Agricultural Vehicle Remote Control With Position-Based Function Lockout

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for remotely controlling agricultural utility vehicles lack sufficient safety measures, as they do not account for the precise positioning of the operator relative to the vehicle's functional elements, leading to potential risks of injury and operational errors.

Innovation Solution

A method that detects the position and direction of a remote control relative to the vehicle, activating control functions only when the operator is at a safe distance and can visually monitor the relevant area, using wireless communication and trilateration to ensure safe and precise external control of driving and lifting functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If remote control functions are activated without position verification, then ease of operation is improved, but safety deteriorates due to risk of injury from proximity to moving components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary position verification before enabling remote control functions. The control unit checks whether the remote control device is at a safe distance from the utility vehicle before activating control capabilities, preventing unsafe operation from the outset

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the position of the remote control device relative to the utility vehicle and provides feedback to the control unit. This real-time feedback enables dynamic activation or deactivation of control functions based on current safety conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If remote control allows operation near functional elements, then ease of operation is improved, but harmful factors increase due to potential injury from three-point linkage movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidharmful factors

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary position verification before enabling remote control functions. The control unit checks whether the remote control device is at a safe distance from the utility vehicle before activating control capabilities, preventing unsafe operation from the outset

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the position of the remote control device relative to the utility vehicle and provides feedback to the control unit. This real-time feedback enables dynamic activation or deactivation of control functions based on current safety conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If minimum distance monitoring is implemented without functional element specificity, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a universal position detection mechanism that serves multiple purposes: determining both the minimum distance from the vehicle and the specific directional relationship to functional elements. This multi-functional approach avoids the need for separate detection systems for each safety requirement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If position-based control activation is implemented, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to additional positioning requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs position verification and control activation without requiring manual intervention from the operator. The remote control device and utility vehicle system work together to automatically determine safety conditions and enable appropriate control functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the position of the remote control device relative to the utility vehicle and provides feedback to the control unit. This real-time feedback enables dynamic activation or deactivation of control functions based on current safety conditions

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

Significantly increases safety and ease of use by ensuring that control functions are only accessible when the operator is outside the vehicle's operational range and can monitor the components, preventing accidents and errors.

Implementation Method 1

The remote control communicates with an on-board control of the commercial vehicle, in particular wirelessly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWireless communication:

Implementation Method 2

using wireless communication and trilateration to ensure safe and precise external control

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTrilateration:

Data Source

PatentEP2846209B2Method for externally controlling an agricultural commercial vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.04.19 CLAAS TRACTOR

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method for externally controlling an agricultural vehicle via a remote control, wherein the relative position of the remote control to the vehicle is detected. In order to further optimize position-dependent control via the remote control, control functions of the remote control are individually activated or deactivated depending on the detected position (S5).