Harvest information provision device, harvest information provision method, and computer program

Abstract

The present invention provides information useful for efficient harvesting of crops to persons involved in a field. An acquisition part of this harvest information provision device acquires sampling information indicating results of performing sampling investigation on a maturity state of harvest objects in a field, and weather information in the field. A prediction part predicts a maturity rate, which is after the sampling investigation and is the rate of the harvest objects in a maturity state suitable for harvesting among the harvest objects per predetermined unit, by using the acquired sampling information and weather information and by using a model for predicting the transition of the maturity rate related to the harvest objects. An output part outputs information indicating the predicted maturity rate of the harvest objects.

Description

Harvest Information Providing Device, Harvest Information Providing Method, and Computer Program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technique for proposing the harvest date of crops in a field.

[0002] In many cases, the harvest date of crops in a field is scheduled based on the experience and intuition of crop producers and field managers who cultivate the crops (hereinafter, crop producers and field managers are collectively referred to as field-related persons). That is, field-related persons actually look at the crops to judge the degree of maturity of the crops, and based on this degree of maturity, field-related persons rely on experience and intuition to judge the number of days required until harvest, and thus, the harvest date of the crops is often scheduled in this way.

[0003] On the other hand, Patent Document 1 (International Publication No. 2020 / 026358) discloses a technique for predicting the harvest time by a computer. That is, Patent Document 1 shows a technique of using a drone to photograph all the cultivated crops, and by a computer, judging the maturity of each tomato, for example, from the photographed image, and estimating the day when the crops reach a predetermined maturity while taking into account weather data and the like, and predicting the optimal harvest time.

[0004] International Publication No. 2020 / 026358

[0005] In the technique shown in Patent Document 1, as described above, all the cultivated crops are photographed, and the maturity of each crop is judged from the photographed image to predict the harvest time. However, in a large-scale field, it is time-consuming and unrealistic to photograph all the cultivated crops and judge the maturity of each crop in this way. In addition, field-related persons do not always determine the harvest date of crops only based on the maturity of the crops. For example, there are cases where the harvest date of crops is determined in consideration of the availability of a harvesting machine and the request for the delivery date from the delivery destination to which the crops are delivered. Therefore, even if information on the optimal harvest time is presented, it may not be useful for field-related persons.

[0006] The primary objective of this disclosure is to provide a technology that can present field personnel with information useful for efficient crop harvesting.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the harvest information providing device in this disclosure, in one embodiment, comprises: an acquisition unit that acquires sampling information representing the results of a sampling survey of the maturity state of harvestable objects in a field and weather information in the field; a prediction unit that uses the acquired sampling information and weather information to predict the maturity ratio, which is the proportion of harvestable objects in a mature state suitable for harvesting per predetermined unit after the sampling survey, using a model that predicts the trend of the maturity ratio of the harvestable objects; and an output unit that outputs information representing the predicted maturity ratio of the harvestable objects.

[0008] Furthermore, in one aspect, the harvest information provision method in this disclosure involves using a computer to acquire sampling information representing the results of a sampling survey of the maturity state of harvestable plants in a field, and meteorological information of the field. Using the acquired sampling information and meteorological information, the system predicts the maturity ratio, which is the proportion of harvestable plants in a state of maturity suitable for harvesting per predetermined unit after the sampling survey, using a model that predicts the trend of the maturity ratio of the harvestable plants, and outputs information representing the predicted maturity ratio of the harvestable plants.

[0009] Furthermore, in one aspect, the computer program in this disclosure causes the computer to perform the following processes: acquiring sampling information representing the results of a sampling survey of the maturity state of harvestable plants in a field and weather information for the field; using the acquired sampling information and weather information, predicting the maturity rate, which is the proportion of harvestable plants in a mature state suitable for harvesting per predetermined unit after the sampling survey, using a model that predicts the trend of the maturity rate of the harvestable plants; and outputting information representing the predicted maturity rate of the harvestable plants.

[0010] According to this disclosure, information useful for efficient crop harvesting can be presented to those involved in the field.

[0011] This figure illustrates the configuration of an embodiment of the harvest information providing device in this disclosure. This figure shows an example of the progression of the maturation rate of the harvest target. This figure illustrates an example of a display mode in which the information output from the harvest information providing device is displayed. This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the harvest information providing device. This figure illustrates another example of a display mode in which the information output from the harvest information providing device is displayed. This figure illustrates yet another example of a display mode in which the information output from the harvest information providing device is displayed. This figure is used to illustrate one example of a configuration that receives information on the target harvest yield. This figure illustrates another example of the calculation of the progression of the maturation rate. This figure illustrates another embodiment of the harvest information providing device in this disclosure. This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of another embodiment of the harvest information providing device in this disclosure.

[0012] Embodiments relating to this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0013] <First Embodiment> The harvest information providing device of the first embodiment is a computer device that predicts the progress of the maturation rate of harvestable products in the field, calculates a recommended harvest date as the timing of harvesting using this information, and outputs information representing the recommended harvest date. Here, "harvested products" refers to individual fruits such as tomatoes, eggplants, and cucumbers, leafy vegetables (stem leaves) of a single plant such as spinach, or flower buds of a single plant such as broccoli. In other words, "harvested products" here refers to individual items that can become a single product. Thus, here, "harvested products" refers to individual items that can become a single product, but the harvesting of the harvested products is assumed to be a single harvest, not selective harvesting. Selective harvesting is a harvesting method in which harvested products are selected and harvested when they reach a state suitable for harvesting (hereinafter also referred to as the harvest maturity state). On the other hand, single harvesting is a harvesting method in which harvested products in the field are harvested all at once. Regarding batch harvesting, depending on the size of the field, the field may be divided into multiple sub-regions, and batch harvesting may be carried out for each of these sub-regions.

