Geotagged Windrow Speed Control to Reduce Crop Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural machines face challenges in efficiently collecting windrows of crops due to variations in crop quantity, leading to issues like windrow breaking or bulldozing, which result in crop loss and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes geotagged information to estimate crop quantities and adjust the speed of agricultural machines accordingly, minimizing crop loss by optimizing the speed based on the quantity of material in the windrow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the agricultural machine operates at a constant high speed, then productivity is improved, but crop loss increases due to windrow breaking or bulldozing
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the collection speed based on real-time windrow quantity measurements. The controller continuously monitors crop quantity sensors and modifies the machine's travel speed to match the actual windrow material availability, replacing constant speed operation with adaptive variable speed control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where sensor data about windrow quantity is continuously fed back to the controller, which then adjusts the collection speed accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures the machine responds to actual field conditions, preventing windrow damage while maintaining optimal productivity.
2Loss of substance
If the agricultural machine slows down to prevent windrow damage, then crop loss is reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different speed adjustments to different sections of the field based on local windrow quantity conditions. Areas with abundant crop material allow higher speeds, while sections with sparse material trigger speed reductions, creating a spatially varying speed profile that optimizes both protection and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically changes the speed parameter based on sensor measurements of windrow quantity. By continuously monitoring crop material availability and adjusting the speed parameter in real-time, the system prevents windrow damage only when necessary while maintaining high speeds in areas with sufficient material.
3Device complexity
If the machine operates without speed adjustment, then device complexity is reduced, but crop loss increases due to inability to adapt to varying crop quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The collection machine autonomously monitors its own operating conditions through onboard sensors and automatically adjusts its speed without external intervention. The system serves itself by detecting windrow quantity variations and independently making speed corrections, eliminating the need for complex external control systems or manual operation adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual speed control mechanisms with an automated electronic control system that uses sensor data to regulate machine speed. This substitution of mechanical/oral control with electronic automation reduces the need for complex mechanical speed adjustment mechanisms while effectively preventing crop loss.
Data Source
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AI summary
Geotagged information about a crop harvest is captured while harvesting. The geotagged information may be communicated to a management system or other work machines. The geotagged information may be utilized by a tractor or other work vehicle during collection of the harvested crop. For instance, the vehicle may automatically control a speed or output information on a display to aid an operator to control the speed.