Automated Grain Unload Synchronization via Visual Marker Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The synchronization of agricultural machine operations, particularly during the transfer of crop material from combine harvesters and forage harvesters to receiving vehicles, is challenging due to limited visibility, environmental conditions, and the need for precise alignment, which can be laborious and difficult to automate.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a camera on the agricultural harvester to capture images, identify visual markers on the receiving vehicle, and generate graphical representations of the relative positions, allowing for assisted or automated alignment and movement of the machines to maintain proper positions during unloading operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the receiving vehicle operator manually aligns the grain bin with the unload conveyor spout during motion, then the unloading operation can proceed, but the operator workload increases and alignment precision decreases under challenging conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical alignment process with an automated optical system. A camera mounted on the receiving vehicle captures images of visual markers on the combine harvester, and a processor automatically calculates position data to generate guidance signals, eliminating the need for manual operator alignment while improving precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy of the physical alignment relationship through camera imaging. The camera captures images of the combine harvester and its visual markers, creating a digital representation that the processor uses to determine relative position and generate alignment guidance, replacing direct visual observation with an indirect optical copy
2Measurement precision
If visual markers are used for automated alignment, then alignment precision improves, but the system complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system serves multiple functions: it captures images for alignment purposes, provides real-time position monitoring, and can record operational data. The visual markers serve both as alignment references and as targets for the camera system, reducing the need for separate specialized components
Solution Approach 2:
The visual markers act as intermediaries between the combine harvester and the camera system. These markers provide easily detectable visual targets that simplify the image processing task while maintaining high precision alignment, serving as a bridge between the physical machines and the digital measurement system
3Manufacturing precision
If the receiving vehicle shifts position during unloading to evenly fill the grain bin, then grain distribution improves, but the synchronization difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the relative position between the receiveing vehicle and combine harvester using the camera and visual markers. As the grain bin shifts position during unloading, the camera detects the position change through the visual markers, and the processor generates updated guidance signals to maintain proper alignment throughout the unloading operation
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The camera continuously captures images and the processor continuously calculates position data, allowing the system to adapt to position changes during unloading. The guidance signals are updated in real-time to accommodate the shifting grain bin position while maintaining alignment precision
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 system enables accurate and efficient synchronization of machine movements, reducing operator workload and improving alignment precision even in challenging conditions, such as dust or nighttime operations, by providing real-time position data and graphical representations for manual or automated guidance.
Implementation Method 1
a camera for capturing images of an area proximate the agricultural harvester and generating image data from the captured images
Implementation Method 2
One or more computing devices are configured for receiving the image data from the camera, identifying, from the image data, a visual marker corresponding to a receiving vehicle, and determining, from the visual marker, a location of the receiving vehicle relative to the agricultural harvester
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural harvester includes a crop processor for reducing crop material to processed crop, an unload conveyor for transferring a stream of processed crop out of the harvester, and a camera for capturing images of an area proximate the harvester and generating image data from the captured images. One or more computing devices are configured for receiving the image data from the camera, identifying, from the image data, a visual marker corresponding to a receiving vehicle, and determining, from the visual marker, a location of the receiving vehicle relative to the agricultural harvester. An electronic device presents, on a graphical user interface of the device, a graphical representation of the relative locations of the unload conveyor and at least a portion of the receiving vehicle, the graphical representation based on the location of the receiving vehicle relative to the agricultural harvester determined by the one or more computing devices.