Harvesting Implement Steering via Turn Magnitude Threshold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural harvesters face inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for three-point turns, which cause the harvesting implement to knock down standing crops, slowing down the harvesting operation and resulting in undulating passes and excessive wear on actuators.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for steering the harvesting implement relative to the agricultural harvester's frame, using sensors and a computing system to determine the magnitude of turns and control actuators, rotating the implement only when the turn magnitude exceeds a minimum threshold, thereby reducing unnecessary steering and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the harvesting implement is steered relative to the frame during turns, then crop damage is reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional actuators and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters of the harvesting implement by introducing variable steering angles based on turn detection. The implement can be steered at an angle relative to the frame during detected turns, transforming the fixed geometric relationship into a variable one that adapts to operational conditions, thereby reducing crop damage while managing complexity through controlled parameter variation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the harvesting implement is steered during all turns, then crop damage is reduced, but actuator wear increases due to excessive steering operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback mechanisms through turn detection sensors that monitor when the harvester is making a turn. This feedback enables the control system to activate the implement steering only during detected turns, creating a closed-loop control system that reduces unnecessary actuator operations and wear while maintaining crop protection benefits during actual turning maneuvers
3Object-affected harmful factors
If three-point turns are used to avoid knocking down crops, then crop damage is reduced, but productivity decreases due to slower harvesting operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamic steering capability to the harvesting implement, allowing it to adapt its orientation during turns. This dynamic adjustment enables the implement to clear turned crops more effectively during standard harvesting turns, eliminating the need for slower three-point turns and maintaining higher productivity while protecting standing crops
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural harvester includes a frame, a feeder coupled to the frame, and a harvesting implement coupled to the feeder. Additionally, the agricultural harvester includes an actuator configured to rotate the harvesting implement relative to the frame between a non-turned position and a turned position. Moreover, the agricultural harvester includes a sensor configured to capture data indicative of a turn being made by the agricultural harvester and a computing system communicatively coupled to the sensor. In this respect, the computing system is configured to determine a magnitude of the turn based on the data captured by the sensor. In addition, the computing system is configured to compare the determined magnitude of the turn to a minimum threshold value and, when the determined magnitude exceeds the minimum threshold value, control the operation of the actuator such that the harvesting implement is rotated to the turned position.