Harvester Loss Sensor Calibration for Accurate Absolute Loss Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural harvesters lack accurate and user-friendly interfaces for displaying material loss, requiring operators to exit the harvester to understand actual or absolute loss values, which complicates calibration and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A system that generates a user interface indicating absolute loss values, provides a calibration trigger, and allows operators to input measured loss values, applying a scale factor to sensor signals for accurate representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If loss sensors are installed on the harvester to detect material loss, then the ability to sense harvested material loss is improved, but the accuracy of the loss measurement deteriorates because the sensor signals require complex calibration and scaling
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of sensor signal representation by introducing a scale factor that converts raw sensor signals into meaningful loss values (e.g., bushels per acre). This parameter transformation enables accurate measurement by relating sensor output to actual material loss through calibrated scaling relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using the loss sensor signals to provide information about material loss to the operator through the display interface. This feedback loop allows the operator to see real-time loss measurements and adjust harvesting operations accordingly, improving both measurement utility and accuracy through iterative calibration.
2Device complexity
If the harvester displays numerical loss values without units, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates because operators cannot understand actual loss values without exiting the harvester
Solution Approach 1:
The display interface acts as an intermediary that translates raw sensor data into meaningful information for the operator. By incorporating units (e.g., bushels per acre) and contextual information directly into the display, the system mediates between the complex sensor measurements and the operator's need for understandable loss values, eliminating the need for the operator to exit the harvester to obtain meaningful measurements.
3Measurement precision
If manual loss measurements are required for calibration, then the measurement precision is improved through ground truth data, but the loss of time increases due to the calibration process
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration actions by establishing scale factors and measurement relationships before full harvesting operations begin. This preliminary calibration allows the system to be pre-configured with accurate measurement parameters, reducing the need for frequent recalibration during operations and minimizing time loss while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A loss sensor calibration system detects a calibration trigger and measures a distance of travel of a harvester. When the harvester is stopped, the loss sensor calibration system generates an output indicative of a location where a manual loss measurement is to be taken for harvested material loss, relative to the harvester. The loss sensor calibration system generates a measured value input actuator that can be actuated by an operator to input the measured loss value. The loss sensor calibration system generates a scale factor based upon the measured value and applies the scale factor to a sensor signal generated by a material loss sensor to obtain a scaled sensor signal. A control system generates control signals based upon the scaled sensor signal.