Self-propelled soil working implement with at least one fall sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatically moving soil cultivation devices face a risk of falling due to malfunctioning fall sensors, which can lead to damage or safety hazards as they fail to detect slopes, despite existing detection systems that use multiple sensors for redundancy.
Innovation Solution
The device is equipped with multiple fall sensors arranged circumferentially, with a computing system that verifies detection results by comparing them to reference values or those from lagging sensors, allowing for the identification of sensor malfunctions and ensuring continued operation by switching to redundant sensors if necessary, and includes a method to check sensor functionality using a base station with a reference surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple fall sensors are arranged circumferentially on the underside of the device housing, then the reliability of slope detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fall detection system is segmented into multiple independent fall sensors arranged circumferentially around the device housing. Each sensor independently monitors a specific sector, allowing the system to detect slopes from multiple directions simultaneously. This segmentation improves reliability without requiring a single complex sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple fall sensors are merged into a unified detection system where the computing device integrates signals from all sensors. The circumferential arrangement combines the detection capabilities of individual sensors into a comprehensive slope monitoring system that provides 360-degree coverage.
2Reliability
If fall sensor detection results are verified by comparison with reference results or lagging sensor data, then the reliability of malfunction detection is improved, but the computing processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of fall sensor data by comparing detection results with reference results or data from lagging sensors before triggering safety responses. This preliminary check identifies sensor malfunctions early, preventing false safety interventions while maintaining reliable detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The computing device uses feedback mechanisms where detection results from one fall sensor are verified against reference results or data from other sensors. This feedback loop continuously monitors sensor performance and identifies malfunctions by detecting inconsistencies in the detection patterns.
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 setup reliably detects sensor malfunctions and prevents the device from falling by ensuring that at least one functional sensor is always available to detect slopes, enhancing safety and preventing accidents.
Implementation Method 1
at least one fall sensor arranged on an underside of the device housing facing a subsurface, which is set up to detect a distance of the soil cultivation device from the subsurface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3c
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a self-propelled soil cultivation device (1) with a device housing (2), a drive unit (3), at least one fall sensor (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) and a raking device (5). In order to advantageously verify the functionality of a fall sensor (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15), it is proposed that the soil cultivation device (1) has a plurality of fall sensors (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) arranged one behind the other in the direction of a circumferential contour (17) of the underside (7), wherein the computing device (5) is configured to compare a detection result of a fall sensor (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) with a previously known reference result and, in the event that the detection result does not match the reference result, a malfunction of the leading fall sensor (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) is indicated. 15) to determine,wherein the computing device (5) is configured to compare with each other, during a movement of the soil cultivation device (1), distances (a) detected successively by the same drop sensor (12, 13, 14, 15) and, in the case that the distances (a) are identical, to detect a malfunction of the drop sensor (12, 13, 14, 15), and/or wherein the computing device (5) is configured to compare a detection result of a drop sensor (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) with a detection result of at least one further drop sensor (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) trailing the drop sensor (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) in the direction of movement and in which In the event that the lagging fall sensor (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) detects a slope (16) without the leading fall sensor (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) having previously detected the slope (16), a malfunction of the leading fall sensor (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15) to determine, whereby the tillage implement (1) is initially continued to be operated, provided that the lagging fall sensor (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) now takes over the safety function of the defective leading fall sensor (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15).