[0014] The harvest recommendation date calculated by the harvest information providing device of the first embodiment is the recommended harvest date when harvesting all harvestable items in the field at once. In the first embodiment, the maturity rate transition is used to calculate this harvest recommendation date. The maturity rate transition represents the change in the maturity rate over time. Here, the maturity rate represents the proportion of harvestable items in a harvestable state among the harvestable items per predetermined unit. For example, in the case of tomatoes, the predetermined unit is one plant, and the maturity rate is the ratio of the number of red tomatoes that have reached harvestable maturity to the total number of tomatoes on one plant. Also, in cases where there is only one harvestable item per plant, for example, a predetermined area in the field is used as the unit (unit area), and the maturity rate is the ratio of the number of harvestable items in a harvestable state to the total number of harvestable items in that unit area. The standard unit used to calculate the maturity rate is determined according to the variety of the harvestable item and the area of ​​the field.

[0015] In the first embodiment, a sampling survey is conducted to check the maturity status of the harvested crops in order to obtain the maturity rate of the harvested crops in the field. In other words, the maturity status of the harvested crops is not checked for the entire field, but rather sampling is performed to check the maturity status of harvested crops selected using a predetermined method. Here, the method for selecting the harvested crops to be sampled is not limited, so a description of that method is omitted. However, it is preferable that the harvested crops to be sampled are those that can be used to estimate the approximate maturity status of the harvested crops in the entire field where harvesting is performed, or in a partial area. In this case, the experience and intuition of those involved in the field may be used as the method for selecting the harvested crops to be sampled.

[0016] The sampling of the harvested crop's maturity status, as described above, is carried out, for example, at an appropriate time when the crop begins to ripen. Furthermore, the results of the sampling survey (the results of the maturity check of the harvested crop) are used to calculate the maturity rate of the crop on the day of sampling (hereinafter also referred to as the sampling day). The trend in the maturity rate of the crop after the sampling day is also predicted. Using the predicted trend in maturity rate, the day on which the maturity rate of the crop exceeds the harvest threshold is estimated, and this estimated day is used to calculate the recommended harvest date.

[0017] As mentioned earlier, this method assumes that the harvesting of the crops will be carried out by a single harvest in the field. Single harvesting requires preparation, such as preparing harvesting equipment, arranging for temporary manpower, and making reservations with receiving companies, such as processing companies, to accept the harvested crops. Therefore, knowing the recommended harvest date in advance is beneficial. Furthermore, if the day for calculating the recommended harvest date is designated as the sampling date, then the sampling date must be determined to allow sufficient preparation time and to ensure the accuracy of the calculation. In other words, to improve the accuracy of the recommended harvest date, it is preferable to set the sampling date close to the expected recommended harvest date; however, this would shorten the preparation period. The sampling date is determined taking these factors into consideration.

[0018] Incidentally, regarding the progression of maturation rate after the sampling date, for example in the case of tomatoes, it is conceivable to plan the harvest date by assuming that the maturation progresses at a constant rate, such as increasing by 3% per day. However, the rate of maturation is thought to be affected by the weather, and the weather changes from day to day, and the degree to which it is affected differs depending on the variety, so the rate of maturation is not constant. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the progression of maturation rate is predicted using weather information and variety information. In this way, the progression of maturation rate is predicted taking into account weather and variety information, and the recommended harvest date for the target product is calculated using the predicted progression of maturation rate.

[0019] The following describes the configuration of the harvest information providing device of the first embodiment, which calculates the recommended harvest date for the harvest target using the maturity rate progression described above. The harvest information providing device 1 of the first embodiment is a server device and is connected to the information source 3 and terminal device 5 shown in Figure 1 via an information communication network. The harvest information providing device 1 is also connected to an input device 7 and, if necessary, to a database 4. The input device 7 is a device used by the operator of the harvest information providing device 1 (hereinafter also referred to as the device operator) to input information into the harvest information providing device 1, and is composed of a keyboard, mouse, etc. The database 4 is a storage device, and the database 4 stores, if necessary, information obtained from the information source 3, information entered by the input device 7, and data calculated by the harvest information providing device 1.

[0020] Information source 3 is an information source that provides information to the harvest information providing device 1. In the first embodiment, one of the information sources 3 is an information source that provides weather information, which is connected to the harvest information providing device 1. The harvest information providing device 1 obtains weather information from the information source 3 for the area including the field where the target crop for which the recommended harvest date is calculated is planted (hereinafter also referred to as the target field). Weather information here includes actually observed past weather information and weather forecast information. In other words, past weather information is information that represents weather conditions actually observed by weather observation sensors (e.g., sunshine meter, anemometer, rain gauge) that observe weather conditions before the time of acquisition. Weather forecast information is information that represents weather conditions that are forecast to occur after the time of acquisition.

[0021] Furthermore, the number of information sources 3 to which the harvest information providing device 1 is connected is not limited to one, but may be multiple as needed. For example, in addition to the weather information sources described above, a weather observation sensor installed in the field to observe the weather conditions of the field may be given as another example of information source 3. Alternatively, a storage device (database) that stores information on the sensor output output from such a field weather observation sensor may be connected to the harvest information providing device 1 as information source 3. The information on the sensor output of the weather observation sensor stored in such a storage device (database) may include, for example, information on the time of observation and information on the observation location.

[0022] Furthermore, an example of another information source 3 to which the harvest information providing device 1 connects is a camera installed in the field. This camera is installed in the field, for example, to photograph the harvest target. The images of the harvest target taken by this camera are used to check the maturity state of the harvest target as described above. In other words, the camera is installed in the field to photograph the harvest target selected as the harvest target for sampling to check the maturity state as described above.

[0023] Furthermore, as another example of a source of information 3 to which the harvest information providing device 1 is connected, a storage device (database) that stores the results of sampling to check the maturity status of the harvested products (maturity status check results) may be mentioned. The information on maturity status check results stored in this storage device (database) may be the results of maturity status checks using images captured by the aforementioned imaging device, or it may be the results of maturity status checks by sampling performed by field personnel. Sampling by field personnel refers to sampling performed by field personnel to actually observe the harvested products in the field.

