Agricultural Harvester Reel Control for Lodged Grain Pickup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural harvesting machines struggle with optimizing machine parameters to minimize grain losses due to lodged grain and varying crop heights, particularly in large headers, leading to inefficiencies and operator overload.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural harvesting machine equipped with a driver assistance system that includes a memory, computing device, and crop sensor system to autonomously adjust machine parameters based on lodged grain detection, offering three levels of automation for optimized grain pickup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the reel is manually adjusted in response to lodged grain and varying crop heights, then grain losses can be minimized, but the operator becomes overburdened and may make inadequate adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the harvesting machine adjusts its own parameters based on sensor data. The control device automatically detects lodged grain and varying crop heights using sensors, and autonomously adjusts reel position and other machine parameters without requiring manual operator intervention, thereby reducing operator workload while maintaining reliable grain pickup
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring crop conditions through sensor arrangements and using this information to automatically adjust machine parameters. The control device receives real-time data on lodged grain and crop height variations, processes this feedback, and makes dynamic adjustments to reel position and other parameters to optimize grain pickup under varying conditions
2Reliability
If the reel is placed horizontally in front of the cutter bar with minimum vertical distance to ground, then grain losses are minimized, but the system becomes more complex and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the reel position adjustable in both horizontal and vertical directions, allowing the reel to adapt its position dynamically based on detected crop conditions. The control device automatically adjusts reel position to optimize grain pickup while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated control rather than fixed mechanical configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters automatically by adjusting reel horizontal and vertical positions based on sensor-detected conditions. The control device modifies these parameters in response to lodged grain detection and crop height variations, enabling the system to adapt to different harvesting conditions without increasing operational complexity through automated parameter adjustment
3Productivity
If automated control is implemented to relieve operator burden, then harvesting efficiency improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs multiple functions within a single integrated system. It detects lodged grain, determines crop height, calculates optimal reel position, and controls various machine parameters automatically. This multi-functionality improves harvesting efficiency while managing system complexity by consolidating control functions rather than adding separate systems for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical control with automated electronic control. Instead of requiring the operator to manually adjust reel position and other parameters based on visual inspection, the system uses sensor arrangements and electronic control devices to automatically detect conditions and adjust parameters, thereby improving efficiency while substituting mechanical manual operation with automated electronic systems
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a harvesting machine (1) with a cutting unit (2), wherein the cutting unit (2) comprises a cutting table (20), a cutter bar (17) arranged on the cutting table (20), and a reel (15), and with a driver assistance system (11) for controlling at least the cutting unit (2), wherein the driver assistance system (11) has a memory (37), a computing device (38), and a sensor arrangement (12) with a crop sensor system (12a) for determining crop parameters (40), wherein the computing device (38) autonomously determines a machine parameter (40) by means of a reference variable and specifies it to the harvesting machine (1) and/or the cutting unit (2), wherein a control strategy (39) specific for lodged grain is stored in the driver assistance system (11).wherein the driver assistance system (11) for implementing the lodged grain-specific control strategy (39) based on a signal evaluation of the sensor signals of the stand sensor system (12a) determines the occurrence of lodged grain in the crop stand as a stand parameter (40) and uses this as a control variable and, depending on a selected automation level (41, 42, 43), adapts at least one machine parameter in a lodged grain-specific manner in order to optimize the intake of crop present as lodged grain (14).