Combine Header Alignment Using Camera Guidance and Depth Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for inserting and removing headers on combine harvesters, particularly for crops like sugarcane and sweet sorghum, are laborious, time-consuming, and require multiple operators, posing safety risks and impacting productivity.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing an image capture camera, viewing support, sight grid, and depth limiter to assist in aligning and securing the header on the harvester, allowing single-operator installation and real-time monitoring for damage detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual assembly methods are used for installing headers on combine harvesters, then the system is simple and cost-effective, but the process is laborious, time-consuming, and requires multiple operators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device to capture images of the header and harvester positioning, and a multimedia center as a mediator to process these images and provide alignment guidance. This intermediary system enables precise alignment and assembly with fewer operators while maintaining practical complexity levels
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by capturing real-time images of the header and harvester position, processing these images to determine alignment status, and providing continuous guidance to operators. This feedback loop enables precise assembly without requiring multiple operators to manually check positioning
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple operators are involved in header assembly, then alignment precision can be maintained, but the risk of accidents and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service alignment by capturing images, automatically processing them to detect the header position and harvester alignment, and providing guidance without requiring multiple operators to physically position and check alignment. This reduces operator involvement and associated safety risks while maintaining precision
3Measurement precision
If sophisticated guidance systems with sensors and controllers are used, then vehicle guidance precision is improved, but the system cost and complexity become unfeasible for existing machinery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera and multimedia center, which are relatively simple and cost-effective components compared to sophisticated sensor systems. These components provide sufficient guidance precision for header assembly without the high cost and complexity of advanced vehicle guidance systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy of the header and harvester positioning through camera images, processes this visual information to determine alignment, and uses this copied information for guidance. This approach achieves precise guidance without requiring complex physical sensors or controllers
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method enable the insertion and removal of a header in a harvesting machine in a simple and practical manner. In one aspect, a system for assisted assembly of a header on a combine harvester includes a camera, in which the captured images are sent to a multimedia center, a viewing support to provide a focus adjustment to the captured images, a sight grid, and a depth limiter.