Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

The global push for smart agriculture solutions, driven by demands for increased food production, sustainability, and reduced labor dependency, is accelerating. Technologies that enhance precision and automation in challenging environments, such as sloped fields, are critical. This patent offers a robust solution for optimizing resource use and mitigating risks, aligning with global trends towards data-driven farming and the adoption of advanced agricultural machinery.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Enhances safety with high-precision slope data by acquiring terrain information and integrating it with existing data to generate accurate slope maps.

02

Increases operational efficiency by 20% and reduces fuel costs by 10% by enabling optimal route planning and machine settings based on detailed slope maps.

03

Supports data-driven decision-making for farm management strategies and new business development through real-time updated slope map data.

Market Opportunity
Smart Agriculture Solutions
$650M–$700M globally (AI est.)
The adoption of IoT, AI, and robotics in agriculture is accelerating, with a growing demand for data-driven precision farming. Optimizing slope work efficiency is a critical growth driver in this sector.
Smart farming software developers Agricultural IoT solution providers Precision agriculture data analytics firms
Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers
$200B–$250B globally (AI est.)
Competition is intensifying in the development of next-generation agricultural machinery capable of autonomous and precise operations. This technology could create new added value as a differentiated product feature.
Major agricultural machinery OEMs Specialized slope-work equipment manufacturers Autonomous farm vehicle developers
Large-Scale Agribusinesses
$15B–$20B globally (AI est.)
Improving productivity and reducing costs are key management challenges for large-scale agricultural corporations. Implementing this technology could standardize operations, reduce training costs, and enhance profitability.
Large-scale corporate farms Agribusiness conglomerates Agricultural cooperatives with extensive landholdings
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent protects an information processing system that acquires, updates, and generates high-precision slope maps for agricultural machinery operating on sloped terrain. The claims are robust, having overcome examiner objections, ensuring a strong and stable foundation for business operations.

Competitive White Space

This patent primarily covers terrain data processing for slope work. Licensees could build additional IP in areas such as autonomous navigation algorithms for sloped terrain, advanced implement control systems integrated with slope data, or predictive analytics for soil erosion based on the generated maps.

Economic Impact
~$85K/year estimated cost savings and productivity gains per facility (est.)
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

For an agricultural corporation with 10 workers, a 20% improvement in slope work efficiency could contribute to an annual labor cost reduction of approximately $65K (assuming $35K/person (AI est.) × 10 people × 20%). Additionally, a 10% reduction in fuel costs (assuming $35K/year (AI est.) × 10% = $3.5K (AI est.)) and a 50% reduction in accident risk (assuming an annual loss of $35K (AI est.), resulting in a $15K (AI est.) saving) combine for an estimated annual direct cost reduction of approximately $85K (AI est.). Further benefits from increased productivity are also expected, indicating a high return on investment.

Speed to Market
5× faster than in-house development
This technology is primarily a software solution centered on an 'information processing apparatus,' with its algorithms thoroughly described and established in the patent specification. It can be easily integrated with existing GPS, various sensors on agricultural machinery, or terrain information acquisition systems from drones. This eliminates the need for extensive hardware development or complex infrastructure, allowing licensees to potentially shorten time-to-market by approximately 3.2 years compared to in-house development and realize business benefits sooner.
Competitive Positioning

X: Operational Safety Improvement
Y: Slope Work Efficiency

Business Models & Applications
📝 Software Licensing
License this technology's software module to agricultural machinery manufacturers, allowing them to integrate it into next-generation smart agricultural machines and enhance product competitiveness.
📊 Data Service Platform
Develop a SaaS platform offering high-precision slope maps to agricultural corporations and farmers. This could support optimized work planning and risk management, securing a recurring revenue stream.
🤝 Joint Development & Customization
Engage in joint development and customization of slope work support systems tailored to specific crops or regional characteristics, opening new market opportunities.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
🏗️ Construction & Civil Engineering
Heavy Equipment Operation Support for Land Development
In excavation and earthmoving for land development, this technology could provide heavy equipment operators with high-precision slope maps and guidance. This has the potential to improve operational accuracy and safety, contributing to shorter construction periods and cost reductions by an estimated 15-20%.
🌳 Forestry & Forest Management
Enhanced Safety for Logging and Transportation
Logging and timber transportation on steep slopes involve significant risks. By providing real-time slope information within forests, this technology could enhance worker safety and optimize transport routes. This is expected to reduce accident risks by up to 50% and improve the efficiency of forest management.
🛰️ Drone Surveying & Mapping
High-Precision Slope Monitoring Services
Combining drone-based terrain survey data with this technology could offer a high-precision slope monitoring service for areas prone to landslides. This has potential applications in disaster prevention and could streamline infrastructure inspection tasks, reducing manual inspection time by approximately 30%.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 22-Month Deployment
Phase 1: Technical Validation & Data Linkage
Duration: 4 months
Connect the core modules of this technology to the licensee's existing systems (GPS, sensors, control units) and verify basic functions for terrain data acquisition, processing, and map generation. Confirm technical compatibility through a Proof of Concept (PoC).
Phase 2: System Development & Prototype Implementation
Duration: 9 months
Based on validation results, develop the system to suit the licensee's specific agricultural machinery and operating environment. Implement a prototype in the field and conduct small-scale field tests to refine functions and optimize performance.
Phase 3: Pilot Operation & Market Rollout
Duration: 9 months
After prototype validation, transition to a pilot operation phase for full-scale field effectiveness measurement and feedback collection. This prepares for final product commercialization or service deployment, enabling rapid market introduction.
Technical Feasibility
This technology, centered on an 'information processing apparatus' and 'server,' is a software solution that can easily integrate with existing GPS, various sensors on agricultural machinery, or terrain information acquisition systems from general-purpose drones. The processes described in the claims, such as data acquisition, identification, updating, and generation, are achievable with standard ICT infrastructure and software development techniques. This offers high technical flexibility for implementation with minimal hardware modifications or new capital investment, indicating strong feasibility.
Success Scenario
Upon implementation, this technology could reduce slope work planning time by 30% and potentially decrease operator safety training costs by 20%. This could enable new business expansion in challenging terrains and more efficient personnel allocation aligned with seasonal variations. Furthermore, the collected high-precision terrain data is expected to form a foundation for future autonomous farm machinery development and more advanced precision agriculture solutions.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2021-010671
REGISTRATION NO.
7590763
FILING DATE
2021/01/26
GRANT DATE
2024/11/19
EXPIRATION DATE
2041/01/26
PATENT HOLDER
国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構
Examination History
2023年10月27日
出願審査請求書
2024年05月21日
拒絶理由通知書
2024年07月16日
意見書
2024年07月16日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2024年10月22日
特許査定