Published Technical Disclosure Archive

AI-Driven Agricultural Header: Precision Crop Management

Publication ID: 24-11856884_0008_PTD
Published: October 26, 2025
Category:Synergistic Combinations

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “AI-Driven Agricultural Header: Precision Crop Management,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11856884_0008_PTD, Published October 26, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11856884_0008_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,856,884.

Background and Problem Solved

The original agricultural header with a swath gate, as described in the prior patent, has limitations in terms of crop flow optimization and quality monitoring. The present invention addresses these limitations by incorporating advanced technologies to create a more efficient, autonomous, and data-driven agricultural system.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce a synergistic combination of distinct technologies, which provides a novel and non-obvious solution to the problem of crop flow optimization and quality monitoring in agricultural headers. The integration of IoT, AI, blockchain, and novel materials with the original swath gate design constitutes a significant inventive step.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the invention may include varying the type and configuration of sensors, machine learning algorithms, and blockchain platforms used. Additionally, the system could be adapted for use in different types of agricultural vehicles or for harvesting various crops. The novel material composition for the swath gate could be modified to incorporate different reinforcement materials or sensor systems.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The intelligent agricultural header system has significant commercial potential in the agricultural industry, particularly in the areas of precision farming, autonomous harvesting, and supply chain management. The system could be marketed to agricultural equipment manufacturers, farmers, and agricultural service providers, offering improved crop yields, reduced waste, and increased efficiency.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A01 A01D34/667
A A01 A01D41/1243
A A01 A01D43/10

Field of Art

Agricultural machinery design, specifically agricultural header systems for crop harvesting with a focus on material flow management and header component integration

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A mechanical engineer with expertise in agricultural equipment design, familiar with sensor technologies, material science, and agricultural harvesting system optimization, typically holding a bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering with 3-5 years of industry experience

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the source patent's agricultural header design provides a foundational framework for integrating advanced sensing and control technologies. The disclosed variations represent predictable extensions of existing agricultural machinery design principles, leveraging standard IoT, machine learning, and sensor integration techniques. The core mechanical functionality of the swath gate remains consistent, with technological enhancements that would be considered routine optimization by a skilled practitioner.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Swath gate for spreading and converging crop material
PTD Variation
Integration of IoT sensor system for real-time crop flow monitoring
Obviousness Reasoning
Adding sensors to mechanical agricultural equipment is a well-established practice for performance monitoring, representing a predictable application of known sensor integration techniques
Source Patent Element
Header frame with cutter and material conveyance rolls
PTD Variation
Computer vision system for crop material characteristics detection
Obviousness Reasoning
Machine vision technologies are routinely applied in agricultural equipment for quality assessment, representing a standard technological enhancement with expected results
Source Patent Element
Crop material flow management mechanism
PTD Variation
Machine learning algorithm for automated swath gate adjustment
Obviousness Reasoning
Adaptive control systems are common in precision agriculture, with machine learning representing a predictable evolution of existing control system design principles
Source Patent Element
Agricultural header structural components
PTD Variation
Novel material composition using carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix
Obviousness Reasoning
Material science advancements in lightweight, high-strength composites are standard design optimization approaches in agricultural machinery engineering
Source Patent Element
Crop material processing mechanism
PTD Variation
Blockchain-based supply chain tracking integrated with header sensors
Obviousness Reasoning
Implementing digital tracking systems in agricultural equipment represents a logical extension of existing data management and traceability technologies
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11856884 and the disclosed technological variations, a person of ordinary skill in the art would find the proposed agricultural header system modifications to be obvious combinations of known techniques, rendering potential patent claims covering such variations unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. Section 103 due to the predictable application of standard technological enhancements in agricultural machinery design.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,856,884
TitleAgricultural header with swath gate for spreading and converging crop material
Assignee(s)CNH Industrial America LLC