Work Machine Damage Avoidance Using Vision and Kinematic Tracking

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing work machines with implements for carrying objects of unknown size face challenges in avoiding collisions between the carried objects and other parts of the machine, as current position sensing systems do not effectively account for the size and movement of carried objects.

Innovation Solution

A vision system is integrated with a kinematic sensing and measurement system to detect the endpoints of carried objects, allowing the damage avoidance control system to generate control signals that prevent collisions by tracking the object's position and movement relative to the machine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a vision system is used to detect object endpoints, then collision avoidance capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidance capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the vision system with the existing kinematic sensing and measurement system into an integrated damage avoidance control system. The vision system detects object endpoints while the kinematic system provides implement position data, and both are merged in the controller to generate comprehensive damage avoidance control signals, resolving the contradiction by integrating multiple sensing approaches rather than adding a separate complex system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary that processes data from both the vision system and kinematic sensing system, combining their outputs to generate control signals. This intermediary component协调s the interaction between the vision-based object detection and the kinematic-based implement tracking, managing system complexity through centralized intelligence

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the vision system continuously monitors object position, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobject position detection accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous monitoring of object endpoints through the vision system and implement position through the kinematic sensing system, enabling real-time damage avoidance control. This continuous action ensures high measurement precision while the controller optimizes energy usage by processing data continuously rather than in expensive high-frequency intervals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If the damage avoidance system controls implement position, then protection of machine parts is improved, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachine part protectionVSAvoidoperator control freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The controller continuously receives feedback from the vision system about object endpoints and from the kinematic sensing system about implement position, comparing this data against damage avoidance criteria. This feedback loop enables automatic control adjustments that protect machine parts while the operator retains control, as the system provides real-time information and can issue warnings or automatic corrections based on detected collision risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4700182A1Damage avoidance control system and related method
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 DEERE & CO
  • EP4700182A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4700182A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4700182A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A damage avoidance control system (102) is disclosed. The system (102) comprising: a vision system (128) configured to generate a vision system signal indicative of a field of view captured by the vision system (128); an object processing system (188) configured to identify a characteristic of an object carried by an implement (114) of a work machine (100) based on the vision system signal; and a damage avoidance control signal generator (190) configured to generate a damage avoidance control signal based on the identified characteristic of the object. Further, a related computer implemented method is disclosed.