Harvester Auto Guidance Correction via Row Sensor Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current auto guidance systems in agricultural harvesters face challenges in accurately maintaining alignment between the header and crop rows due to errors from remote positioning systems, uneven terrain, and variations in planting and harvesting paths, leading to potential crop loss and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

An automatic steering correction method that integrates row sensor information into the auto guidance system to adjust steering commands based on misalignment between the header and crop rows, using a combination of remote positioning data and real-time sensor feedback to ensure precise alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If DGPS positioning system is used for auto guidance, then positioning capability is provided, but accuracy deteriorates due to error stack up and terrain variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauto guidance capabilityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines DGPS positioning data with row sensor feedback to create a hybrid guidance system. The row sensors detect actual crop row positions while DGPS provides overall navigation, and their integration compensates for individual system errors, achieving both automation and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors header-to-row alignment using row sensors and feeds this information back to the guidance system. This real-time feedback allows the system to detect and correct positioning errors, maintaining accuracy despite terrain variations and DGPS limitations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If operator implements manual nudge commands to correct alignment, then header-crop alignment can be improved, but response time increases and operator fatigue occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheader-crop alignmentVSAvoidresponse delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-correction by integrating row sensor data with the guidance system. The harvester automatically adjusts its position to maintain alignment with crop rows without requiring continuous operator intervention, eliminating response delays and fatigue while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If different swath patterns are used for planting and harvesting, then operational flexibility is improved, but alignment accuracy deteriorates due to different centerlines

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswath pattern flexibilityVSAvoidrow alignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores the relationship between planting and harvesting centerlines. By establishing this reference relationship in advance, the guidance system can automatically compensate for the different swath patterns, maintaining alignment accuracy regardless of the operational flexibility required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8010261B2Automatic steering correction of an agricultural harvester using integration of harvester header row sensors and harvester auto guidance system

Publication Date: 2011.08.30 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

A method and system for automatically correcting a steering command from an auto guidance system to adjust for misalignments between the crop rows and the header due to errors which may include, but are not limited to a stack up of errors from the remote positioning system information translation, planter and harvester machine centerline differences, harvesting and planting pattern differences, and the like, that integrates row sensor information into the auto guidance system.