Sensor Package Cooling Through Agricultural Fluid Conduits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sensor packages in agricultural vehicles are prone to overheating due to exposure to harsh environmental conditions, and incorporating active cooling mechanisms like fans increases their size and complexity, which is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
Leveraging existing agricultural fluids such as water, liquid fertilizer, or coolant gases to dissipate heat through conduits like irrigation booms or hydraulic systems, using thermal interface materials to enhance thermal coupling and controlling fluid flow with temperature sensors and computing devices for targeted cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If active cooling mechanisms (such as fans) are included in sensor packages, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function with the existing fluid conduit system by attaching the sensor package directly to the conduit. The conduit serves dual purposes: delivering fluid to sprayers and providing thermal conduction path for cooling the sensor package, thereby eliminating the need for separate active cooling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid conduit is given multiple functions: it serves as both a fluid delivery system for agricultural applications and a heat dissipation pathway for sensor cooling. This multi-functionality allows the sensor package to be cooled passively without adding dedicated cooling components.
2Temperature
If thermal interface materials are added to enhance thermal coupling, then heat dissipation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Thermal interface materials act as an intermediary substance between the sensor package and the conduit, filling microscopic gaps and enhancing thermal contact. This mediator improves heat transfer efficiency from the sensor package to the cooling conduit without requiring complex mechanical modifications.
3Temperature
If coolant flow is increased to cool sensor packages, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but disruption to primary fluid dispensing function increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by providing enhanced cooling specifically at the sensor package location through improved thermal coupling with the conduit, while maintaining the overall fluid flow characteristics for dispensing. The thermal interface material creates a localized heat transfer path without significantly affecting the bulk fluid flow.
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
Effectively cools sensor packages without increasing size or complexity, maintaining operational efficiency and minimizing disruption to agricultural operations.
Implementation Method 1
heat is dissipated from the sensor package by the coolant flowing through the conduit
Implementation Method 2
TIMs may be used to facilitate heat dissipation between a heat-producing device, in this instance the sensor package, and a heat-dissipating device, in this instance the conduit
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations are disclosed for a cooling system for cooling sensor packages disposed on an agricultural vehicle, robot, etc. In various implementations, the cooling system includes: a reservoir containing a coolant; one or more sprayers to dispense the coolant from the reservoir at a target; a conduit that fluidly couples the reservoir with the one or more sprayers; and a sensor package that includes at least one processor. At least a portion of the sensor package is in contact with the conduit so that heat is dissipated from the sensor package by the coolant flowing through the conduit.