Under-Canopy Robot Team Coordination for Precision Field Tasks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural practices rely heavily on large machines and chemicals, leading to unsustainable and costly methods that result in labor shortages, soil compaction, and environmental issues such as herbicide-resistant weeds and nutrient runoff, making it difficult to adopt efficient and sustainable practices like cover cropping.
Innovation Solution
A coordinated team of under-canopy robotic systems managed by a computing device that generates assignment instructions based on an electronic map of the field, optimizing the execution of agricultural tasks such as weeding and planting, using wireless transmission to ensure efficient and scalable agricultural management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large boom based sprayers are used to spray herbicide across the entire field, then labor efficiency is improved, but environmental harm increases due to excessive chemical use and nutrient runoff
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the field into multiple zones using an electronic map, and assigns different robotic systems to different zones based on their capabilities and the specific task requirements. This segmentation allows for precise, localized treatment rather than blanket chemical application across the entire field, reducing overall chemical usage while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies treatments based on local field conditions identified through the electronic map and real-time robotic data. Each zone receives customized treatment appropriate to its specific needs (weed density, crop type, soil conditions), eliminating the need for excessive uniform chemical application and reducing environmental harm.
2Ease of operation
If large agricultural equipment is used to simplify and automate management practices, then labor cost is reduced, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one complex large machine, the patent employs multiple simpler robotic systems, each designed for specific tasks (scouting, planting, weeding, spraying). This segmentation of functionality reduces the complexity of individual devices while maintaining high automation levels through coordinated operation managed by a central computing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic systems are designed with multi-functionality, where each robot can perform multiple agricultural tasks (e.g., a robot can both scout and spray, or plant and weed). This universal design approach reduces the need for specialized complex equipment for each task while maintaining automation capabilities.
3Area of stationary object
If large equipment is used to cover the entire field, then task coverage is improved, but soil compaction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The field is divided into multiple zones that are treated sequentially by different robotic systems. Each robot covers its assigned zone with minimal overlap and lower ground pressure, achieving complete field coverage while preventing the soil compaction that would result from repeated passes of heavy large equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces heavy mechanical equipment with lighter robotic systems that use alternative mechanisms for task execution (e.g., robotic vision-guided weeding instead of mechanical tillage, precise robotic spraying instead of boom sprayers). This substitution reduces ground pressure and soil compaction while maintaining effective field coverage.
4Reliability
If herbicides are excessively used to combat weeds, then weed control effectiveness is improved, but harmful factors increase including herbicide-resistant weeds
Solution Approach 1:
The system identifies specific zones with weed infestations using electronic maps and robotic scouting, then applies herbicides only to those localized areas rather than treating the entire field uniformly. This precise localized application maintains weed control effectiveness while significantly reducing total herbicide usage and the selection pressure that leads to resistant weed populations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes weeds mechanically using robotic systems equipped with mechanical weeding tools (e.g., robotic flail weeders, selective weed pullers). This mechanical removal alternative eliminates the need for herbicide application in many cases, directly reducing herbicide usage and the development of resistant weed populations while maintaining effective weed control.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and non-transitory computer readable medium includes obtaining an electronic map of an agricultural field. One or more assignment instructions for each of a plurality of robotic systems in an assigned team are generated to optimize execution of a selected agricultural task with respect to at least one parameter based on the obtained electronic map, a number of the robotic systems in the team, and at least one capability of each of the robotic systems in the team. The robotic systems in the team are managed based on wireless transmission of the generated assignment instructions to the robotic systems.