Agricultural Spreader Parameter Determination via Mobile Material Analysis

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The process of determining setting parameters for agricultural spreading machines is time-consuming and cumbersome for farmers, as they need detailed information about the spreading process, and existing mobile methods for determining grit properties have been underutilized.

Innovation Solution

A method where an evaluation device, potentially part of a central computer system or mobile terminal, determines setting parameters for an agricultural spreading machine using properties of the spreading material determined by mobile methods, such as image analysis or sensors, allowing for automated determination of parameters like speed, distribution disk settings, and throw characteristics without requiring farmers to have detailed knowledge of the spreading process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If farmers use traditional spreading tables to determine setting parameters, then they can achieve accurate spreading results, but the process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome requiring detailed knowledge of the spreading process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespreading parameter accuracyVSAvoidparameter determination time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of grit properties using mobile methods before the actual spreading operation. By pre-determining properties such as grain size, bulk density, and shape factors, the system eliminates the need for farmers to manually consult spreading tables during the spreading process, thus reducing time loss while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The evaluation device automatically determines setting parameters by evaluating grit properties measured through mobile methods. The system serves itself by using its own measurement data to calculate optimal spreading parameters, eliminating the need for farmers to have detailed knowledge of spreading processes or to manually reference complex spreading tables.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If farmers manually determine setting parameters using spreading tables, then they need detailed information about the spreading process, but this increases the complexity of operation and requires specialized knowledge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespreading parameter accuracyVSAvoidparameter determination simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The evaluation device automatically processes grit property measurements and calculates optimal setting parameters without requiring farmer intervention or specialized knowledge. The system self-services by transforming raw measurement data into actionable spreading parameters, making the operation simple while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual table lookup and calculation with an automated electronic evaluation device. The device uses software algorithms to process measurement data and determine setting parameters, substituting complex manual procedures with automated computational processes that are easier to operate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If mobile methods are used to determine grit properties, then the measurement process becomes faster and more flexible, but the properties have been underutilized for determining setting parameters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproperty determination efficiencyVSAvoidapplication of measured properties

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes a feedback loop where grit properties measured by mobile methods are immediately used to determine setting parameters for the spreading operation. The evaluation device receives measurement data, processes it through algorithms, and outputs optimized parameters that are directly applicable to the spreading machine, ensuring the measured properties are fully utilized.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The evaluation device is designed to handle multiple types of spreading materials and determine various setting parameters using the same mobile measurement data. The system universally applies the measured grit properties to determine different parameters such as spreading speed, distribution disc settings, and throw characteristics, making the measured properties versatile across different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3886559B1Method of determination of operating parameters for an agricultural spreading machine

Publication Date: 2024.05.22 AMAZONEN WERKE H DREYER GMBH & CO KG

Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining setting parameters (18a, 18b) for an agricultural spreader machine (24), comprising the steps: determining properties of a type of spreading material by means of one or more mobile methods, making available the determined properties of the type of spreading material and an indication of an intended working width during a planned spreading process for an evaluation device (12), and determining setting parameters (18a, 18b) for an agricultural spreader machine (24) for the planned spreading process by means of the evaluation device (12) on the basis of the determined properties of the type of spreading material and the indication of the intended working width during the planned spreading process.