A corn harvest loss monitoring system and kernel counting method

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of grain loss monitoring, in particular to a corn harvesting loss monitoring system and a grain counting method, the system comprising a grain loss monitoring sensor, a controller, an upper computer and a power supply system; the method comprising: step 1: the sensor detects whether there is material impact; step 2: judging whether the signal processing module is single grain impact; step 3: judging whether the signal processing module is multiple grain impact; step 4: the combine harvester operation is completed, and the monitoring system stops working. The present application realizes real-time monitoring during the operation of the combine harvester, can accurately distinguish grain signals and waste signals, effectively improves the monitoring accuracy, and has significant significance for improving the working efficiency of the combine harvester.

Description

A corn harvest loss monitoring system and kernel counting method Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of grain loss monitoring, and in particular to a corn harvest loss monitoring system and a grain counting method. Background Technology

[0002] Corn is one of the most important crops in northern China. In recent years, with the improvement of agricultural mechanization and the continuous increase in corn planting area, combine harvesters have been increasingly used in corn grain harvesting, greatly facilitating the process. During operation, combine harvesters inevitably experience various forms of grain loss, primarily during cleaning and threshing. Grain loss is a crucial indicator of combine harvester performance. Automatically adjusting combine harvester operating parameters based on grain loss to reduce harvesting losses is of great significance for improving harvester performance.

[0003] Currently, grain loss monitoring is mostly done manually, which is labor-intensive and results in significant data lag. Furthermore, due to the complex operating environment of combine harvesters, including vibration, noise, and dust, existing research methods such as image analysis and electroacoustic methods can only be applied in the laboratory stage. Moreover, because corn kernels and crushed mandrels are similar in mass and volume, distinguishing them is difficult, resulting in limited research on real-time loss monitoring during corn harvest and low monitoring accuracy. In conclusion, establishing a corn kernel loss monitoring sensor based on piezoelectric effect sensors and monitoring technology, and developing high-precision counting algorithms, are effective measures to reduce harvest losses. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention discloses a corn harvest loss monitoring system, which includes a grain loss monitoring sensor, a controller, a host computer, and a power supply system.

[0005] Preferably, the grain loss monitoring sensor is used to monitor the impact of corn crop material in real time and generate corresponding signals. It includes a sensor housing, a support column, a vibration isolation device, a signal processing circuit board, a piezoelectric element, and a circuit board protective housing. The sensor housing is in direct contact with the corn material, sensing the impact and transmitting the vibration to the piezoelectric element. The support column is used to fix the sensor to the threshing and separating device. The vibration isolation device is installed between the sensor housing and the signal processing circuit board to reduce monitoring errors caused by the inherent vibration and noise of the harvester during sensor operation. The signal processing circuit board processes the vibration of the piezoelectric element, converting the vibration into an electrical signal and calculating the number of lost grains monitored in real time. The piezoelectric element is the core component of the monitoring system, receiving vibrations from the sensor housing and transmitting the signal to the signal processing circuit board via a signal line. The circuit board protective housing covers the entire signal processing circuit board to isolate dust generated during the operation of the combine harvester and ensure the accuracy of the signal processing circuit board.

[0006] Preferably, the controller is used to control the operation of the entire monitoring system and realizes the wireless connection between the sensor and the host computer through the wireless transmission function in the controller, including a signal processing module and a wireless transmission module; wherein the seed counting method in the signal processing module can accurately determine the number of lost seeds by processing and analyzing the seed signal, and finally send it to the host computer through the wireless transmission module.

[0007] Preferably, the host computer can receive the amount of grain loss wirelessly transmitted by the grain loss monitoring sensor in real time, and display the amount of grain loss on the host computer interface in real time.

[0008] Preferably, the power supply system is used to power the grain loss monitoring sensor to ensure the normal operation of the entire corn harvest loss monitoring system.

[0009] This invention also discloses a method for counting grains, implemented using the aforementioned corn harvest loss monitoring system, comprising the following steps:

[0010] Step 1: The sensor monitors for material impact. If no material impacts the sensor, it waits until a grain impact signal appears.

[0011] Step 2: The signal processing module checks whether the interval t between square waves in the signal generated by the seed impact is less than a milliseconds. If the interval t is less than a milliseconds, the signal processing module determines that this group of signals is a single seed signal and increments the seed count by one; if the interval t is greater than a milliseconds, the signal processing module determines that the single seed impact process has ended.

[0012] Step 3: When the signal processing module detects that the interval t of the square wave signal in the seed signal is less than a milliseconds, and the total duration T of this group of signals is greater than b milliseconds, the monitoring system determines that this group of signals consists of multiple seed collisions. When 2b ms>T>b ms, the signal processing module determines that it is two seed signals, and the number of seeds N=N+2. When T>xb ms, the signal processing module determines that it is x seed signals, and the number of seeds N=N+x is calculated.

