IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,402,552
Granted Patent B2
US 12,402,552 · App. 18/322,732 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Method for ascertaining a soil condition

Inventors: Stefan Brocke (Mannheim, DE); Florian Schott (Einhausen, DE)
Assignee: Deere & Company
A01B79/005G01N33/24G01N33/245
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,402,552
App. No.
18/322,732
Granted
Sep 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for ascertaining a soil condition includes observing via a detection device, including a sensor, a kinematic behavior of a track drive caused by sinking when driving on a compressible underlying surface, and determining via an assessment device, including a processor connected to memory, at least one parameter characterizing the soil condition based in part on the observed kinematic behavior of the track drive.

Claims (26)

1. A method for ascertaining a soil condition, comprising:

observing via a detection device, including a sensor, a kinematic behavior of a track drive when the track drive sinks into a soil of a surface while driving on the surface, the observed kinematic behavior being associated with a rotation of a chassis component of the track drive about a pivot joint, and the chassis component being mounted such that it is rotatable about the pivot joint while driving on the surface; and

determining via an assessment device, including a processor connected to a memory, at least one parameter characterizing a soil condition based in part on the observed kinematic behavior of the track drive.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the observed kinematic behavior is associated with a normal or tangential acceleration of a drive belt of the track drive facing the surface, the normal or tangential acceleration is determined via an acceleration sensor module being a part of the detection device, the acceleration sensor module includes an acceleration sensor, the acceleration sensor module is embedded in the drive belt, and a data stream representing the normal or tangential acceleration is transmitted wirelessly from the acceleration sensor module to the assessment device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the drive belt is deflected a plurality of times along its course, and a plurality of acceleration sensor modules, corresponding to a plurality deflection points of the drive belt, are arranged in a distributed manner along the drive belt.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the observed kinematic behavior of the track drive is filtered by the assessment device with respect to irregularities of the surface located in a travel direction of the track drive on the surface.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter characterizing the soil condition includes one or more of the following: a soil moisture, a soil structure, a soil compaction, and a soil type.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a location of the at least one parameter is located via a navigation system communicating with the assessment device by linking a position ascertained by the navigation system to an associated cartographic position and transmitting, as a data set, the location of the at least one parameter to a central data server.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor of the detection device includes a rotational encoder.

8. A method for ascertaining a soil condition, comprising:

observing via a detection device, including a sensor, a kinematic behavior of a track drive when the track drive sinks into a soil of a surface while driving on the surface, the observed kinematic behavior of the track drive being filtered by the assessment device with respect to irregularities of the surface located in a travel direction of the track drive on the surface; and

determining via an assessment device, including a processor connected to a memory, at least one parameter characterizing a soil condition based in part on the observed kinematic behavior of the track drive.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the observed kinematic behavior is associated with a normal or tangential acceleration of a drive belt of the track drive facing the surface, the normal or tangential acceleration is determined via an acceleration sensor module being a part of the detection device, the acceleration sensor module includes an acceleration sensor, the acceleration sensor module is embedded in the drive belt, and a data stream representing the normal or tangential acceleration is transmitted wirelessly from the acceleration sensor module to the assessment device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the drive belt is deflected a plurality of times along its course, and a plurality of acceleration sensor modules, corresponding to a plurality deflection points of the drive belt, are arranged in a distributed manner along the drive belt.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one parameter characterizing the soil condition includes one or more of the following: a soil moisture, a soil structure, a soil compaction, and a soil type.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein a location of the at least one parameter is located via a navigation system communicating with the assessment device by linking a position ascertained by the navigation system to an associated cartographic position and transmitting, as a data set, the location of the at least one parameter to a central data server.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sensor of the detection device includes a rotational encoder.

14. A system for ascertaining a soil condition, comprising:

a detection device, including a sensor, configured to observe a kinematic behavior of a track drive when the track drive sinks into a soil of a surface while driving on the surface, the observed kinematic behavior being associated with a rotation of a chassis component of the track drive about a pivot joint, and the chassis component being mounted such that it is rotatable about the pivot joint while driving on the surface; and

an assessment device, including a processor connected to a memory, configured to determine at least one parameter characterizing a soil condition based in part on the observed kinematic behavior of the track drive, the soil condition including one or more of the following: a soil moisture, a soil structure, a soil compaction, and a soil type.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the observed kinematic behavior is associated with a normal or tangential acceleration of a drive belt of the track drive facing the surface, the normal or tangential acceleration is determined via an acceleration sensor module being a part of the detection device, the acceleration sensor module includes an acceleration sensor, the acceleration sensor module is embedded in the drive belt, and a data stream representing the normal or tangential acceleration is transmitted wirelessly from the acceleration sensor module to the assessment device.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the drive belt is deflected a plurality of times along its course, and a plurality of acceleration sensor modules, corresponding to a plurality deflection points of the drive belt, are arranged in a distributed manner along the drive belt.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the observed kinematic behavior of the track drive is filtered by the assessment device with respect to irregularities of the surface located in a travel direction of the track drive on the surface.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one parameter characterizing the soil condition includes one or more of the following: a soil moisture, a soil structure, a soil compaction, and a soil type.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein a location of the at least one parameter is located via a navigation system communicating with the assessment device by linking a position ascertained by the navigation system to an associated cartographic position and transmitting, as a data set, the location of the at least one parameter to a central data server.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the sensor of the detection device includes a rotational encoder.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2023
From: BROCKE, STEFAN; SCHOTT, FLORIAN; JOHN DEERE GMBH & CO. KG
To: DEERE & COMPANY
Reel/Frame 063748/0611 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 102022113393.1 · May 27, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230380328A1 · Nov 30, 2023
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