Wireless Master-Slave Identification for Agricultural Ancillaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural machinery systems face limitations in flexibility and compatibility, as they require on-board electronics for optimal operation, and physical connections can lead to issues like cable damage and incompatibility between tractors and ancillaries, making it difficult to establish effective dialogue and determine optimal operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
An identification and recognition apparatus using a master-slave unit system with wireless signal transmission, allowing communication between tractors and ancillaries without the need for physical connections, enabling automatic recognition and data exchange even without compatible on-board electronics, and incorporating energy management for autonomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a physical data interchange bus connection is used between tractor and ancillary, then reliable data transmission is achieved, but cable damage and incompatibility issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical connection (cable bus) with a wireless communication system. The master unit on the tractor and slave unit on the ancillary exchange data wirelessly, eliminating cables and connectors while maintaining reliable data transmission for operational parameters and diagnostic information.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless communication system provides universal compatibility across different tractor and ancillary models. The master and slave units use standardized wireless protocols that work across various machinery types, eliminating the need for model-specific physical connections and enhancing adaptability.
2Productivity
If on-board electronics are installed on all tractors and ancillaries for automated optimization, then optimal operating conditions are achieved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the communication functionality into two segments: a master unit with full processing capabilities installed on the tractor, and a simpler slave unit with minimal electronics installed on the ancillary. This segmentation allows automated optimization while reducing the electronic complexity burden on individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the intelligence and processing capabilities into the master unit on the tractor, while the slave unit on the ancillary performs only basic data transmission. This combining of complex functions in one location reduces overall system complexity while maintaining automated optimization capabilities.
3Reliability
If physical cable connections are used for data exchange, then stable communication is achieved, but cable entanglement and wear occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the mechanical cable-based data transmission system and replaces it with wireless communication between master and slave units. This substitution removes all cable-related harmful effects including entanglement, wear, and physical damage while maintaining stable communication through radio frequency or other wireless protocols.
Data Source
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AI summary
An identification and recognition apparatus for ancillaries of agricultural vehicles, comprises a slave unit installable on a main ancillary associable to a tractor and being suitable for generating a detection signal; a master unit installable on the tractor and suitable for processing a predetermined main data packet uniquely correlatable to said main ancillary, and connecting means operatively active between the slave unit and the master unit for transmitting the detection signal (3); the connecting means comprising transmitting and receiving elements associable to the slave unit and the master unit such as to vehicle the detection signal in wireless mode between the slave unit and the master unit (4).