Combine Harvester Grain Storage Control via Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional combines require manual adjustments and are prone to errors due to external disturbances, leading to inaccuracies in determining the grain storage amount and potential over/under harvesting, causing trouble for workers.
Innovation Solution
A combine equipped with a harvest amount sensor, communication section, setting section, and calculation section that allows for intermittent and manual determinations of grain storage, automatically sets a target storage amount based on the drier's free capacity, and provides completion informing when the total harvest amount exceeds this target, reducing manual errors and external disturbance impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual setting of target storage amount is performed by worker, then flexibility to adapt to drier capacity is improved, but worker burden and operation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The combine performs automatic determination of grain storage amount using the harvest amount sensor and control unit, eliminating the need for manual setting by the worker. The system serves itself by automatically communicating with the drier to obtain capacity information and setting the target storage amount without human intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical operation of setting target storage amount by the worker is replaced by an automatic electronic control system that communicates with the drier and uses the harvest amount sensor to determine and adjust the target storage amount automatically.
2Productivity
If total harvest amount is calculated by summing first determination results during reaping traveling, then continuous monitoring is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to vibration and external disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a second determination of grain storage amount when the combine is stopped, before finalizing the total harvest amount calculation. This preliminary action at a stable state allows for accurate measurement that compensates for errors accumulated during moving measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses feedback from both first determination (during traveling) and second determination (when stopped) results to calculate the total harvest amount. The system continuously monitors and adjusts the total harvest amount based on feedback from the harvest amount sensor, ensuring accuracy despite external disturbances.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables accurate harvesting of the appropriate grain amount according to the drier's free capacity, minimizing excess or shortage, and reduces worker trouble by automating the harvesting process and providing precise completion notifications.
Implementation Method 1
a harvest amount sensor capable of determining a grain storage amount of grains stored in a grain storage section
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a combine capable of harvesting an appropriate amount of grains according to a free capacity of a drier, while reducing trouble for a worker. A harvest amount sensor is capable of a first determination U1 for determining the grain storage amount intermittently during reaping traveling of a traveling vehicle body and a second determination U2 for determining the grain storage amount based on a manual operation during stopped state of the traveling vehicle body. A calculation section is configured to calculate the total harvest amount based on a first determination amount M1 by the first determination U1 and a second determination amount M2 by the second determination U2. A decision section is provided for deciding whether the total harvest amount has exceeded the target storage amount MI based on a requested grain amount requested by a drier, or not. An informing section is provided for effecting completion informing T3 if the decision section decides that the total harvest amount has exceeded the target storage amount MI.