Agricultural Vehicle Guidance for Hidden Obstacle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Challenges exist in roadside mowing operations due to hidden obstacles like telecom and power boxes, which can damage equipment, pose safety hazards, and increase operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A guidance system for agricultural vehicles that uses image sensors and GNSS data to identify and classify objects, adjusting vehicle operations to avoid obstacles, such as water wells, and providing real-time adjustments to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If roadside mowing operations are conducted to maintain clear visibility, then driver safety and general roadside upkeep are improved, but the risk of damage to mowing equipment and infrastructure increases due to hidden obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of obstacles (telecom boxes, power boxes, rocks, debris) before the mowing operation begins. By identifying and mapping these hidden obstacles in advance using image sensors and GNSS technology, the system allows operators to plan mowing paths that avoid potential damage, thus maintaining driver safety while preventing equipment damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection system consisting of image sensors, processors, and GNSS technology that acts as a mediator between the mowing operation and hidden obstacles. This intermediary system detects and communicates the location of obstacles to the operator, enabling informed decision-making to avoid equipment damage while maintaining the safety benefits of regular mowing.
2Reliability
If frequent mowing cycles are implemented to manage fast-growing vegetation, then visibility and roadside safety are maintained, but operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping of obstacle locations before mowing operations begin. By having obstacle data available in advance, operators can optimize mowing paths to avoid unnecessary stops, equipment adjustments, and potential damage repairs. This preliminary action reduces the overall time and cost of each mowing cycle, making frequent mowing more cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to operators about obstacle locations and potential hazards during mowing operations. This feedback enables operators to adjust their paths and operations dynamically, avoiding equipment damage and reducing repair costs. The continuous feedback loop allows for more efficient operation scheduling and resource allocation, reducing overall operational costs.
3Device complexity
If manual inspection methods are used to detect obstacles, then equipment complexity is minimized, but measurement precision and detection capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-functional detection system that uses image sensors capable of detecting various types of obstacles (telecom boxes, power boxes, rocks, debris) simultaneously. This universal detection approach provides high measurement precision for multiple obstacle types without requiring separate specialized devices for each obstacle type, thus maintaining reasonable system complexity while achieving superior detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual inspection methods with automated image sensing and processing technology. By substituting mechanical/manual detection with optical sensors and computational algorithms, the system achieves significantly higher measurement precision and detection accuracy while the added complexity is justified by the substantial improvement in obstacle detection capability.
4Productivity
If obstacles are not detected and avoided, then mowing operations proceed without interruption, but equipment damage occurs resulting in costly repairs and service interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and mapping of obstacles before mowing operations begin. By having obstacle information available in advance, operators can plan continuous mowing paths that avoid obstacles, maintaining operation continuity while preventing equipment damage. This preliminary action eliminates the need for unexpected stops and repairs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to operators about obstacle locations during mowing operations. This feedback enables operators to adjust their paths dynamically to avoid obstacles, maintaining continuous operation while protecting equipment integrity. The feedback mechanism allows for real-time decision-making that prevents damage while keeping operations flowing smoothly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances safety and reduces operational costs by automatically avoiding obstacles, minimizing equipment damage, and optimizing mowing operations.
Implementation Method 1
receive image data from an image sensor
Implementation Method 2
The image sensor may include at least one of a thermal camera
Implementation Method 3
a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) camera
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A guidance system for controlling operation of an agricultural vehicle. The guidance system includes at least one processor and at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the guidance system, during an agricultural operation, to: receive image data from an image sensor, analyze the image data to identify and classify one or more water wells depicted within the image data, receive GNSS location data, and responsive to identifying and classifying one or more water wells, log location data indicating locations of the one or more water wells.