Agricultural Sprayer Boom Vibration Damping via Camera Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural spreaders face issues with oscillations due to steering and uneven ground conditions, leading to uneven material distribution and vibration-induced inaccuracies in application devices, which existing solutions like hydraulic systems, sensors, and optical barriers are complex, sensitive, or insufficient.
Innovation Solution
Employing one or more image-processing camera systems to detect and correct linkage movements, using highlighting marks and spatial assignment to derive optimal correction steps, and integrating with servomotors or damping elements for alignment and obstacle detection, enabling robust and efficient vibration damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If hydraulic cylinders or optical sensors are used to detect and correct boom vibrations, then vibration damping precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical vibration sensors and optical measurement systems with a camera-based visual detection system. The camera captures images of the boom structure, and image processing algorithms extract vibration information, substituting mechanical/optical sensors with an optical imaging system that is simpler and more cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy (image) of the boom structure and its vibrations using a camera system. Instead of directly measuring physical vibrations with complex sensors, the system captures an optical copy and processes it to extract vibration characteristics, simplifying the measurement approach.
2Area of stationary object
If sensors are placed along the entire boom length to detect vibrations, then measurement coverage is improved, but device complexity and vulnerability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vibration detection function from multiple distributed sensors along the boom and consolidates it into a single camera system positioned at a convenient location. The camera captures the entire boom in view, and image processing extracts vibration information from the captured scene, eliminating the need for complex sensor arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system serves multiple functions: it detects vibrations across the entire boom length, provides visual documentation of the boom state, and can potentially monitor other aspects of boom operation. This single multi-functional system replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized sensors distributed along the boom.
3Reliability
If existing distance sensors are used to detect linkage vibrations, then detection capability is provided, but reliability is insufficient for accurate vibration detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces distance sensors with a camera-based visual measurement system. The camera captures images of the boom and its movements, and image processing algorithms calculate positions and detect vibrations. This substitution provides more reliable vibration detection because visual measurement is less susceptible to the limitations and failures of contact-based distance sensors.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention proposes an agricultural spreading machine (1) in which the movements of a spreading boom (2) are detected by camera systems (9, 10) and can be corrected via an associated control system (8). Simultaneously, the operator can visually monitor the spreading process.