Cut Stubble Sensing for Crop Stand Replacement Decisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining when to replace a stand of crop material, such as alfalfa, are time-consuming and often inaccurate due to manual scouting, which affects yield and revenue.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural system with a control system that includes a sensor to sense cut stubble characteristics, such as stem diameter and population, and a controller to determine when to replace the stand based on these characteristics, and adjust mower-conditioner settings like roll gap for optimal conditioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual scouting is used to determine plant population, then the method is simple and low-cost, but it is time-consuming and inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical scouting with an automated optical sensing system. A sensor mounted on the mower-conditioner captures images of cut stubble, and image processing algorithms automatically count and measure plant stems, eliminating the need for manual field scouting while providing precise, real-time population data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the mower-conditioner's own operational byproduct (cut stubble) as the measurement target. Instead of requiring separate sampling operations, the system leverages the stubble already present after cutting to extract population information, making the measurement process self-contained and integrated into normal operations.
2Reliability
If manual scouting is used to monitor crop stand, then equipment complexity is low, but measurement precision and reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a closed-loop feedback mechanism where the sensor continuously monitors stubble characteristics during mower-conditioner operation, the controller processes this data to determine plant population, and the system provides real-time recommendations for crop replacement decisions. This ongoing feedback ensures reliable, data-driven management.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system serves multiple functions: it captures images of cut stubble, measures stem diameter and population density, and provides guidance for both crop management decisions and mower-conditioner operation optimization. This multi-functionality consolidates several needs into a single integrated system.
3Productivity
If real-time stubble sensing is implemented, then conditioning optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts mower-conditioner operating parameters (such as roll gap) based on real-time stubble measurements. The controller continuously monitors stubble characteristics and modifies conditioning settings on-the-fly to optimize performance for varying crop conditions, enabling adaptive rather than static operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sensing function with the conditioning function into a single integrated system. The sensor is mounted on the mower-conditioner to directly monitor the material being processed, and the control system combines population data with conditioning parameters to coordinate both functions, eliminating the need for separate, independent systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural machine system, includes: an agricultural machine; a control system operatively coupled with the agricultural machine, the control system including: a sensor configured for: sensing a cut stubble of a plant material; outputting a cut stubble signal corresponding to the cut stubble; a controller system operatively coupled with the sensor and configured for: receiving the cut stubble signal; determining a cut stubble characteristic based at least in part on the cut stubble signal; outputting an output signal based at least in part on the cut stubble characteristic.