Agricultural Spreader Section Control for High-Resolution Application Maps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural spreading machines have limited capability to accommodate the high resolution and number of application rates stored in application maps, leading to inaccuracies in material distribution, particularly in areas where no material is intended within the current working width.
Innovation Solution
Generate an inverted field boundary map or georeferenced point map from the application map to create application areas where material is to be applied, using material quantity-independent switching commands to control and deactivate sections outside these areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the number of setpoint receivers is increased to accommodate high resolution application rates, then the manufacturing precision and application accuracy improve, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the boom into multiple independent sections that can be controlled separately. Each section has its own setpoint receiver, allowing independent control of material distribution in different areas. This segmentation enables precise application rates for specific zones without requiring a setpoint receiver for every single nozzle, thus improving application accuracy while managing device complexity through strategic placement of control units at section levels rather than individual nozzle levels.
2Loss of substance
If section control is used to deactivate spreading elements outside working area, then material waste is reduced and application precision improves, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system pre-defines active and inactive sections based on the working area boundaries before operation begins. This preliminary configuration allows the system to automatically activate or deactivate specific sections without real-time complex calculations, reducing material waste by preventing application outside the working area while keeping the control logic relatively simple through pre-established control zones.
3Manufacturing precision
If the working width is reduced to match specific application areas, then application precision improves, but the productivity decreases due to multiple passes required
Solution Approach 1:
The boom is divided into multiple independently controllable sections along its length. This segmentation allows the machine to maintain its full working width while selectively activating only the sections that correspond to areas requiring material application. Consequently, the machine can cover the entire field width in a single pass while precisely applying material only where needed, thus maintaining both application precision and productivity without requiring multiple passes.
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for controlling and/or regulating an agricultural spreading machine (10) which is designed to apply material to an agricultural area (N), wherein at least one electronic first data set, in particular an application map, in which the area (N) to be treated and/or worked and the required quantities of material (30, 31) are stored, is provided, and the first data set is read and/or retrieved on a mobile and/or central computing unit.In order to provide a method which further improves the application accuracy and thus the efficiency and/or yields of previous distribution machines (10) and/or methods in a particularly simple way, it is provided that the first data set is converted into at least one electronic second data set or that at least one second data set is generated on the basis of the first data set, wherein the second data set alternatively or additionally includes and/or represents a large number of separately applicable application areas in addition to the required quantities of distributed material.