Swath Mapping for Agricultural Vehicles and Crop Gathering Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural vehicles face challenges in efficiently recording and sharing information about formed swaths of plant material, which hinders the efficiency of subsequent operations like gathering crops.
Innovation Solution
A system that generates a swath parameter map by receiving sensor data and location data from an agricultural vehicle, allowing for the determination and sharing of swath parameters and locations with other vehicles to enhance operational efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If swath information is recorded and shared between vehicles, then operational efficiency of subsequent vehicles is improved, but system complexity increases due to need for communication and data integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication system as an intermediary that enables information exchange between vehicles. The first vehicle records swath parameters and transmits this data to a second vehicle through a standardized communication interface, allowing efficient coordination without direct complex integration between vehicles. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by enabling productivity improvement through information sharing while containing system complexity within modular communication protocols.
2Measurement precision
If detailed swath parameters are recorded for precision agriculture, then measurement precision is improved, but data processing complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential swath parameters needed for subsequent operations (such as swath location, width, and orientation) while discarding redundant detailed measurements. This selective extraction maintains measurement precision for critical parameters while significantly reducing data processing complexity and storage requirements. The system focuses on capturing the minimum necessary information to achieve the operational goal of guiding the second vehicle.
3Productivity
If real-time swath information is transmitted between vehicles, then operational coordination is improved, but communication bandwidth and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic transmission of swath information at key operational moments (when swaths are formed and when the second vehicle approaches) rather than continuous real-time streaming. This periodic communication approach maintains effective operational coordination by providing information at critical decision points while significantly reducing communication bandwidth requirements and energy consumption compared to continuous transmission.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of determining a crop yield of a field worked by an agricultural vehicle includes receiving, from a sensor of the agricultural vehicle, sensor data associated with at least one parameter of a swath of a plant material formed by the agricultural vehicle in the field. The method further includes receiving, from a location sensor, location data indicative of a location of the swath of the plant material. The method further includes generating, based on the sensor data and the location data, the swath parameter map indicating the at least one parameter of the swath of the plant material at the location of the swath of the plant material.