US 12,236,678 B2Granted

Mobile analysis and processing device, and method, for agriculture for tilling the soil and/or for manipulating flora and fauna

AssigneeWesthof Patente GmbH

InventorsStephan Hussmann, Florian Johannes Knoll, Vitali Czymmek

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Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile analysis and processing device (14) for agriculture for processing the soil and/or manipulating flora and fauna. The device (14) comprises at least one sensor (62), a tool unit (52) having at least one motor-driven tool (58), an actuator (48) for moving at least the tool (58) of the tool unit (52), a motor (50) for driving the tool (58) and/or the actuator (48), a database (78), a first communication unit (60) having an interface (70a), and a first computer (46) for controlling the sensor (62), the tool unit (52) and the actuator (48) by means of generated control commands. The data captured by means of the sensor (62) are continually compared with the data stored in the database (78) in order to generate corresponding control signals for the actuator (48), the tool unit (52) and/or the motor (50). By means of said device, mobility and flexibility are created, in accordance with which flexibility the device (14) forms a unit by means of which all data can be processed in real time, control signals can be generated for the actuator (48), the tool unit (52) and/or the motor (50) and immediate operation in accordance with the control signals is possible. Thus, combination with, for example, different carriers (12), which move the device (14) over the field if necessary, is possible.

Claims21

Dependent claims

Method for real-time control of the tilling of the soil and/or of the manipulation of flora and fauna using a mobile analysis and processing device (14) for agriculture comprising:

at least one sensor (62), a tool unit (52) with at least one motor-driven tool (58), an actuator (48) for moving said at least one motor-driven tool (58) of said tool unit (52), said at least one sensor (62) detects data pertaining to said agriculture, a motor (50) for driving said tool unit (52) and/or said actuator (48), a database (78), said database populated with stored data, a first communication unit (60) with an interface (70a) for communicating with said database, and a first computer (46) for controlling said at least one sensor (62), said tool unit (52) and/or said actuator (48) on the basis of generated control commands, and, wherein said data detected by said sensor (62) is continuously compared, by said first computer (46) based on classification by a classifier and data reduction by a reduction device (66), with said stored data in said database (78) to generate control commands for said actuator (48), said tool unit (52) and/or said motor (50), comprising the following steps:
a. continuous recording over time of data-defined voxels and/or pixels and/or images by said sensor;
b. transmission of said recorded data to said database (78);
c. storage of said recorded data in said database (78);
d. qualitative data comparison of said recorded data with said data stored in said database (78), and at said same time performing segmentation, data reduction, and/or verification of said recorded data with said computer (46);
e. evaluation of said compared recorded data with existing defined data sets in said database (78) by a classifier (68) in connection with said computer (46, 76);
f. processing and conversion of said evaluation by said computer (46, 76) into control data and control-related data for said motor, said actuator, said tool unit and/or an associated carrier.

4 more elements

Mobile analysis and processing device (14) for agriculture for tilling the soil and/or for manipulating flora and fauna, comprising:

at least one sensor (62), a tool unit (52) with at least one motor-driven tool (58), an actuator (48) for moving said at least one motor-driven tool (58) of said tool unit (52),
said at least one sensor (62) detects data pertaining to said agriculture,
a motor (50) for driving said tool unit (52) and/or said actuator (48),
a database (78), said database populated with stored data,
a first communication unit (60) with an interface (70a) for communicating with said database,
and a first computer (46) for controlling said at least one sensor (62), said tool unit (52) and/or said actuator (48) using generated control commands,
wherein said data detected by said sensor (62) is continuously compared, by said first computer (46) based on classification by a classifier and data reduction by a reduction device (66), with said stored data in said database (78) to generate control commands for said actuator (48), said tool unit (52) and/or said motor (50),
a two-part device in which said sensor (62), said tool unit (52), said motor (50) for driving said tool (58), said tool unit (52) and/or said actuator (48), said first computer (46) and said first communication unit (60) with interface (70a) are provided in a first unit (14a), and said database (78), a second computer (76) and a second communication unit (74) with interface (70b) are provided in a second unit (14b), wherein said first unit (14a) and said second unit (14b) can be connected to one another via said interfaces (70a, 70b) for data exchange.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/268,365Filed 22 Aug 2019
Priority: DE 10 2018 120 75324 Aug 2018
Published: US 2021/0176978 A117 Jun 2021
Granted: 25 Feb 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

G06V 20/188
Terrestrial scenes: vegetation
A01B 39/085
With rotating tools such as weeding machines: the rotating tools being actively driven
A01B 79/005
Methods for working soil: precision agriculture
A01M 21/02
Apparatus for the destruction of unwanted vegetation, e.g. weeds: apparatus for mechanical destruction