Mower Conditioner Control Using Crop Imaging for Ash Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mower conditioner implements face challenges in optimizing cutting height and crop conditioning to minimize ash content and maximize nutritional value and dry-down time, as improper settings can lead to either excessive ash or uncut crop material.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an image sensor and computing device with a crop analysis algorithm to assess the color spectrum of crop material, adjusting cutting and conditioning systems based on determined ash content and stem conditioning levels, using light sources to enhance image sensing, and potentially comparing pre- and post-conditioning images to optimize processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cutting height is set low to maximize crop harvest, then crop material is fully cut, but ash content increases and nutritional value decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses image sensors to capture real-time images of cut crop material, analyzes color spectrum to determine ash content, and feeds this information back to automatically adjust cutting height. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain optimal cutting parameters dynamically, resolving the contradiction between maximizing harvest and minimizing ash content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment of cutting height with an automated optical-electronic control system. Image sensors capture visual data, processors analyze color spectra, and actuators automatically adjust cutting components, substituting human-operated mechanical systems with intelligent automated control to optimize the cutting process.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cutting height is set high to reduce ash content, then ash in cut crop material decreases, but uncut portions are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static cutting height settings to dynamic adjustment. The cutting height is continuously modified based on real-time analysis of crop material color spectrum, allowing the system to adapt to varying field conditions and maintain optimal performance throughout operation, preventing both ash contamination and crop waste.
3Loss of time
If stem conditioning is increased to reduce dry-down time, then moisture release accelerates, but nutritional content decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses image analysis to monitor the degree of stem conditioning in real-time and feeds this information back to control the conditioning system. By analyzing color spectrum changes that indicate conditioning level, the system can automatically adjust conditioning intensity to achieve optimal dry-down time while preserving nutritional content.
4Device complexity
If manual monitoring and adjustment of cutting and conditioning parameters is used, then system complexity is low, but measurement precision and response time are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and mechanical adjustment with automated optical sensing and electronic control. Image sensors capture spectral data, processors perform color analysis to detect ash content and conditioning degree with high precision, and actuators automatically adjust parameters, eliminating the limitations of human perception and manual response.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for real-time adjustment of cutting and conditioning processes to reduce ash content and optimize crop dry-down time and nutritional value, ensuring optimal harvest conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A light source is associated with the image sensor. The light source is operable to emit light immediately prior to the image sensor sensing the image of the cut crop material. The color spectrum of the image includes reflected light emitted from the light source.
Data Source
AI summary
A mower conditioner implement includes a cutting system for cutting crop material, and a crop conditioning system for receiving the cut crop material from the cutting system and conditioning the cut crop material to facilitate drying. An image sensor senses an image of the cut crop material. The image includes a color spectrum of the cut crop material from reflected light emitted from a light source. A computing device compares the color spectrum of the image to a calibrated color measurement to determine an ash content in the cut crop material, and/or a degree of stem conditioning of the cut crop material. The computing device may then communicate the results to an operator, and/or adjust the cutting system or the crop conditioning system based on the ash content or the degree of stem conditioning.