[0024] As described above, the harvest information providing device 1 may be connected to multiple types of information sources, but here, even if they are different types of information sources, the same code will be assigned to the information sources that provide information to the harvest information providing device 1.

[0025] Terminal device 5 is a computer device operated by a user who is involved in the field (such as a field manager or crop producer). Terminal device 5 has communication capabilities and a display control function that controls the display device 8 to display information. The type of terminal device 5 is not limited to any information device that has communication and display control functions, but specific examples include personal computers, tablets, and smartphones. If terminal device 5 is a smartphone or tablet, the display device 8 is integrated with terminal device 5, but if terminal device 5 is a personal computer, the display device 8 may be external. Furthermore, the connection between terminal device 5 and harvest information provision device 1 is performed by an application program (app) that gives terminal device 5 the function to cooperate with harvest information provision device 1. Alternatively, the connection between terminal device 5 and harvest information provision device 1 may be performed by a browser (software for viewing information on the internet). Whether the connection between terminal device 5 and harvest information provision device 1 is performed by an app or a browser is set as appropriate by the system designer, etc., and is not limited here. Furthermore, in the example shown in Figure 1, one terminal device 5 is connected to the harvest information providing device 1, but the harvest information providing device 1 can be connected to multiple terminal devices 5 belonging to different users.

[0026] The harvest information providing device 1 of the first embodiment comprises a processing unit 10 and a storage device 20. The storage device 20 has a storage medium for storing data and computer programs (hereinafter also referred to as programs) 22. There are multiple types of storage devices, and computer devices are equipped with multiple types of storage devices depending on their purpose. Here, the types and number of storage devices provided in the harvest information providing device 1 are not limited, and their explanation is omitted.

[0027] The arithmetic unit 10 is composed of processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The arithmetic unit 10 can have various functions based on the program 22 stored in the storage device 20 by reading and executing the program 22. In the first embodiment, the arithmetic unit 10 has an acquisition unit 11, a prediction unit 12, a calculation unit 13, and an output unit 14 as a functional unit for calculating the recommended harvest date for the harvest target.

[0028] The acquisition unit 11 acquires information representing the maturity state of the harvested crops in the field. As mentioned above, the information representing the maturity state of the harvested crops in the field is obtained through sampling, and therefore this information is also referred to as sampling information. The acquisition unit 11 acquires such sampling information from the information source 3.

[0029] Incidentally, the form of sampling information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 from the information source 3 varies depending on the sampling method. For example, in the case of sampling by field personnel, the sampling information is information representing the maturity rate observed by the field personnel. In the case of sampling using photographs, the sampling information is, for example, a photograph of the harvested product.

[0030] Furthermore, if the acquisition unit 11 acquires a photograph of the harvested object as sampling information, it obtains the maturity rate of the harvested object (i.e., the rate of harvested objects in a harvest-maturity state per unit, determined according to the variety of the harvested object) by image analysis of the photograph.

[0031] The acquisition unit 11 further acquires weather information from the weather information source 3. The weather information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 is weather information for the area including the field, for example, weather information for the period from when the crop to be harvested is planted in the field (from the planting date) to the sampling date when sampling regarding the maturation state of the crop to be harvested is performed. The weather information acquired includes, for example, solar radiation, temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, and wind speed, which are thought to be involved in the progression of maturation of the crop to be harvested. The acquisition unit 11 also acquires weather forecast information for after the sampling date as weather information.

[0032] The information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 is stored in the storage device 20 or the database 4. If there are multiple target fields, the information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 is associated with the identification information of the field related to that information and stored in the storage device 20 or the database 4.

[0033] The information acquisition process by the acquisition unit 11 described above is executed at the following timings, for example. One example of the timing for executing the information acquisition process is when the sampling of the maturity state of the harvest target in the field is input to the harvest information providing device 1 by a field worker using the terminal device 5, or by a device operator using the input device 7.

[0034] The prediction unit 12 uses the sampling information and weather information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 to predict the maturity rate of the harvested products after the sampling date (in other words, after the sampling survey). Here, the prediction unit 12 predicts the change in the maturity rate (maturity rate change) after the sampling date, for example, as shown in Figure 2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is used to predict the change in the maturity rate.

[0035] In other words, the prediction unit 12 uses a prediction model based on AI technology. This prediction model predicts the progression of the maturation rate. The information input to this prediction model (input data) includes information on the type (variety) of the harvested crop, information on the planting date, information on the maturation rate of the harvested crop on the sampling date, and weather information for the field. The information output from the prediction model is the progression of the maturation rate from the sampling date onward. This prediction model is generated by machine learning using AI technology. This machine learning uses the following data as training data. This training data is relationship data between actual information on the progression of the maturation rate during the cultivation period of crops in years prior to the year for which the progression of the maturation rate is being predicted (i.e., the previous year or the year before that, etc.) and information related to the maturation of the harvested crop. The information related to the maturation of the harvested crop here includes past weather information related to the actual information on the progression of the maturation rate used to generate the prediction model, the type (variety) of the crop, and the soil properties of the field. Furthermore, past weather information includes temperature after planting (e.g., average daily temperature), solar radiation, relative humidity, rainfall, and wind speed. Furthermore, processed information such as accumulated temperature, accumulated solar radiation, and accumulated rainfall after planting, as well as average temperature during the period from day 0 to day 30 after planting, may be included as historical meteorological information calculated through statistical processing over a predetermined period.

[0036] A predictive model generated by machine learning using this information is pre-provided to the harvest information providing device 1. The prediction unit 12 inputs input data such as information on the type (variety) of the harvest target, information on the planting date, information on the maturity rate of the harvest target on the sampling date, and weather information in the field into the predictive model. The input data, such as the type of harvest target and the planting date, is stored in advance in a storage device 20, for example.

