Agricultural Plough Headland Control via Top Link and Depth Wheel Sequencing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural systems face inefficiencies in transitioning between ploughing and transportation modes, particularly at headlands, due to the lack of automated control over working tool engagement and disengagement, leading to suboptimal soil preparation and increased operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a control system to manage a plough's operation by defining sequences of positions for the top link and depth control wheel, enabling smooth transitions between normal operation, intermediate plough working positions, and transport positions, ensuring efficient engagement and disengagement of working tools relative to the soil, facilitated by actuation mechanisms like hydraulic cylinders or electric motors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated headland control mode is implemented, then operational efficiency is improved and working tool engagement/disengagement is optimized, but device complexity increases due to additional control signals and sequences
Solution Approach 1:
The control system pre-defines sequences of positions for the top link and depth control wheel that are executed automatically during headland control mode. This preliminary programming of position sequences allows the system to automate the transition between ploughing and transportation modes without requiring complex real-time decision-making logic, thereby improving operational efficiency while managing control system complexity through pre-planned automation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If working tools are disengaged from soil during headland turn, then soil disturbance is reduced, but productivity decreases due to interruption in ploughing operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the position of working tools based on the operational phase. During headland control mode, the top link and depth control wheel are automatically positioned to disengage working tools from soil, minimizing soil disturbance during turns. The system then automatically returns to normal ploughing positions, ensuring continuous productivity. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize for soil protection during headlands while maintaining overall ploughing efficiency
3Device complexity
If manual control of top link and depth control wheel is used, then device complexity is minimized, but ease of operation deteriorates due to increased operational complexity at headlands
Solution Approach 1:
The control system provides self-service automation by automatically managing the sequences of positions for the top link and depth control wheel during headland control mode. The system monitors its own position and autonomously executes the predefined position sequences, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This self-automating capability significantly improves ease of operation at headlands while maintaining relatively simple control mechanisms through standardized automated routines
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure refers to a method for operating an agricultural system having a tractor (1); a plough (2) hitched to the tractor through a hitch mechanism (20); working tools (23) received on a frame of the plough; a depth control wheel (22) adjustable in height relative to the frame; a top link (21) connected to the frame for lifting the frame; and a control system (9) provided on at least one of the tractor and the plough. The method comprises: operating the plough in a normal mode of operation while the plough is moved by the tractor over the field, the working tools of the plough being engaged with the soil in the normal mode of operation; providing a request signal in the control system, the request signal indicating a request for starting a headland control mode of operation; and, in response to the request signal, starting the headland control mode of operation. The headland control mode of operation comprises: providing control signals in the control system, the control signals defining a sequence of positions for both the top link and the depth control wheel, wherein the sequence of positions comprises positions assigned to an intermediate plough working position in which some of the working tools are disengaged from the soil and a transport plough position in which all working tools are disengaged from the soil; and operating the top link and the depth control wheel according to the control signals while the tractor with the plough is arriving at the headland, moving through the headland and leaving the headland. Further, an agricultural system is provided.