[0013] Step 4: The combine harvester completes its operation, and the monitoring system stops working.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0015] (1) The harvest loss monitoring system proposed in this invention realizes real-time monitoring during the operation of the combine harvester, and provides technical support and guidance for the operator to adjust the working parameters of the subsequent harvester in real time according to the grain loss during the operation, thereby reducing the grain loss in subsequent operations.

[0016] (2) The grain loss monitoring sensor proposed in this invention is applicable to corn crops and can accurately distinguish between grain signals and extraneous signals. It solves the technical difficulties in distinguishing between corn grains and broken cobs in current research and fills the gap in real-time monitoring of harvest loss during mechanized corn crop operations.

[0017] (3) This invention improves the traditional signal processing and counting methods for grain signals in signal processing circuits, and proposes a grain counting method based on signal interval duration. The novel grain counting method can effectively improve monitoring accuracy and has significant implications for improving the working efficiency of combine harvesters. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 is a flowchart of the overall workflow of a corn harvest loss monitoring system;

[0019] Figure 2 is a flowchart of a grain counting method;

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a grain counting method;

[0021] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the grain loss monitoring sensor structure;

[0022] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the host computer interface;

[0023] Meaning of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0024] 1. Grain loss monitoring sensor 2. Controller

[0025] 3. Host computer 4. Power supply system

[0026] 5. Filtering and Amplifying Module; 6. Rectifier Module

[0027] 7. Pulse conversion module; 8. Signal processing module

[0028] 9. Wireless transmission module; 10. Circuit board protective case

[0029] 11 Piezoelectric element 12 Signal processing circuit board

[0030] 13 Support columns 14 Vibration isolation devices

[0031] 15 Sensor housing 16 Seed signal

[0032] 17. Mandrel signal; 18. Bract signal. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The present invention will be further described below with reference to embodiments.

[0034] The corn harvest loss monitoring system proposed in this invention can be used for real-time monitoring of harvest loss during combine harvester operation. The system mainly includes a grain loss monitoring sensor 1, a controller 2, a host computer 3, and a power supply system 4.

[0035] The overall workflow of a corn harvest loss monitoring system disclosed in this invention is shown in Figure 1. The sensor 1 consists of a filtering and amplification module 5, a rectification module 6, and a pulse conversion module 7. The filtering and amplification module filters out the spindle signal 17 and husk signal 18, retaining the kernel signal 16. The rectification module 6 converts the signal into a positive half-cycle signal. The pulse conversion module converts the oscillating piezoelectric signal into a standard square wave pulse. The controller 2 consists of a signal processing module 8 and a wireless transmission module 9. The counting algorithm in the signal processing module 8 processes and calculates the signal transmitted from the kernel loss monitoring sensor 1 to accurately calculate the number of kernels. The wireless transmission module 9 transmits the monitored number of lost kernels to a host computer 3 via WiFi, and the host computer 3 displays the number of lost kernels in real time.

[0036] The workflow of the signal processing module 8 is shown in Figure 2, and the signal processing diagram is shown in Figure 3. The signal after passing through the pulse conversion module is a set of square wave pulses. When the time interval between the pulse signals in a set of pulses is t = max(t1, t2, t3…), the signal is processed by the signal processing module. <a ms),信号处理模块8将判定为这一组脉冲信号属于单个籽粒撞击产生，上位机3则显示籽粒数量n＝n+1，直到信号处理模块8计算得出t＝tf>When a ms is reached, the module will determine that the impact of a single grain has ended. Due to the uncertainty of the number of grains, the number of grains is relatively large when the combine harvester is working. When the signal processing module 8 calculates t in a set of pulses <a ms，并且本组脉冲总时长t>When 2b ms > T > b ms, the monitoring system determines that this group of pulses is generated by multiple grain impacts. When 2b ms > T > b ms, the signal processing module 8 determines that there are two grain signals and the number of grains N = N + 2. When T > xb ms, the signal processing module 8 determines that there are x grain signals and calculates the number of grains N = N + x.

[0037] The structure of the grain loss monitoring sensor of the present invention is shown in Figure 4. The monitoring sensor includes a circuit board protective shell 10, a piezoelectric element 11, a signal processing circuit board 12, a vibration isolation device 14, a support column 13, and a sensor housing 15. The circuit board protective shell 10 protects the signal processing circuit board 12 from dust interference generated during the operation of the combine harvester; the piezoelectric element 11 senses vibration and generates a piezoelectric signal; the signal processing circuit board 12 receives the piezoelectric signal generated by the piezoelectric element 11 and processes and converts the piezoelectric signal; the vibration isolation device 14 reduces vibration interference caused by non-material impacts, improving measurement accuracy; the support column 13 fixes the sensor 1 to the combine harvester; the sensor housing 15 is made of steel and is used to receive vibrations generated by material impacts and transmit the vibrations to the piezoelectric element 11.

