Bale Drop Location Optimization Using GPS Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of agricultural balers face challenges in determining the optimal time and location to drop bales in a field, leading to increased workload and suboptimal bale placement, which complicates retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A baler equipped with a geographic location sensor and a control system that calculates distances to pre-defined drop locations, determining a desired drop position based on current and targeted bale positions, and automatically releases the bale when the optimal location is reached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If operators manually determine bale drop locations, then they can control bale placement, but operator workload increases and optimal placement is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the baler to automatically determine and execute bale drop locations without operator intervention. The control system uses geographic location sensors to track the baler's position and autonomously decides when and where to drop bales based on pre-programmed optimal locations, making the system self-sufficient in the baling decision-making process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical decision-making process with an automated electronic control system. Geographic location sensors, GPS receivers, and computer processors substitute for the operator's manual determination of drop locations, converting a labor-intensive manual process into an automated electronic system that calculates and executes optimal bale placement.
2Productivity
If bales are dropped at random locations, then the baling process is simple, but retrieval becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-determines optimal bale drop locations before the baling operation begins. Operators can program specific geographic coordinates or patterns where bales should be dropped, and the control system stores these predetermined locations. This preliminary planning ensures that bales are consistently placed in accessible locations, facilitating efficient retrieval without compromising baling speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The geographic location sensor continuously provides feedback to the control system about the baler's current position. The control system compares this real-time location data against the pre-programmed optimal drop locations and automatically triggers bale release when the baler reaches the appropriate position, ensuring consistent placement at retrieval-friendly locations while maintaining high baling productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A baler for forming crop bales and releasing or dropping the bales at targeted drop locations in a field includes a bale-forming chamber, a bale carrier rearward of the bale forming chamber, a geographic location sensor, and a control system. The bale-forming chamber forms the bales and the bale carrier supports at least one crop bale thereon and releases the bale therefrom when actuated. The geographic location sensor outputs signals corresponding with a geographic location of the baler. The control system has a plurality of targeted bale drop locations stored therein, and is configured to calculate a distance from the current baler position to a first targeted drop position and calculate a distance from the current baler position to a second targeted drop position and compare the distances to determine a desired drop location to generate a signal to command the bale carrier to release the crop bale therefrom.