Autonomous Agriculture Platform With Telescopic Chassis Beams

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large agricultural machines cause soil compaction, leading to reduced crop yields due to increased weight and pressure, which complicates soil recovery and affects water infiltration, erosion, and nutrient uptake.

Innovation Solution

Development of smaller, lightweight, electric-powered autonomous machines with interchangeable implements and a docking station for refilling and charging, equipped with on-board computing for navigation and operation, reducing soil compaction by minimizing pressure and enhancing soil health.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If larger agricultural machines are used to increase operational scale and labor productivity, then productivity is improved, but weight increases leading to soil compaction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelabor productivityVSAvoidmachine weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the agricultural operation into multiple smaller autonomous robots that work in parallel rather than using a single large machine. Each robot is independently controlled and can perform specific tasks, allowing the farm to scale operations by adding more robots rather than increasing individual machine size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple small autonomous robots are combined to achieve the operational capacity of large machines. The swarm of robots works collectively to cover large areas, performing planting, monitoring, and harvesting tasks simultaneously, thereby achieving high productivity without individual machines becoming excessively heavy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Area of stationary object

If larger machines are used to increase operational capacity, then area coverage is improved, but soil compaction increases due to increased weight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield coverage areaVSAvoidsoil compaction
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the field coverage task among multiple lightweight autonomous robots instead of using one heavy machine. Each robot covers a portion of the field independently, and their collective coverage achieves the desired area without the harmful concentration of weight that causes soil compaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each autonomous robot is designed with localized capabilities to perform specific agricultural tasks in its operational zone. The distributed architecture ensures that no single location experiences excessive pressure, as the weight and operational impact are spread across multiple devices covering different areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If traditional heavy machinery is used for field operations, then operational efficiency is improved, but crop yield decreases due to soil compaction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidcrop yield
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multiple specialized autonomous robots for different agricultural tasks (planting, monitoring, harvesting) that operate efficiently without the soil-compacting effects of heavy machinery. This segmented approach maintains operational efficiency while protecting soil health and ensuring sustainable crop yields.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical tractor-based systems with electric-powered autonomous robots. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy combustion engines and complex mechanical transmissions, reducing weight and soil impact while maintaining or improving operational efficiency through automated control and precision agriculture techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11927968B2Autonomous agriculture platform
Publication Date: 2024.03.12 SALIN 247 INC
  • US11927968B2 patent drawing
  • US11927968B2 patent drawing
  • US11927968B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A device for performing autonomous agricultural operations may include a toolbar to which a plurality of implements may be interchangeably coupled, and a pair of parallel chassis beams mounted perpendicularly on the toolbar. At least a portion of each of the chassis beams may be telescopic and configured to be extended outward from, and retracted inward towards, the toolbar. The device may also include a plurality of drive assemblies each mounted on one of the chassis beams, and a plurality of motors corresponding to the drive assemblies and configured to drive the drive assemblies in accordance with one or more drive parameters to move the device throughout a site. The device may further include a computing device configured to automatically determine the drive parameters, and cause the plurality of motors to drive the corresponding drive assemblies in accordance with the drive parameters.