Corn Header Shelled Ear Detection for Kernel Loss Warning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Corn kernels are often threshed off during harvest, leading to yield loss due to the periodic and difficult-to-detect nature of this issue from the harvester cab.
Innovation Solution
A header warning system with sensing members on the corn header to detect shelled ear events, emitting alarms when threshold conditions are met, and adjusting the header height to prevent yield loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the corn header operates without sensing members, then the device complexity is reduced, but yield loss occurs due to undetected shelled ear events
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing members are positioned to detect shelled ear events before significant yield loss occurs. By detecting ears that have been shelled by the stripper plates, the system alerts the operator in advance, allowing corrective action to be taken before more kernels are lost to the ground.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing members act as intermediaries between the harvesting process and the operator. They detect the physical condition of shelled ears and convert this information into signals that trigger visual or audible alarms, bridging the gap between the mechanical harvesting process and human decision-making.
2Measurement precision
If sensing members are added to detect shelled ear events, then measurement precision of harvest metrics is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is divided into multiple independent sensing members positioned at different locations on the header. Each sensing member independently monitors specific parameters such as stalk diameter or deflection, allowing the system to achieve comprehensive measurement precision through distributed sensing rather than a single complex sensor.
3Loss of substance
If the header height is continuously adjusted based on real-time detection, then yield loss is minimized, but the ease of operation decreases due to reduced operator control
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by detecting shelled ear events in real-time and providing immediate visual or audible alarms to the operator. This feedback loop enables the operator to make informed decisions about header height adjustment, maintaining ease of operation while minimizing yield loss through responsive, information-driven control.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are various devices, systems, and methods for use in agricultural, particularly for use in harvesting agricultural crop such as corn. Various implementations relate to devices, systems, and methods for increasing yield by emitting warnings when the corn head to not at the proper height.