[0037] Based on the input data, the prediction unit 12 predicts the trend in the maturity rate after the sampling date using a prediction model. This prediction process of the maturity rate trend by the prediction unit 12 is executed, for example, when the acquisition unit 11 acquires sampling information and weather information.

[0038] The calculation unit 13 calculates the harvest timing using information on the predicted maturation rate progression. Here, the harvest timing is the recommended harvest date, which is the date on which harvesting of the target crop is recommended. For example, the calculation unit 13 identifies the day on which the maturation rate of the target crop in the field exceeds the threshold for determining harvest (hereinafter also referred to as the reference date for calculating the harvest date) from the information on the maturation rate progression. Then, the calculation unit 13 calculates the recommended harvest date by adding a predetermined number of waiting days (for example, 4 days) from that reference date for calculating the harvest date.

[0039] The harvest threshold is a threshold used to determine whether or not it is appropriate to harvest all of the crops in a field at once, using information on the degree of maturity. For example, 90% is set as the harvest threshold. The setting of the harvest threshold is determined by considering the target yield of the crops to be harvested from the field. In other words, the relationship between the degree of maturity of the crops and the yield of the crops harvested at that degree of maturity (data on the relationship between the degree of maturity and the yield) can be estimated using the type of crop, past performance, the area of ​​the field, and the total number of plants of the crops. Using this estimated information (data on the relationship between the degree of maturity and the yield), the degree of maturity required to obtain the target yield in the field is determined, and this degree of maturity is set as the harvest threshold. Note that the data on the relationship between the degree of maturity and the yield used to set the harvest threshold is data from a period when the degree of maturity is on an upward trend. In other words, once the crops have passed the point of maturity at which they can be sold, they become unsaleable due to discoloration, decay, falling, etc. As the number of harvestable crops increases, even if the maturity rate remains the same, the yield of the harvested crops will decrease. Taking this into consideration, the relationship data between maturity rate and yield used to set the harvest threshold is based on data from a period when the maturity rate trend is on an upward trend.

[0040] In the first embodiment, the day on which the harvest yield of the target crop is predicted to be the highest is calculated as the recommended harvest day. As shown in Figure 2, the maturity rate continues to rise even after the reference day for calculating the harvest date, when the maturity rate of the target crop exceeds the threshold for harvest determination. As a result, it is assumed that harvesting the target crop in bulk on a day later than the reference day for calculating the harvest date will result in a higher yield than harvesting the target crop in bulk on the reference day. Therefore, taking into account the type of target crop, the number of days required from the reference day for calculating the harvest date to the day on which the yield is highest is estimated, and this number of days is set as the waiting period. As mentioned above, once the target crop has passed the maturity stage where it can be sold as a product, some of it will become unsaleable due to discoloration, decay, or falling off. When such deterioration of the target crop begins, the yield of the target crop will decrease even if the maturity rate remains the same. The waiting period is set taking these factors into consideration.

[0041] The calculation unit 13 uses the harvest determination threshold and waiting period set as described above to calculate a recommended harvest date for the harvested crop based on the predicted maturity rate progression information. In the above explanation, the recommended harvest date is shown as an example where the harvest date is determined in order to maximize the harvest yield of the crop. However, the recommended harvest date may also be determined by considering the weather on the day of planned harvest, while aiming to maximize the harvest yield in this way. In other words, since harvesting is difficult in bad weather, the calculation unit 13 calculates the recommended harvest date while avoiding such bad weather days. For example, suppose the calculation unit 13 calculates a day to maximize the harvest yield of the crop as described above, and detects from weather forecast information that the calculated day will have bad weather making harvesting difficult. In such a case, the calculation unit 13 sets a recommended harvest date that is after the reference date for calculating the harvest date, but before the calculated date, and has weather suitable for harvesting.

[0042] The output unit 14 outputs information representing the recommended harvest date as recommended harvest date information. This information is output to, for example, a terminal device 5. When the terminal device 5 receives this information, it displays the information representing the recommended harvest date on the display device 8 using, for example, a predetermined display template. The form of this screen display is not limited to displaying information representing the recommended harvest date, but one example is shown in Figure 3. In the example in Figure 3, the display screen of the display device 8 shows the name of the harvest target (represented as ○○○ in the example in Figure 3) along with characters representing the recommended harvest date. In addition, information representing the maturity rate progression, which is the basis for calculating the recommended harvest date, is also displayed on the display screen of the display device 8. When such a screen display is made on the display device 8, the output unit 14 outputs not only the recommended harvest date information but also information such as the maturity rate progression that is displayed together with the recommended harvest date information. By displaying such information representing the maturity rate progression, which is the basis for calculating the recommended harvest date, together with the recommended harvest date information, field personnel and others who see the display can understand the basis for calculating the recommended harvest date. Displaying this type of information is expected to give field personnel and others a sense of satisfaction with the calculated recommended harvest date, and to allow them to adjust the actual harvest date based on information on the progression of maturity.

[0043] The harvest information providing device 1 of the first embodiment has the configuration described above. Next, an example of the operation of this harvest information providing device 1 will be explained with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the harvest information providing device 1.

[0044] For example, assume that the harvesting target in the target field is sampled at a predetermined timing of its maturity state. The acquisition unit 11 of the arithmetic unit 10 in the harvesting information providing apparatus 1 receives information indicating that sampling has been executed, for example, and acquires such sampling information as sampling information (step 101). For example, when a captured image of the harvesting target taken on the sampling date by the imaging device is stored in the information source 3, the acquisition unit 11 acquires the captured image of the harvesting target on the sampling date from the information source 3 as sampling information. Or, when the maturity state of the harvesting target is checked by a field-related person or the like and the result of the check is stored in the information source 3 as a sampling result, the acquisition unit 11 may acquire the sampling result from the information source 3 as sampling information. Also, when such a sampling result is input to the harvesting information providing apparatus 1 by a field-related person or the like using the terminal device 5, the acquisition unit 11 may acquire the sampling result as sampling information. The sampling information thus acquired is stored in the storage device 20 or the database 4 with information such as the date and time of sampling associated therewith.

