Vegetation Design Retrieval for Mixed Dense Growth Farming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing farm work support devices struggle to determine an optimal vegetation combination for mixed and dense growth states, limiting the ability of inexperienced workers to achieve effective farm management.

Innovation Solution

A farm work support system comprising a server device with a reception unit for designating plants, a retrieval unit for retrieving vegetation designs, and an output unit for displaying the retrieved designs, which includes an evaluation unit to score the designs based on allelopathy and crop rotation aptitude, allowing for the selection of the most suitable vegetation combinations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a camera is used to image seedlings and specify thinning targets based on captured images, then thinning operations can be supported, but the system cannot determine optimal vegetation combinations for mixed and dense growth states

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethinning operation supportVSAvoidvegetation combination determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single farm work support device: it integrates the camera-based seedling imaging and thinning specification functionality with the new vegetation combination determination functionality. The device now processes captured images to identify both individual seedlings for thinning and overall vegetation patterns for optimal combination design, merging previously separate operational supports into one unified system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If inexperienced workers use basic farm work support devices, then they can perform simple tasks like thinning, but they cannot achieve effective farm management requiring deep cultivation knowledge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebasic farm task executionVSAvoidfarm management effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The farm work support device acts as an intermediary between inexperienced workers and expert-level farm management knowledge. Instead of requiring workers to possess deep cultivation knowledge themselves, the device incorporates and processes this expertise through its vegetation combination determination functionality, providing recommendations that embody skilled worker knowledge while maintaining ease of operation for users regardless of their experience level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If the system provides detailed vegetation design information including allelopathy and crop rotation aptitude, then workers can make informed decisions, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevegetation design information completenessVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the vegetation design information into distinct, manageable components: allelopathy information, crop rotation aptitude information, and vegetation combination recommendations. Each aspect is processed and presented separately, allowing the system to provide comprehensive information without overwhelming complexity. The determination unit handles each type of information through dedicated processing, breaking down the complex task of vegetation design into separable analytical steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2871609B1Device and method for supporting farm works, program, recording medium and system for supporting farm works
Publication Date: 2021.09.01 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2871609B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2871609B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2871609B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a farm work support device including a reception unit configured to receive designation of plants to be cultivated, a retrieval unit configured to retrieve a vegetation design which is a vegetation combination proper for construction of a mixed and dense growth state of the designated plants, and an output unit configured to output the retrieved vegetation design.