Remote Wind Machine Control via Electrical Parameter Mimicry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind machines for frost protection in agriculture require manual or local control, necessitating frequent site visits to adjust settings, which is time-consuming and inefficient, especially for large orchards with multiple machines.
Innovation Solution
A remote monitoring and control system that includes a transceiver for wireless communication with a user device, a processor to receive instructions, and a connector to mimic electrical parameters of the wind machine's controller, allowing for remote start/stop operations and monitoring of wind machine status using sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wind machines are operated manually or using local automatic controllers, then the control system is simple and reliable, but frequent site visits are required to adjust settings and monitor status, which is time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
A remote control system with transceiver, processor, and connector components acts as an intermediary between the user and the wind machine controller. The system converts voltage inputs to current outputs that mimic the controller's electrical parameters, enabling remote start/stop operations without physical presence at the machine site.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control (physically visiting each machine to adjust settings) with electronic communication systems. The transceiver and processor use electrical signals and data transmission to control and monitor wind machines remotely, substituting the need for physical site visits.
2Ease of operation
If surveillance teams drive to each wind machine to reprogram controllers, then individual machine settings can be adjusted, but the process takes 3-4 hours per orchard and requires significant labor
Solution Approach 1:
The remote control system serves multiple functions: it can start/stop the wind machine engine, monitor operational status, and adjust controller settings all through a single unified interface. The connector's ability to mimic various electrical parameters makes it universally compatible with different controller configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control and monitoring capabilities are extracted from the local machine interface and relocated to a remote system. The transceiver and processor components separate the user interface from the physical machine, allowing settings adjustment without physical presence at the orchard.
3Reliability
If 20-100 wind machines are deployed across an orchard, then adequate frost protection coverage is achieved, but monitoring and controlling each individual machine becomes increasingly difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system manages each wind machine as an independent controllable unit through individual connectors and transceivers, while allowing centralized remote control. This segmentation enables scalable deployment from 20 to 100 machines without proportionally increasing management complexity, as all machines can be controlled through a single remote interface.
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
Enables efficient remote monitoring and control of wind machines, reducing the need for manual site visits and allowing for timely frost protection across multiple machines, thereby optimizing operational efficiency and reducing labor costs.
Implementation Method 1
The connector includes a circuit that is configured to receive either a grounded voltage input or a floating voltage input as determined by the processor, and convert the voltage input to a current output such that the output mimics an electrical parameter of the controller
Implementation Method 2
a transceiver adapted to wirelessly communicate with a remote user device; a processor operatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to receive instructions from and/or transmit data to the user device using the transceiver
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for controlling and monitoring agricultural equipment. The system includes a monitoring module that communicates with a remote user device to remotely turn a wind machine on or off.