Farming Machine Tank Management for Variable Weed Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems struggle to manage agricultural treatment material in a tank of a machine effectively during agricultural operations, leading to overestimation and unnecessary disposal, which increases costs and violates regulatory requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize historical and current environmental data to dynamically manage treatment fluid in a tank of a farming machine, adjusting the application based on weed density, location, and remaining fluid amount, optimizing the treatment process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If current systems estimate treatment material requirements, then treatment can be applied to the field, but the amount is often overestimated leading to unnecessary disposal and increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts treatment material application by continuously monitoring actual weed density against expected weed density during field operations. The tank management model updates treatment requirements in real-time based on actual conditions, transitioning from static pre-calculated amounts to dynamic adaptive control, thereby reducing overestimation and material waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where actual weed density measurements are continuously compared with expected densities. This feedback information is fed back to the tank management model, which adjusts the remaining treatment fluid calculations and disposal decisions accordingly, preventing unnecessary disposal while ensuring regulatory compliance.
2Reliability
If treatment material is applied based on expected weed density, then treatment coverage is ensured, but actual weed density may differ leading to inefficient material use
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously measures actual weed density and feeds this information back to the tank management model. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain reliable treatment coverage by adjusting applications based on real conditions while simultaneously improving productivity by eliminating applications to areas with insufficient weed density.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of treatment application rate based on the ratio of actual weed density to expected weed density. When actual density matches expectations, standard application rates are used. When deviations occur, the system adjusts application rates dynamically, maintaining coverage reliability while optimizing material use efficiency.
3Reliability
If regulatory requirements limit treatment material in tanks, then compliance is ensured, but the ability to trailer machines with full or partially full tanks is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback on actual versus expected treatment material consumption, enabling operators to make informed decisions about tank management. This feedback allows machines to be trailed with fuller tanks when actual weed density is lower than expected, while still ensuring compliance through continuous monitoring and adaptive adjustment of application rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts treatment application based on real-time conditions, allowing flexible tank management. Operators can maintain fuller tanks for longer operations or trailer machines more frequently based on actual consumption rates, transforming the static regulatory constraint into a dynamic operational parameter that balances compliance with operational efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Historical information is accessed that describes a previous state of a field, previous environmental conditions for the field, and previous farming machine actions performed in the field. A tank management model is applied to the historical information to determine expected weed densities within field portions and an amount of treatment fluid required to treat plants within the field. While the farming machine is treating plants in the field, current information describing a current state of the field is accessed. The tank management model is applied to the current information to determine updated weed densities within field portions not yet treated. The farming machine performs a modified plant treatment action based on the updated weed densities and a comparison of a remaining amount of treatment fluid within a tank of the farming machine and an updated amount of treatment fluid for treating plants within field portions not yet treated.