Combine Harvester Guidance Using Windrow Centerline Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combine harvesters often struggle to efficiently navigate and harvest windrowed crops due to the lack of precise guidance on the location and orientation of the windrows, leading to reduced productivity and increased operator workload.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses an electronic controller to receive a data stream from a windrower, identifying location points of the windrower during operation, determining the centerline of the windrows, and generating guidance information for the combine harvester to follow, thereby facilitating precise harvesting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If combine harvester operates without precise windrow location guidance, then operator workload increases and harvesting accuracy decreases, but system complexity and cost increase with guidance systems
Solution Approach 1:
The windrower records GPS location data and creates windrow maps before the combine harvester operates. This preliminary mapping action provides the guidance information needed by the harvester, eliminating the need for complex real-time detection systems on the harvester itself while maintaining high harvesting accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
A communication system acts as an intermediary between the windrower and combine harvester. The windrower's location data is transmitted through this intermediary to generate guidance information, allowing the harvester to receive precise guidance without requiring the same complex sensing and mapping capabilities as the windrower.
2Productivity
If manual navigation is used without guidance information, then operator skill requirements increase and productivity decreases, but automated guidance systems increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Windrow maps and centerline calculations are performed in advance by the windrower's control system. This preliminary processing of location data creates ready-to-use guidance information that the combine harvester can directly follow, improving productivity without requiring the harvester to perform complex real-time calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The windrower performs self-mapping of its own path and windrow locations during operation. This self-service capability generates the guidance data needed by the harvester, reducing the overall system complexity by eliminating the need for separate mapping equipment on the harvester.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise windrow centerline determination is implemented, then harvesting precision improves, but data processing requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The windrow centerline is determined in advance during the windrowing operation itself. The windrower's control system processes the GPS location data and calculates the centerline before the harvester needs to use it, allowing the harvester to simply follow the pre-calculated path without performing complex real-time centerline determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The windrower creates a digital copy or map of the windrow location and centerline. This copied information is then transmitted to the combine harvester, which uses it for navigation. This copying approach simplifies the harvester's requirements by eliminating the need for it to independently determine windrow locations.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing machine guidance to a combine harvester for collecting windrowed crops from a field. An input data stream includes a chronologically ordered series of location points and other operational data from the windrower. A centerline of each swath in the field is determined based on the plurality of data points. Guidance information to be used by the combine harvester is then generated based at least in part on the determined centerline of the first swath and other information derived from the input data stream. The guidance information (or path plan) may be used, for example, for manual, autonomous, or semi-autonomous operation of the combine harvester.