Predictive Crop Moisture Mapping for Preservative Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current crop harvesting systems inefficiently apply crop preservatives, leading to excessive usage and inaccurate moisture content prediction, especially when crop material has a moisture content above 20%, resulting in potential spoilage and mold growth.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize sensors to continuously monitor crop material characteristics and location, generating predictive maps to accurately predict moisture content and control preservative application in real-time, minimizing preservative usage by applying it only where needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If crop preservative is applied across the entire field regardless of moisture content, then mold growth and spoilage are prevented, but preservative usage becomes excessive and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies crop preservative selectively only to areas where it is needed based on real-time moisture content sensing. The controller activates the preservative application mechanism only when the sensed moisture content exceeds the threshold, creating a localized treatment approach rather than uniform field-wide application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary sensing of crop moisture content before applying preservative. The sensing mechanism detects moisture levels in advance, allowing the controller to predict when preservative application will be necessary and prepare for targeted intervention before spoilage occurs.
2Productivity
If retroactive adjustment of preservative usage is made based on previously baled crop condition, then some optimization is achieved, but prediction accuracy for current crop remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback loop where the sensed moisture content of currently gathered crop material is continuously fed back to the controller. This real-time feedback enables the controller to adjust preservative application decisions based on actual current conditions rather than relying on historical data from previously baled crop.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces retroactive mechanical adjustment based on previous bale conditions with a sensing-based predictive control system. Instead of physically adjusting preservative application after the fact, the system uses electronic sensors and a controller to predict and respond to moisture content in real-time.
3Ease of operation
If moisture content is not monitored and preservative is applied uniformly, then application simplicity is maintained, but cost increases and environmental waste occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the harvesting equipment to automatically monitor its own operating conditions through integrated moisture sensing and autonomously control preservative application based on sensed data. The controller acts as a self-service mechanism that adjusts preservative application without external intervention, maintaining operational simplicity while optimizing chemical usage.
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 approach allows for precise application of crop preservatives based on real-time moisture content predictions, reducing waste and costs while preventing spoilage and mold growth by ensuring optimal drying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A value of a characteristic of the gathered crop material is sensed at each of a plurality of intervals with a characteristic sensor
Implementation Method 2
A location of the harvesting implement on the field is sensed at each of the plurality of intervals with a position sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of harvesting a crop material (30) includes gathering the crop material (30) with a harvesting implement (24) as the harvesting implement (24) moves along an initial path (38) through a field (26). A location and a value of a characteristic of the gathered crop material (30) is sensed at a plurality of intervals. A set of estimated values of the characteristic throughout the field (26) is generated based on the sensed location and characteristic of the crop material (30) at each of interval. A value of the characteristic of the crop material (30) ahead of the harvesting implement (24) is predicted as the harvesting implement (24) moves along a harvest path (39), based on the set of estimated values of the characteristic of the crop material (30) throughout the field (26). A function of the harvesting implement (24) may be controlled based on the predicted value of the characteristic ahead of the pick-up.