[0038] The host computer interface of this invention is shown in Figure 5. The host computer is used to display the amount of grain loss in real time. It contains a data display window and can export the grain loss data for subsequent data processing and analysis.

[0039] The working process of this invention is as follows:

[0040] First, power system 4 is turned on to enable sensor 1, controller 2, and host computer 3 to operate and ensure that the wireless transmission module 9 in controller 2 is successfully connected to host computer 3. When the combine harvester performs threshing and cleaning operations on corn, the lost kernels, along with cobs, husks, and other materials, impact the housing 15 of sensor 1, causing vibration of the sensor housing 15. This vibration is transmitted to the piezoelectric element 11. The vibration generated during the operation of the combine harvester is filtered out by vibration isolation device 14, reducing monitoring errors. Due to the complexity of the materials, to ensure monitoring accuracy, the filter amplification module 5 in signal processing circuit board 12 filters out the cob signal 17 and husk signal 18, retaining only the kernel signal 16. Sensor 1 transmits the processed kernel signal 16 to controller 2. The signal processing module 8 in controller 2 converts the electrical signal into the number of lost kernels and displays the number of lost kernels in real time on host computer 3 via wireless transmission module 9.

[0041] By monitoring the amount of grain loss during the operation of a combine harvester in real time, it can provide a reference for the operator to adjust the working parameters in subsequent operations, which plays an important role in reducing subsequent grain loss and is conducive to improving the operating performance and economic benefits of the combine harvester.

[0042] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the description and drawings of the present invention, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the scope of protection of the present invention. ​

Claims

1. A corn harvest loss monitoring system, characterized in that, The system includes a grain loss monitoring sensor (1), a controller (2), a host computer (3), and a power system (4). The controller (2) is used to control the operation of the entire monitoring system and to realize the wireless connection between the sensor and the host computer (3) through the wireless transmission function in the controller (2). It includes a signal processing module (8) and a wireless transmission module (9). The grain counting method in the signal processing module (8) can accurately determine the number of lost grains by processing and analyzing the grain signal, and finally send it to the host computer (3) through the wireless transmission module (9). The corn harvest loss monitoring system is used to implement a grain counting method, including the following steps: Step 1: The sensor (1) monitors whether there is material impact. If there is no material impact on the sensor (1), it waits until the grain impact signal appears. Step 2: The signal processing module (8) checks whether the interval time t between the square waves in the signal generated by the grain impact is less than a. If the interval time t is less than a milliseconds, the signal processing module (8) determines that this group of signals is a single grain signal and increments the grain count by one; if the interval time t is greater than a milliseconds, the signal processing module (8) determines that the single grain impact process has ended; Step 3: When the signal processing module (8) detects that the interval time t of the square wave signal in the grain signal is less than a milliseconds, and the total duration T of this group of signals is greater than b milliseconds, the monitoring system determines that this group of signals consists of multiple grain impacts. When 2b ms > T > b ms, the signal processing module (8) determines that it is two grain signals and the number of grains N = N+2. When T > xb ms, the signal processing module (8) determines that it is x grain signals and calculates the number of grains N = N+x; Step 4: The combined harvester operation is completed and the monitoring system stops working.

2. The corn harvest loss monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The grain loss monitoring sensor (1) is used to monitor the impact of corn crop material in real time and generate corresponding signals. It includes a sensor housing (15), a support column (13), a vibration isolation device (14), a signal processing circuit board (12), a piezoelectric element (11), and a circuit board protective housing (10). The sensor housing (15) is in direct contact with the corn material, sensing the impact and transmitting the vibration to the piezoelectric element (11). The support column (13) is used to fix the sensor to the threshing and separating device. The vibration isolation device (14) is installed between the sensor housing (15) and the signal processing circuit board (12) to reduce vibration. The monitoring error caused by the inherent vibration and noise of the harvester during the operation of the sensor is reduced; the signal processing circuit board (12) is used to process the vibration of the piezoelectric element (11), convert the vibration into an electrical signal, and calculate the number of lost grains monitored in real time; the piezoelectric element (11) is the core component of the monitoring system, receives the vibration from the sensor housing (15), and transmits the signal to the signal processing circuit board (12) through the signal line; the circuit board protective housing (10) covers the entire signal processing circuit board (12) to isolate the dust generated during the operation of the combine harvester and ensure the accuracy of the signal processing circuit board (12).

3. The corn harvest loss monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The host computer (3) can receive the amount of grain loss transmitted wirelessly by the grain loss monitoring sensor (1) in real time, and display the amount of grain loss on the host computer (3) interface in real time.

4. The corn harvest loss monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply system (4) is used to power the grain loss monitoring sensor (1) to ensure the normal operation of the entire corn harvest loss monitoring system.

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