receive sensor information for the agricultural vehicle from the sensor, receive an indication to mark a geographic position based on the sensor information, mark a plurality of geographic positions associated with a pivot track or a boarder, and determine a complete location of the pivot track or the boarder based on the plurality of marked geographic positions associated with the pivot track or the boarder.