[0045] Also, when the acquisition unit 11 acquires the information of the sampling date from the information indicating that sampling has been executed, it acquires the meteorological information in the field from the planting date to the sampling date and the information of the weather forecast after the sampling date from the information source 3 of the meteorological information (step 102).

[0046] After acquiring the sampling information and the meteorological information, the prediction unit 12 predicts the transition of the maturity ratio of the harvesting target to be predicted using the acquired sampling information and meteorological information, the variety information of the harvesting target to be predicted, and the information of the planting date (step 103).

[0047] Thereafter, the calculation unit 13 calculates the recommended harvesting date using the information on the predicted transition of the maturity ratio of the harvesting target, the harvesting determination threshold value, and the waiting period (step 104).

[0048] Then, the output unit 14 outputs information representing the calculated recommended harvest date, for example, to the terminal device 5 of the field personnel (step 105). As a result, the information on the recommended harvest date is displayed on the display device 8 in the terminal device 5 of the field personnel, and the information on the recommended harvest date of the harvest target is notified to the field personnel.

[0049] As described above, the harvest information providing device 1 of the first embodiment is configured. The harvest information providing device 1 does not acquire information on the maturity state of each individual harvest target in the field, but acquires information on the maturity state of sampled harvest targets in the field. That is, the harvest information providing device 1 acquires information on the maturity state of a part of the harvest targets selected from the harvest targets in the field. Thereby, the harvest information providing device 1 can reduce the processing load related to the acquisition of information representing the maturity state of the harvest targets as compared with the case of acquiring information on the maturity state of each individual harvest target in the field.

[0050] In addition, the harvest information providing device 1 predicts the transition of the ripening ratio of the harvest target using not only the sampling information representing the maturity state of the harvest target in the field but also the weather information in the field and the variety information of the harvest target. For example, there may be a case where the transition of the ripening ratio is predicted with a constant increase rate such that the ripening ratio increases by 3% per day. However, in reality, since the weather conditions such as the temperature and sunshine hours in the field vary daily and are not the same, it is assumed that the increase rate of the ripening ratio per day changes depending on the weather conditions when the ripening ratio has an increasing tendency. Furthermore, it is assumed that the degree of influence of the weather conditions on the increase rate of the ripening ratio also varies depending on the variety. Since the harvest information providing device 1 of the first embodiment predicts the transition of the ripening ratio using the weather information in the field and the variety information of the harvest target by the prediction unit 12, it is possible to predict the transition of the ripening ratio that reflects the change rate per day of the ripening ratio that changes according to the weather information and the variety. In particular, in the first embodiment, the prediction unit 12 predicts the transition of the ripening ratio using a prediction model based on AI technology. Thereby, the harvest information providing device 1 can further improve the reliability of the predicted transition of the ripening ratio.

[0051] Furthermore, the harvest information provider 1 uses the predicted maturity rate progression to calculate and output the recommended harvest date suitable for harvesting the crop. This output information allows field personnel to know the recommended harvest date suitable for harvesting the crop without relying on experience or intuition.

[0052] <Other Embodiments> This disclosure is not limited to the first embodiment, and various embodiments are possible. For example, in the first embodiment, the information output by the harvest information providing device 1 includes information representing the recommended harvest date and the information used to calculate it. In addition, the output unit 14 of the harvest information providing device 1 may also output information on the estimated harvest yield of the target crop when harvested on the recommended harvest date. In this case, for example, the calculation unit 13 calculates the recommended harvest date and the estimated harvest yield of the target crop when harvested on the recommended harvest date.

[0053] Furthermore, the calculation unit 13 may also calculate the estimated yield if harvesting were to take place on the days before or after the recommended harvest date. In this case, the output unit 14 may also output the estimated yield if harvesting were to take place on at least one of the days before or after the calculated recommended harvest date.

[0054] Furthermore, the output unit 14 may also output weather forecast information (weather information) for the recommended harvest date and the days before and after it. Figure 5 shows an example of the screen display of the display device 8 of the terminal device 5 when such information is also output. Field personnel can look at the screen display of the display device 8 and plan the bulk harvest of the crops to be harvested in the field. In the example in Figure 5, weather forecast information for one day before and one day after the recommended harvest date is displayed. Alternatively, weather forecast information for one of the days specified by the field personnel or device operator, either one day before or one day after the recommended harvest date, may be displayed. Also, information on the number of days, such as three days before the recommended harvest date, may be accepted, and weather forecast information for the day determined using the accepted number of days may also be displayed.

[0055] Incidentally, the size of the display screen of a display device equipped in a smartphone is assumed to be smaller than that of a display device connected to a personal computer. For this reason, for example, when the output unit 14 outputs information on the recommended harvest date to the terminal device 5, which is a smartphone, the following output control may be performed. For example, the output unit 14 outputs information on the recommended harvest date to the terminal device (smartphone) 5, but does not output information such as weather information and estimated harvest yield as described above until the terminal device 5 requests such information. In this way, the output unit 14 may variably control the amount of information output to the terminal device 5 depending on the type of terminal device 5. Figure 6 shows an example of the display screen of the display device 8 of the terminal device 5, which is a smartphone. In the example of Figure 6, the display screen of the display device 8 shows information indicating the recommended harvest date of the target crop, and also displays an icon 81 for the maturity rate progression and an icon 82 for the weather forecast. The icon 81 for the maturity rate progression is an icon for requesting the provision of prediction information on the maturity rate progression used to calculate the recommended harvest date. The icon 82 for the weather forecast is an icon for requesting information on the weather forecast for the recommended harvest date, or for the days before and after the recommended harvest date. When icons 81 and 82 are used to send an information request from terminal device 5 to harvest information providing device 1, harvest information providing device 1 accepts the request and sends (outputs) the information corresponding to the request back to terminal device 5. When terminal device 5 receives information on the maturation rate progression and weather forecast from harvest information providing device 1, it further displays the received information on the display screen of display device 8.

