Harvester Residue Vision Control for Uniform Field Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural residue distribution systems during harvesting lack efficiency in ensuring uniform residue coverage across fields, leading to potential nutrient deficiencies and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A residue vision system integrated with harvesting machines, featuring cameras and an electronic control unit that analyzes images of harvested areas to adjust the residue distribution system in real-time, optimizing chop quality, spread distance, and direction to achieve even residue distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If real-time image analysis and automatic control systems are implemented, then residue distribution uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures images of residue distribution with cameras, analyzes them using image processing algorithms, and automatically adjusts residue distribution mechanism parameters based on the analysis results. This closed-loop feedback control enables real-time optimization of residue distribution uniformity while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual observation and mechanical adjustment with optical imaging systems and electronic control algorithms. The image acquisition and analysis system substitutes for human visual inspection, while automated control algorithms replace manual parameter adjustment, thereby improving measurement precision and reducing operational complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple cameras and sensors are added for comprehensive field monitoring, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The image acquisition device is designed to perform multiple functions: capturing residue distribution patterns, analyzing chop quality, assessing spread distance, and determining coverage area. This multi-functional approach allows comprehensive field monitoring using a single integrated system rather than multiple separate sensors, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A residue vision system includes an image acquisition device configured for mounting to a harvesting machine. The image acquisition device is configured to acquire, during operation of the harvesting machine, information regarding a first pass in a field. The first pass is a harvested area of the field. During the operation, the first pass is laterally offset from a second pass in the field. An electronic control unit is in communication with the image acquisition device and with a residue distribution system. The residue distribution system is configured to be coupled to the harvesting machine to distribute residue onto the second pass and onto the first pass. The electronic control unit is configured to analyze the information acquired by the image acquisition device and to adjust a distribution of residue onto the first pass while the harvesting machine is harvesting the second pass.