Predictive Boom Shape Adjustment for Agricultural Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural boom systems face challenges in maintaining consistent material application over uneven terrain due to obstacles and contours, which can lead to inconsistent application and potential damage to the boom.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic boom controller system that uses sensors to continuously adjust the boom shape by communicating actuation commands to actuators, anticipating and responding to changes in terrain and obstacles through a look-ahead module, allowing for real-time adjustments to maintain optimal height and position relative to the ground or crop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the boom is kept fixed in shape, then the device complexity is reduced, but the application precision deteriorates on uneven terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The boom system transitions from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. The boom is divided into multiple sections that can independently change their shape and position through actuators, allowing the system to adapt to varying terrain conditions while maintaining application precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The boom is segmented into multiple adjustable sections rather than being a single rigid structure. Each section can be independently controlled by actuators to adjust its position and angle, enabling the boom to conform to uneven terrain while maintaining consistent material application.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the boom shape is dynamically adjusted, then the adaptability to terrain is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The boom system incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities through multiple actuators that can change the boom's shape in real-time. This allows the system to adapt to various terrain conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular actuator design.
Solution Approach 2:
The look-ahead module anticipates upcoming terrain changes and pre-positions the boom sections before encountering obstacles or curves. This predictive capability allows the boom to be proactively adjusted rather than reactively corrected, reducing the complexity of real-time control systems.
3Measurement precision
If sensors and control systems are added, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Downward-looking sensors continuously measure the distance between the boom and ground surface, providing real-time feedback to the boom controller. This feedback loop enables precise measurement of terrain variations and automatic adjustment of boom position to maintain consistent application height.
Solution Approach 2:
Forward-looking sensors detect upcoming terrain features and obstacles before the vehicle reaches them. This advance detection allows the look-ahead module to calculate required boom adjustments and initiate positioning actions proactively, improving measurement utilization while streamlining control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A boom is attached to an application vehicle for applying a product during an agricultural application. The boom includes one or more sections that can be dynamically adjusted to satisfy one or more adjustment criteria. A boom controller communicates actuation commands to a boom adjustment system to dynamically adjust the shape of the boom.