[0056] The harvest information providing device 1 may further have the following configuration (functions). That is, in the first embodiment, the harvest information providing device 1 calculates the day on which the harvest yield of the target crop exceeds the target yield and can be maximized as the recommended harvest day. Alternatively, for example, the calculation unit 13 of the harvest information providing device 1 estimates the day on which the harvest yield of the target crop exceeds the target yield, using information on the predicted maturity rate progression of the target crop and pre-provided relationship data between the maturity rate and the harvest yield of the target crop. If the estimated day is one day, the calculation unit 13 calculates that estimated day as the recommended harvest day. If multiple days on which the target yield will exceed the target yield are estimated, for example, the calculation unit 13 calculates the day selected according to a predetermined selection rule, such as setting the first day of those multiple days as the recommended harvest day, as the recommended harvest day.

[0057] Furthermore, if the calculation unit 13 has the configuration described above, the calculation unit 13 may also have the following configuration. For example, the calculation unit 13 may receive information about a change in the target yield, and if it receives information about a change in the target yield of the harvested crop, it will use the information about the changed target yield to recalculate the recommended harvest date, which is the recommended date for harvesting the changed target yield. Then, if the output unit 14 has calculated the changed recommended harvest date, it will output the information about the changed recommended harvest date. In such a case, for example, the information about the changed target yield is received by displaying on the display device 8 of the terminal device 5, as shown in Figure 7. Then, the calculation unit 13 and output unit 14 transmit the information about the changed recommended harvest date to the terminal device 5 and display it on the display device 8.

[0058] Furthermore, the prediction unit 12 may have the following configuration. That is, in the first embodiment, the prediction unit 12 predicts the maturity rate transition using weather forecast information obtained from the information source 3. In addition to this, the prediction unit 12 may also predict the maturity rate transition considering deviations from the obtained weather forecast as reference information. For example, in the example of Figure 8, in addition to the maturity rate transition K predicted using weather forecast information obtained from the information source 3, the prediction unit 12 also predicts maturity rate transitions Ku and Kd as reference information. Maturity rate transition Ku represents an example of the maturity rate transition when it is assumed that the weather after the sampling date is better than the weather forecast and the sunshine hours (cumulative sunshine hours) are greater than the forecast. Maturity rate transition Kd represents an example of the maturity rate transition when it is assumed that the weather after the sampling date is worse than the weather forecast and the sunshine hours (cumulative sunshine hours) are less than the forecast.

[0059] Furthermore, if the prediction unit 12 predicts the maturation rate trend as reference information, the calculation unit 13 may calculate a recommended harvest date for the harvested crop using that reference information, the maturation rate trend, as a reference recommended harvest date. Furthermore, if such a reference recommended harvest date is calculated, the output unit 14 may output information representing that reference recommended harvest date, as well as the reference information predicted by the prediction unit 12.

[0060] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the calculation unit 13 calculates the recommended harvest date as the harvest timing. Alternatively, the calculation unit 13 may calculate a recommended harvest period as the harvest timing. For example, the calculation unit 13 calculates a predetermined period including the recommended harvest date as described above as the recommended harvest period. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the information on the type (variety) of the harvest target used by the prediction unit 12 for prediction processing is shown as being stored in advance in the storage device 20. Alternatively, for example, the acquisition unit 11 may acquire information on the type (variety) of the harvest target entered by field personnel, and the prediction unit 12 may use this acquired information for prediction processing.

[0061] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the harvest information providing device 1 includes a calculation unit 13 and has a configuration that enables it to output (provide) information on harvest timing. Alternatively, for example, depending on the performance of the computer device constituting the harvest information providing device 1, the calculation unit 13 in the harvest information providing device 1 may be omitted in order to reduce the load on the computer device. In this case, for example, the output unit 14 of the harvest information providing device 1 does not output (cannot output) information on harvest timing (recommended harvest date), but instead outputs information on the transition of the maturity rate as information representing the maturity rate of the harvest target predicted by the prediction unit 12.

[0062] The harvest information providing device in this disclosure may also take the configuration shown in Figure 9, for example. The harvest information providing device 50 shown in Figure 9 is, for example, a computer device and includes an acquisition unit 51, a prediction unit 52, and an output unit 53 as functional units realized by executing a computer program.

[0063] The acquisition unit 51 acquires sampling information representing the results of a sampling survey of the maturity state of harvestable crops in the field, and meteorological information for the field. The prediction unit 52 uses the acquired sampling information and meteorological information to predict the maturity rate after the sampling survey. The maturity rate is the percentage of harvestable crops in a mature state suitable for harvesting, out of a predetermined number of harvestable crops per unit. The output unit 53 outputs information representing the predicted maturity rate of harvestable crops. The acquisition unit 11, prediction unit 12, and output unit 14 described in the first embodiment are examples of the acquisition unit 51, prediction unit 52, and output unit 53 described above, respectively.

[0064] Next, an example of the operation of the harvest information providing device 50 will be explained using Figure 10. Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the harvest information providing device 50. For example, when the maturity state of the harvest target in the field has been sampled, the acquisition unit 51 acquires the sampling information obtained from the sampling and also acquires weather information in the field (step 201). Then, the prediction unit 52 uses the acquired sampling information and weather information to predict the maturity rate (step 202).

[0065] Subsequently, the output unit 53 outputs information on the predicted maturity rate of the harvested products (step 203).

[0066] The harvest information providing device 50 is configured as described above. In other words, instead of checking the maturity status of all harvestable crops in the field, sampling is performed to check the maturity status of only some of the harvestable crops, thereby reducing the burden associated with checking the maturity status of the harvestable crops. Furthermore, the harvest information providing device 50 outputs information on the predicted maturity rate using the sampling information and weather information, so field personnel can refer to this information on the maturity rate to determine the harvesting timing while taking into account factors such as the availability and delivery status of harvesting machines, while aiming to maximize the harvest yield. In short, the harvest information providing device 50 can provide field personnel with useful information for efficient crop harvesting.

[0067] Some or all of the above embodiments may also be described as follows, but are not limited to the following: (Note 1) A harvest information providing device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires sampling information representing the results of a sampling survey of the maturity state of harvestable objects in a field and weather information in the field; a prediction unit that uses the acquired sampling information and weather information to predict the maturity ratio, which is the proportion of harvestable objects in a predetermined unit that are in a mature state suitable for harvesting, after the sampling survey, using a model that predicts the change in the maturity ratio of the harvestable objects; and an output unit that outputs information representing the predicted maturity ratio of the harvestable objects. (Note 2) The harvest information providing device according to Note 1, further comprising a calculation unit that calculates the harvest timing for harvesting the harvestable objects using the predicted maturity ratio information of the harvestable objects, wherein the output unit outputs information representing the harvest timing in place of the predicted maturity ratio information of the harvestable objects, or outputs information representing the harvest timing in addition to the predicted maturity ratio information of the harvestable objects. (Note 3) The harvest information providing device according to Note 2, wherein the prediction unit predicts the change in the maturity rate of the harvest target, which represents the change in the maturity rate of the harvest target after the sampling survey, and the calculation unit calculates the harvest timing for harvesting the harvest target by using the information on the change in the maturity rate as information on the maturity rate of the harvest target. (Note 4) The harvest information providing device according to Note 3, wherein the prediction unit predicts the change in the maturity rate using a prediction model that is generated by machine learning the relationship between actual information representing the maturity state of the harvest target and information including at least meteorological information related to the maturity of the harvest target, and takes sampling information on the maturity state of the harvest target and meteorological information as input and outputs the change in the maturity rate. (Note 5) The harvest information providing device according to Note 2, wherein the calculation unit further uses information representing the target yield of the harvest target in the field to calculate the recommended harvest date.(Note 6) The harvest information providing device according to Note 2, wherein the calculation unit further estimates the harvest yield of the harvested plant at the harvest timing using data relating the maturity rate of the harvested plant to the yield of the harvested plant in the field and information on the maturity rate of the harvested plant at the harvest timing, and the output unit also outputs information representing the estimated harvest yield of the harvested plant. (Note 7) The harvest information providing device according to Note 5, wherein if the calculation unit receives information to change the target yield of the harvested plant, it recalculates the harvest timing using the information on the changed target yield. (Note 8) The harvest information providing device according to Note 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires variety information of the harvested plant, and the prediction unit predicts the maturity rate of the harvested plant using the acquired variety information of the harvested plant. (Note 9) A harvest information provision method comprising: obtaining sampling information representing the results of a sampling survey of the maturity status of harvestable materials in a field using a computer, and weather information for the field; using the obtained sampling information and weather information, predicting the maturity rate, which is the proportion of harvestable materials in a mature state suitable for harvesting per predetermined unit after the sampling survey, using a model that predicts the trend of the maturity rate of the harvestable materials; and outputting information representing the predicted maturity rate of the harvestable materials. (Note 10) The harvest information provision method according to Note 9, further comprising: calculating the harvest timing for harvesting the harvestable materials using the predicted information on the maturity rate of the harvestable materials; outputting information representing the harvest timing instead of the predicted information on the maturity rate of the harvestable materials; or outputting information representing the harvest timing in addition to the predicted information on the maturity rate of the harvestable materials. (Note 11) The harvest information provision method according to Note 10, wherein the maturity rate trend, which represents the temporal change in the maturity rate of the harvestable materials after the sampling survey, is predicted as the prediction of the maturity rate; and the information on the maturity rate trend is used as the information on the maturity rate of the harvestable materials for calculating the harvest timing.(Note 12) The harvest information provision method according to Note 11, wherein the prediction of the maturation rate trend is performed using a model generated by machine learning the relationship between actual information representing the maturation state of the harvested product and information including at least meteorological information related to the maturation of the harvested product, and the prediction model takes sampling information on the maturation state of the harvested product and meteorological information as input and outputs the maturation rate trend. (Note 13) The harvest information provision method according to Note 10, wherein the harvest timing is calculated by computer using information representing the target yield of the harvested product in the field. (Note 14) The harvest information provision method according to Note 10, wherein the computer further estimates the yield of the harvested product at the harvest timing using relationship data between the maturation rate of the harvested product and the yield of the harvested product in the field, and information on the maturation rate of the harvested product on the recommended harvest date, and also outputs information representing the estimated yield of the harvested product. (Note 15) The harvest information provision method according to Note 14, wherein if information is received to change the target yield of the harvested product, the harvest timing is recalculated by computer using the information on the changed target yield. (Note 16) The harvest information provision method described in Note 9, further comprising obtaining variety information of the harvest target and using the obtained variety information of the harvest target to predict the maturity rate of the harvest target. (Note 17) A computer program that causes a computer to perform the following processes: a process of obtaining sampling information representing the results of a sampling survey of the maturity status of the harvest target in a field and weather information for the field; a process of using the obtained sampling information and weather information to predict the maturity rate, which is the proportion of harvest target objects in a mature state suitable for harvesting per predetermined unit after the sampling survey, using a model that predicts the trend of the maturity rate of the harvest target; and a process of outputting information representing the predicted maturity rate of the harvest target.(Note 18) A computer program as described in Note 17 that causes the computer to perform the following processes: calculating the harvest timing for harvesting the harvested material using information on the predicted maturity rate of the harvested material; outputting information representing the harvest timing in place of the predicted maturity rate of the harvested material; or outputting information representing the harvest timing in addition to the predicted maturity rate of the harvested material. (Note 19) A computer program as described in Note 18 that causes the computer to perform the following processes as prediction of the maturity rate: predicting the change in the maturity rate of the harvested material over time after the sampling survey; and using information on the change in maturity rate as information on the maturity rate of the harvested material for calculating the harvest timing. (Note 20) A computer program as described in Note 19 that causes the computer to perform the following processes as prediction of the change in maturity rate: using a model generated by machine learning the relationship between actual information representing the maturity state of the harvested material and information including at least meteorological information related to the maturity of the harvested material, which takes sampling information on the maturity state of the harvested material and meteorological information as input and outputs the change in maturity rate. (Note 21) The computer program described in Note 19, which causes the computer to perform a process that further uses information representing the target yield of the harvested crop in the field in order to calculate the harvest timing. (Note 22) The computer program described in Note 18, which causes the computer to perform a process that further estimates the yield of the harvested crop at the harvest timing using relationship data between the maturity rate of the harvested crop and the yield of the harvested crop in the field, and information on the maturity rate of the harvested crop at the harvest timing, and a process that outputs information representing the estimated yield of the harvested crop. (Note 23) The computer program described in Note 21, which, when information is received to change the target yield of the harvested crop, causes the computer to perform a process that recalculates the harvest timing using the information on the changed target yield. (Note 24) The computer program described in Note 17, which causes the computer to perform a process that acquires variety information of the harvested crop, and a process that predicts the maturity rate of the harvested crop using the acquired variety information of the harvested crop.

[0068] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications to the structure and details of the present disclosure can be made as can be understood by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, each embodiment can be combined with other embodiments as appropriate.

[0069] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-007516, filed on 20 January 2025, and incorporates all of its disclosures herein.

[0070] 1, 50 Harvest information providing device 11, 51 Acquisition unit 12, 52 Prediction unit 13 Calculation unit 14, 53 Output unit 5 Terminal device 8 Display device

Claims

1. A harvest information providing device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires sampling information representing the results of a sampling survey of the maturity status of harvestable products in a field, and weather information for the field; a prediction unit that uses the acquired sampling information and weather information to predict the maturity rate, which is the proportion of harvestable products in a mature state suitable for harvesting per predetermined unit after the sampling survey, using a model that predicts the trend of the maturity rate of the harvestable products; and an output unit that outputs information representing the predicted maturity rate of the harvestable products.

2. The harvest information providing device according to claim 1, further comprising a calculation unit that calculates a harvest timing for harvesting a target product using information on the predicted maturity rate of the target product, wherein the output unit outputs information representing the harvest timing in place of the information on the predicted maturity rate of the target product, or outputs information representing the harvest timing in addition to the information on the predicted maturity rate of the target product.

3. The harvest information providing device according to claim 2, wherein the prediction unit predicts the change in the maturity rate of the harvest target, which represents the change in the maturity rate of the harvest target after the sampling survey, and the calculation unit calculates the harvest timing for harvesting the harvest target by using the information on the change in the maturity rate as information on the maturity rate of the harvest target.

4. The harvest information providing device according to claim 3, wherein the prediction unit predicts the maturation rate trend using a prediction model that is generated by machine learning the relationship between actual information on the maturation rate trend of the harvest target and information including at least meteorological information related to the maturation of the harvest target, and takes sampling information on the maturation state of the harvest target and meteorological information as inputs and outputs the maturation rate trend.

5. The harvest information providing device according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit further uses information representing the target yield of the harvested crop in the field to calculate the harvest timing.

6. The harvest information providing device according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit further estimates the amount of harvested material at the time of harvest using data relating the maturity rate of the harvested material and the amount of harvested material in the field, and information on the maturity rate of the harvested material at the time of harvest, and the output unit also outputs information representing the estimated amount of harvested material.

7. The harvest information providing device according to claim 5, wherein, when the calculation unit receives information to change the target harvest amount of the harvested product, it recalculates the harvest timing using the information of the changed target harvest amount.

8. The harvest information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires variety information of the harvest target, and the prediction unit uses the acquired variety information of the harvest target to predict the maturity rate of the harvest target.

9. The harvest information providing device according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit calculates the harvest timing while avoiding days with bad weather.

10. The harvest information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the prediction unit predicts the change in the maturation rate as reference information, taking into account cases where the forecast deviates from the weather forecast included in the weather information, and the output unit outputs the reference information.

11. The harvest information providing device according to claim 10, further comprising a calculation unit that calculates a recommended harvest date for the harvest target as a reference recommended harvest date based on the changes in the maturity rate represented by the reference information, wherein the output unit outputs information representing the calculated reference recommended harvest date.

12. The harvest information providing device according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit calculates a predetermined period including the recommended harvest date calculated as the harvest timing as the recommended harvest period.

13. The harvest information providing device according to claim 2, wherein the output unit controls the amount of information to be output according to the type of terminal device that outputs information representing the harvest timing.

14. A harvest information provision method comprising: using a computer to acquire sampling information representing the results of a sampling survey of the maturity status of harvestable products in a field, and meteorological information for the field; using the acquired sampling information and meteorological information to predict the maturity rate, which is the proportion of harvestable products in a mature state suitable for harvesting per predetermined unit after the sampling survey, using a model that predicts the trend of the maturity rate of the harvestable products; and outputting information representing the predicted maturity rate of the harvestable products.

15. A computer program that causes a computer to perform the following steps: acquire sampling information representing the results of a sampling survey of the maturity status of harvestable crops in a field, and meteorological information for the field; use the acquired sampling information and meteorological information to predict the maturity rate, which is the proportion of harvestable crops in a mature state suitable for harvesting per predetermined unit after the sampling survey, using a model that predicts the trend of the maturity rate of the harvestable crops; and output information representing the predicted maturity rate of the harvestable crops.

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