Crop Mass Measurement With Image-Based Distribution And Tilt Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural machines face challenges in accurately quantifying the amount of harvested crop, particularly due to variations in crop distribution and machine tilt, which affect weight measurements.
Innovation Solution
A crop measurement system utilizing a combination of weight sensors, image sensors, and tilt sensors to determine the mass of harvested crop by accounting for dimensions, location, and machine tilt, integrated with a controller to adjust yield measurements and calibration curves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only weight sensors are used to measure crop mass, then the measurement system is simple, but measurement precision deteriorates due to variations in crop distribution and machine tilt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines weight sensors, image sensors, and tilt sensors into an integrated measurement system. The weight sensors provide mass data, image sensors capture crop distribution and location, and tilt sensors measure machine orientation. The controller merges these multiple data sources to compensate for measurement errors caused by crop distribution variations and machine tilt, thereby improving measurement precision without excessive complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that processes and integrates data from multiple sensor types. It receives signals from weight sensors, image sensors, and tilt sensors, then combines this information to determine accurate crop mass measurements. The intermediary controller reconciles the limitations of individual sensors by using their complementary strengths
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to improve measurement accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is segmented into distinct functional components: weight sensors for mass measurement, image sensors for crop distribution and location detection, and tilt sensors for machine orientation measurement. Each sensor type performs a specific function, and the controller integrates these segmented measurements to achieve high overall measurement precision while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design
3Measurement precision
If crop distribution variations are not accounted for, then the measurement system remains simple, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensors provide feedback information about crop distribution and location within the tank. This feedback is processed by the controller to determine the actual mass of harvested crop stored, accounting for variations in how crop is distributed. The feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust measurements based on observed crop patterns without requiring complex mechanical adjustments
Data Source
AI summary
A crop measurement system of an agricultural machine that harvests and processes crop includes a tank configured to store harvested crop and a crop conveyer configured to provide the harvested crop to the tank. The agricultural machine further includes a controller, at least one weight sensor, and at least one image sensor. The controller is configured to: receive weight measurements of only a portion of harvested crop in the tank from the at least one weight sensor, receive dimension and location measurements of the total amount of harvested crop in the tank from the at least one image sensor, and determine the mass of the total amount of harvested crop stored in the tank based on one or more signals received from the at least one weight sensor and one or more signals received from the at least one image sensor.