Harvester Impact Sensor Beam for Precise Crop Loss Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural harvesters lack precise determination of crop loss locations, leading to uncertainty about which processing system settings need adjustment to minimize waste.

Innovation Solution

An agricultural system with impact sensors on a support beam to detect crop impacts and a computing system to determine and adjust operations based on impact locations, reducing crop loss by adjusting the harvester's settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If impact sensors are installed on the support beam to detect crop impact locations, then measurement precision of crop loss location is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop loss location detection precisionVSAvoidsensor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support beam is divided into multiple sensor mounting positions along its length, with impact sensors strategically placed at specific locations to detect crop losses at different positions. This segmentation allows precise location identification without requiring continuous sensing along the entire beam.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support beam itself serves as an intermediary structure that both supports the cleaning device and provides mounting positions for impact sensors. The beam acts as a mediator between the crop loss event and the detection system, enabling location determination through sensor placement on this intermediate structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple impact sensors are placed along the support beam to improve location determination, then crop loss location identification is improved, but loss of time for data processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop loss location identification accuracyVSAvoiddata processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical location determination methods with electronic sensor detection and computational analysis. Impact sensors electronically detect crop impacts and generate electrical signals that are processed by a computing device, substituting mechanical measurement approaches with faster electronic sensing and digital processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital representation or copy of the physical crop loss event through sensor signals and data records. Each impact generates an electrical signal that is copied and processed by the computing device, allowing analysis of the location without requiring physical intervention or complex mechanical tracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Loss of substance

If crop processing system settings are adjusted based on precise crop loss location data, then crop loss reduction is improved, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop loss reductionVSAvoidsystem adjustment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback loop where impact sensors continuously monitor crop loss locations, the computing device analyzes this data to identify patterns and causes, and then provides guidance for adjusting crop processing system settings. This closed-loop feedback enables systematic reduction of crop losses through data-driven operational adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of crop loss location data to identify trends and potential issues before they result in significant losses. By analyzing sensor data in advance and providing early warnings or adjustment recommendations, the system enables proactive optimization of crop processing settings rather than reactive corrections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Precisely identifies crop loss locations, enabling targeted adjustments to reduce waste and optimize harvester performance.

Implementation Method 1

one or more impact sensors supported on the support beam. Each of the one or more impact sensors is configured to generate data indicative of a crop impact location of each crop impact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentEP4136957B1Agricultural system and method for determining crop loss of an agricultural harvester

Publication Date: 2025.06.25 CNH IND BELGIUM NV

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AI summary

An agricultural system (200) for determining crop loss of an agricultural harvester (10) may include a support beam (102) extending along a lateral direction (L1) between first and second lateral ends (102A, 102B), and one or more impact sensors (104) supported on the support beam (102). Each of the one or more impact sensors (104) is configured to generate data indicative of a crop impact location of each crop impact of a plurality of crop impacts on the support beam (102) between the first and second lateral ends (102A, 102B). Additionally, the agricultural system (200) may include a computing system (202) communicatively coupled to the one or more impact sensors (104), where the computing system (202) is configured to determine the crop impact location of each crop impact of the plurality of crop impacts on the support beam (102) between the first and second lateral ends (102A, 102B) based at least in part on the data from the one or more impact sensors (104).