Ground Engagement Tool Sensing for Obstacle Mapping in Tillage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural machines with ground engagement tools, such as tillage equipment, face performance reductions due to obstacles like rocks and washouts in the field, and existing systems lack effective monitoring and obstacle detection capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A control system is integrated into the work machine, featuring sensors on ground engagement tools that provide real-time feedback to a controller, allowing for performance monitoring, obstacle detection, and adjustment, including the use of obstacle detection systems like radar, LIDAR, or ultrasonic systems to map obstacle locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ground engagement tools are used to penetrate the ground, then tillage performance is achieved, but obstacles like rocks and washouts reduce tool performance and cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of obstacles using sensors mounted on the ground engagement tools before the tools encounter them during operation. This advance detection allows the control system to prepare for potential obstacles, maintaining consistent tool performance by adjusting operations in advance rather than reacting to damage after it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors tool performance and ground conditions through sensors, providing real-time feedback to the control system. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of tool operations to maintain consistent performance despite varying ground conditions and obstacles, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If sensors are mounted on ground engagement tools to detect obstacles, then obstacle detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensors mounted on ground engagement tools serve multiple functions: detecting obstacles, monitoring tool performance, and measuring ground conditions. This multi-functionality improves obstacle detection capability while minimizing the increase in device complexity by using a single sensor system for multiple purposes rather than separate dedicated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines obstacle detection, performance monitoring, and control functions into an integrated control system. By merging these functions rather than implementing separate independent systems, the patent improves detection capability while managing overall device complexity through consolidation of components and processing.
3Measurement precision
If real-time sensor feedback is implemented to monitor tool movement, then tool performance monitoring is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic sampling of sensor data rather than continuous monitoring at maximum resolution. This approach maintains sufficient measurement precision for detecting tool performance changes and obstacles while reducing energy consumption by processing data at optimized intervals rather than continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies measurement and processing resources selectively based on operational conditions. During normal operation, monitoring occurs at standard precision levels with lower energy consumption. When anomalies or obstacles are detected, the system increases measurement precision and processing intensity temporarily, maintaining high monitoring accuracy when needed while minimizing overall energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Work machines, control systems for work machines, and methods of operating work machines are disclosed. A work machine includes a frame structure, a work implement, and a control system. The work implement is coupled to the frame structure and includes at least one ground engagement tool that is configured for movement in response to interaction with an underlying surface in use of the use work machine. The control system is coupled to the frame structure and includes a sensor mounted to the at least one ground engagement tool and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor.