Automated Grain Loading System with Real-Time Weight Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural harvesting operations face inefficiencies in loading grain hauling containers to target weight and volume, leading to uneven distribution and increased field compaction due to environmental conditions, which can impact operational efficiency and soil health.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses real-time data monitoring from vehicles to automatically adjust loading rates and provide alerts or shut-offs based on pre-determined thresholds, ensuring optimal filling of containers to target weights and volumes, thereby improving loading efficiency and reducing field compaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual loading methods are used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but loading precision and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs real-time feedback through sensors that continuously monitor load weight and volume, automatically adjusting the loading process to achieve target weights. This feedback mechanism enables precise control without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading system operates autonomously by using its own sensors and control mechanisms to monitor and adjust the loading process, eliminating the need for manual weighing and intervention. The system serves itself by automatically detecting when target weights are reached.
2Productivity
If higher loading rates are used, then productivity improves, but loading precision and uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Real-time feedback from weight and volume sensors allows the system to maintain high loading rates while ensuring precision. The continuous monitoring enables automatic adjustments to keep the loading process uniform and accurate despite high speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical weighing and inspection processes with automated electronic sensors and control systems. This substitution enables high-speed loading while maintaining precision through electronic monitoring and automatic control.
3Productivity
If containers are overloaded to maximize throughput, then productivity improves, but harmful effects on field conditions worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time weight monitoring to provide feedback on actual load weights, enabling operators to stop loading when target weights are reached. This prevents overloading and the associated field compaction while maintaining efficient throughput through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts loading parameters such as target weight and volume based on real-time conditions and vehicle capabilities. By optimizing these parameters, the system maximizes throughput without exceeding safe load limits that would cause field compaction.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for automating the collection of product harvested from a site, such as grain from a field, and filling truck trailer for transport off site. These techniques can help operations that want to improve efficiency, while reducing field compaction and other issues related to weather or environmental conditions. A predetermined level of product can be identified for the target truck trailer, and an optimized fill method can be determined for filling the truck trailer efficiently using one or more mobile transport containers moving product from the field. A sensor array can detect an amount of the product disposed in the mobile transport container during transfer, and used to fill the mobile transport container to a predetermined level based at least on the optimized fill method. The mobile transport container is then used to fill the target truck-trailer container to its predetermined level.