Harvester Fluid Applicator for Crop Residue Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural systems are inefficient in applying decomposition-aid fluid to crop residue, leading to uneven distribution and waste, as traditional methods spray the fluid over entire fields without considering the varying concentrations of crop residue, resulting in insufficient nutrient incorporation into the soil.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural system that includes a harvester and tillage implement equipped with a fluid applicator and an application control system, which uses sensors to determine the density of crop residue and adjust the fluid application rate dynamically, ensuring targeted application of decomposition-aid fluid directly to cutting blades during harvest and tillage operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional field-wide spraying method is used to apply decomposition-aid fluid, then the entire field receives fluid coverage, but the distribution is uneven and results in waste of fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies decomposition-aid fluid selectively to areas with crop residue rather than uniformly across the entire field. Sensors detect crop residue presence and trigger fluid application only in those localized areas, ensuring that fluid is applied where needed while avoiding waste in residue-free zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses onboard sensors to automatically detect crop residue and control fluid application without external input. The harvester itself identifies where decomposition aid is needed and applies the fluid accordingly, eliminating the need for separate survey and application passes.
2Productivity
If traditional field-wide spraying method is used, then complete field coverage is achieved, but nutrient distribution efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect crop residue in real-time and provides feedback to the fluid application system. This closed-loop control ensures that fluid is applied only when and where crop residue is detected, optimizing nutrient distribution efficiency and reducing unnecessary fluid consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid application rate is dynamically adjusted based on real-time sensor detection of crop residue. The system transitions from static field-wide spraying to dynamic selective application, adapting the fluid delivery to match the actual distribution and density of crop residue encountered during harvesting.
3Manufacturing precision
If decomposition-aid fluid is applied uniformly across the field, then all areas receive equal treatment, but areas with varying crop residue density receive insufficient or excessive fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The system tailors fluid application to local conditions by detecting crop residue density in different areas. Areas with higher residue density receive more fluid, while areas with lower density receive less, ensuring precise and adaptive application that matches actual decomposition needs throughout the field.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural system includes a harvester that may include a chopper configured to cut crop residue from the crop. The harvester may also include a fluid applicator configured to apply harvest-aid fluid to the chopper. The agricultural system may also include an application control system that may include a memory and a processor. The application control system may be configured to receive crop harvest data indicative of a density or an expected density of crops within a field. The application control system may also determine a harvest-aid fluid application rate based on the crop harvest data. Further, the application control system may control the fluid applicator to apply the harvest-aid fluid to the chopper based on the harvest-aid fluid application rate.