Harvested Crop Quality Mapping in Silage Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The quality of silage is difficult to predict and varies within a silage clamp due to the inconsistent quality of harvested crops, which can lead to contamination and reduced agricultural output, as the quality of each portion is not determined before deposition.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for mapping characteristics such as dry matter content, moisture, contamination, and nutrient values of harvested crop portions using sensors mounted on a working machine, determining optimal deposition locations based on these characteristics, and storing this information in a database to ensure higher quality crops are placed centrally and lower quality crops are placed peripherally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If harvested crop portions are deposited in the silage clamp without determining their quality characteristics, then the deposition process is simple and fast, but the silage quality becomes difficult to predict and varies considerably throughout the clamp
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines the quality characteristics (dry matter content, moisture content, contamination levels, nutrient values) of harvested crop portions before they are deposited in the silage clamp. This preliminary quality assessment allows the controller to plan optimal deposition locations in advance, ensuring high-quality crop is placed centrally and lower-quality crop is placed peripherally, thereby achieving consistent silage quality throughout the clamp.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different deposition strategies to different locations within the silage clamp based on the quality characteristics of individual crop portions. High-quality portions are deposited in central areas where they will have the greatest impact on overall silage quality, while lower-quality portions are placed in peripheral areas. This local differentiation ensures that the final silage product has uniform quality throughout the clamp.
2Reliability
If the working machine deposits all harvested crop uniformly in the silage clamp, then the operation is simple, but contamination and quality variation are not managed
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to continuously monitor the quality characteristics of harvested crop portions as they are handled by the working machine. This feedback information is transmitted to the controller, which then determines the optimal deposition location for each portion based on its quality. The controller provides real-time guidance to the working machine operator or automated system, ensuring that quality information directly influences deposition decisions to maintain reliable silage quality.
3Measurement precision
If visual inspection is used to determine crop quality, then the method is simple, but it is difficult to determine the quality of crop portions being moved by the working machine
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual visual inspection with automated sensor-based measurement systems. Sensors mounted on the working machine or at fixed positions measure the quality characteristics (dry matter content, moisture content, contamination levels, nutrient values) of harvested crop portions objectively and precisely. This substitution of mechanical/visual inspection with sensor-based measurement provides accurate, repeatable data that enables the controller to make informed deposition decisions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system (30) for mapping one or more characteristics of a body of a harvested crop stored in a storage space. The system comprises: a controller (32); a first device assembly (34) providing an input to the controller; and a second device assembly (36) providing an input to the controller. The controller is configured to determine one or more characteristics of each of a plurality of portions of the body of the harvested crop, such as dry matter content, moisture content, level of contamination, and/or one or more nutrient values, prior to the deposition of each of said portions in the storage space based on at least the input from the first device assembly (34). The controller is configured to determine a location at which each of said portions is deposited in the storage space based on at least the input from the second device assembly (36). The controller is configured to store the determined one or more characteristics and the determined location of each of said portions in a database (39).