Crop Transfer Control Using Radio Wave Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic transfer systems for agricultural products from harvesting machines to transport vehicles fail to maintain operation during short-term impairments in optical detection, such as dusty environments or poor lighting, leading to crop losses.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses an image capture device on the harvesting machine to detect the transport vehicle's features and a computer to control actuators based on a virtual movement model, allowing for continued automatic operation even when visibility is impaired, by extrapolating the expected position of the loading container using a Kalman filter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If optical detection systems are used to automatically control the transfer device, then automation and productivity are improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to failures in dusty environments or poor lighting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the detection parameter from optical (camera-based) to electromagnetic (radio wave-based). The radio wave detection device operates independently of light conditions, allowing the system to maintain automatic control reliability in dusty environments or poor lighting where optical systems fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a radio wave detection device as an intermediary between the transport vehicle and the control system. This intermediary detects position using radio waves instead of direct optical line-of-sight, enabling continuous operation even when dust or lighting conditions obstruct the camera's view.
2Reliability
If manual control is used to adjust the transfer device, then the system is simple and reliable, but the driver's attention is consumed and work becomes tiring
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting the transport vehicle's position and adjusting the transfer device without driver intervention. The radio wave detection device and control system work together to autonomously maintain optimal discharge positioning, freeing the driver from continuous manual adjustment tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual control system with an automated control system based on radio wave detection and electronic actuation. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous driver input while maintaining precise control of the transfer device positioning.
3Device complexity
If the transfer device position is fixed, then the device structure is simple, but the driver must manually adjust position to ensure complete filling of the loading container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed transfer device into a dynamic system that can automatically adjust its position. The transfer device is equipped with actuators that enable it to move laterally and vertically based on real-time position data from the radio wave detection device, allowing adaptive positioning to match the transport vehicle's location and ensure complete loading container filling.
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement for the automatic transfer of agricultural crops from a harvesting machine to a transport vehicle has an image capture device, which optically detects one or more features of the transport vehicle. A computer controls an actuator to adjust a transfer device relative to the harvesting machine and/or to change the position of the loading container relative to the harvesting machine based on signals of the image capture device. The computer continually sets up, with the aid of the signals of the image capture device, a virtual movement model of the loading container and controls the actuator with the aid of extrapolated data for an expected position of the loading container derived from the movement model, if the signals of the image capture device are no longer sufficient to recognize the transport vehicle because of an impairment of the visibility conditions.