Crop Canopy Height Detection Using Reel-Mounted Contact Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crop height detection systems in agricultural machines, such as combine harvesters, struggle to accurately measure crop height immediately in front of the harvester or in specific areas due to limitations in lidar, ultrasonic, and radar sensors, leading to imprecise harvester control and potential yield reduction.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a crop canopy height detection system with contact sensors mounted on rotating tines of the reel, combined with position sensors, to detect physical contact and calculate precise crop height using a processing unit, enabling accurate height adjustment of the header and reel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If lidar, ultrasonic, or radar sensors are used to detect crop height, then detection range is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates because they can only detect average height in large areas and cannot accurately detect crop height immediately in front of the harvester
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical/electromagnetic sensing systems (lidar, ultrasonic, radar) with a mechanical sensing system. Contact sensors are mounted on rotating tines that physically interact with the crop, using mechanical deflection to detect crop height. This mechanical approach allows precise measurement of crop height immediately in front of the harvester by directly contacting the crop at the point of harvest, rather than detecting average height over a large area from a distance.
2Measurement precision
If contact sensors are mounted on rotating tines to detect crop height immediately in front of the harvester, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for position sensors and rotational position tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating tines serve multiple functions: they guide crop toward the cutter, convey crop to the threshing mechanism, and simultaneously act as mounting structures for contact sensors that detect crop height. The rotational motion of the tines, already necessary for their primary functions, is leveraged to bring the sensors into contact with the crop at the optimal position, eliminating the need for separate positioning mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If average crop height in large areas is used for harvester control, then detection range is improved, but productivity deteriorates because imprecise height control reduces crop yield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the crop detection task into multiple segments by using multiple contact sensors mounted on different tines across the width of the header. Each sensor independently measures crop height at its specific location, allowing the system to detect height variations across different areas of the field. This segmented approach enables precise, location-specific height control that maintains high crop yield while accommodating spatial variations in crop height.
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
The system allows for precise detection of crop height immediately in front of the harvester, facilitating independent control of reel sections and improving crop yield by adjusting the header and reel positions accordingly.
Implementation Method 1
The contact sensors are spaced apart across the front of the machine and are each operable to detect physical contact with a crop being harvested by the machine and to generate a corresponding crop contact signal
Implementation Method 2
at least one position sensor mounted on a non-rotating portion of the header that senses angular positions of the contact sensors when they detect physical contact with the crop and that generates corresponding angular position signals
Implementation Method 3
The processing unit, which may be part of a controller on the agricultural machine, receives the crop contact signals from the contact sensors and the angular position signals from the position sensor and determines a height of the crop based on these signals
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a crop canopy height detection (100) system for an agricultural machine including a plurality of contact sensors (102) and a processing unit . The contact sensors (102) are spaced apart across the front of the machine and are each operable to detect physical contact with a crop being harvested by the machine and to generate a corresponding crop contact signal. The processing unit receives the crop contact signals from the contact sensors and determines a canopy height of the crop based on the crop contact signals.