UAV Vertical Takeoff Landing Agricultural Detection System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting environmental and soil parameters in agricultural areas face limitations, including small detection areas for ground-based sensors, interference from weather conditions for satellite-based systems, and inefficiencies in unmanned aircraft methods, such as distorted recordings and energy-consuming repeated flights.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a vertically take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with an energy storage unit and interchangeable functional units, which can be controlled autonomously and wirelessly communicate with a ground vehicle, enabling precise and flexible data collection without the need for a runway and allowing for adaptive speed and sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If ground-based sensors are arranged directly on an agricultural working machine, then detection of ground parameters is possible, but the detection area is relatively small and only extends to the immediate vicinity of the machine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from ground-based detection to aerial detection using UAVs, moving the detection platform from the ground level to the air space above the agricultural field. This dimensional change enables coverage of large areas by flying over the entire field rather than being limited to the immediate vicinity of a ground-based machine.
2Area of stationary object
If orbital satellites equipped with spectroscopic devices are used, then large agricultural areas can be investigated, but poor weather conditions such as dense cloud cover can disrupt the satellite's view of the Earth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses UAVs as an intermediary detection platform between ground-based sensors and orbital satellites. The UAVs operate at lower altitudes closer to the ground, enabling them to penetrate through or around cloud cover more effectively than high-orbit satellites, thus providing reliable detection under poor weather conditions while still covering large agricultural areas.
3Area of stationary object
If unmanned aircraft are used to record surface-ground parameters, then large areas can be covered, but the aircraft is always in motion due to its propeller drive, so that recordings of the usable area can be distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic hovering actions where the UAV alternates between flying to cover new areas and pausing to take measurements. During measurement phases, the UAV hovers stationary for a predetermined time period, ensuring stable and undistorted recordings. This periodic alternation between motion and stationary measurement resolves the distortion issue while maintaining large-area coverage capability.
4Ease of manufacture
If unmanned aircraft are used for reconnaissance, then optical recording of the area is possible, but properties of lower-lying layers of the useful area can only be vaguely recorded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent equips UAVs with multiple types of sensors including optical sensors for surface recording and additional sensors (such as ground-penetrating radar or multispectral sensors) capable of detecting properties of lower-lying layers. This multi-functional sensor configuration enables the UAV to perform both surface reconnaissance and subsurface detection, resolving the limitation of vague depth recording.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for detecting parameters of the environment and surroundings in connection with agricultural working machines. The system has at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (1) which is designed for perpendicular take-offs and landings and which has an energy storage unit (2) and at least one recess (3) for transporting at least one functional unit (4). Furthermore, the system has at least one take-off and landing device (6), which can be arranged on a ground vehicle (5), for at least one UAV (1), said device having at least one first device (7) which is designed to exchange, charge, and/or refill the energy storage unit of UAVs and at least one second device (8) with a magazine for temporarily receiving functional units (4), wherein the second device is designed to exchange functional units (4) on UAVs (1). An autonomous movement of the UAV (1) relative to the ground vehicle (5) can be controlled by means of at least one controller (9), the detected parameters being wirelessly transmittable to the controller (9).