Sensor-Guided Telescoping Axles for Crop Row Track Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural application machines face challenges in adjusting track width to avoid damaging crops and compacting soil, making it difficult to maintain uniform germination and growth rates, as existing methods are tedious and often ineffective.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural application machine equipped with telescoping axles, sensors, and a central controller that adjusts wheel positions based on real-time data from sensors to match the track width to the spacing between crop rows, allowing for precise alignment and minimization of impact on the crops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional telescopic mechanisms are used to adjust track width, then the ability to change track width is provided, but the adjustment process is tedious and requires manual operator intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically adjusts track width by having the vehicle's own sensors detect crop row positions and the controller autonomously commands the telescopic mechanisms to position wheels between rows, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention in track width adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to continuously monitor the position of crop rows relative to the vehicle and provides feedback to the controller, which then adjusts the track width in real-time to maintain proper alignment with the rows
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual track width adjustment is performed, then some alignment with crop rows can be achieved, but crop damage and soil compaction still occur due to imprecise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated control system that uses sensors to detect crop row positions and electronically controls the telescopic mechanisms, achieving precise wheel positioning between rows to avoid crop damage and soil compaction
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the track width in real-time during vehicle operation, allowing the wheels to adapt their position to match the actual spacing of crop rows encountered in the field, thereby preventing harmful contact with crops
3Device complexity
If fixed track width is used, then the vehicle structure is simpler, but the vehicle cannot adapt to different row spacings and may damage crops
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle incorporates telescopic axles and wheel-mounting assemblies that allow the track width to be dynamically adjusted during operation, enabling the vehicle to adapt to different row spacings while maintaining a relatively simple base structure
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic mechanism serves multiple functions: it enables track width adjustment for different row spacings, maintains vehicle stability, and positions wheels precisely between rows, making the vehicle structure versatile rather than requiring multiple specialized configurations
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
The solution enables precise adjustment of track width, reducing the likelihood of crop damage and soil compaction, thereby improving crop yield and operator efficiency by automating the process of maintaining optimal alignment with crop rows.
Implementation Method 1
a central controller configured to provide instructions to a hydraulic manifold to adjust the at least one telescoping axle to change a distance of the at least one wheel from a centerline of the chassis
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for working a field includes a chassis, at least one telescoping axle coupled to the chassis, wheels coupled to the telescoping axle and operably supporting the chassis, at least one sensor coupled to the chassis, and a central controller. The sensor is configured to measure sensor data indicative of a distance between at least one row of crops and at least one wheel. The central controller is configured to provide instructions to a hydraulic manifold to adjust the telescoping axle to change a distance of the at least one wheel from a centerline of the chassis based on the distance between the row and the wheel. Related methods and control systems are also disclosed.