Pruning Shear Stroke Detection for Accurate Harvest Data Logging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current precision agriculture systems lack efficient methods for accurately monitoring and recording manual produce harvesting processes, particularly in terms of detecting and logging separation strokes during manual harvesting, which can lead to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in data collection.
Innovation Solution
A produce harvesting system that includes a manual harvesting device with programmable logic and a separation stroke detector, capable of monitoring and recording harvester motions using transducers and sensors, such as magnetic reed switches or accelerometers, to detect and log separation strokes, along with geospatial and temporal data, and communicates this information to a management system for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual harvesting devices are used without detection systems, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision of harvesting data is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual recording methods with electronic detection systems including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetic sensors to automatically detect and record harvesting strokes. This substitution of mechanical/manual systems with electronic sensing systems directly improves measurement precision while accepting increased device complexity as a necessary trade-off for accurate data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate detection components (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetic sensors) that mediate between the harvesting action and the recording system. These intermediaries detect the physical characteristics of harvesting strokes and convert them into measurable data signals, enabling accurate measurement without direct human intervention in the counting process.
2Reliability
If simple motion detection is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of stroke detection is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection methods (accelerometer-based motion detection, gyroscope-based orientation detection, and magnetic sensor-based stroke counting) into a single integrated system. This merging of multiple detection approaches reinforces each other to improve reliability, as the system can cross-validate signals and reduce false positives through the combined information from all sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the detection system continuously monitors harvesting strokes and provides real-time data to the recording system. The system uses feedback from multiple sensor inputs to verify and confirm detected strokes, improving reliability by ensuring that only valid harvesting actions are recorded while filtering out false signals.
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 enhances data accuracy and efficiency by autonomously recording and storing harvesting data, reducing false positives and enabling more precise tracking of harvesting processes, which can optimize resource distribution and improve farm management decisions.
Implementation Method 1
separation stroke detector comprising a harvester motion transducer configured, in use, to monitor the motion of the harvester and to detect a harvester motion consistent with a predetermined produce separation stroke
Implementation Method 2
separation stroke detector comprising a harvester motion transducer configured, in use, to monitor the motion of the harvester
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a precision agriculture produce harvesting system and produce harvesting apparatus configured for integration with the system, an essential feature of which is a harvesting device subsystem (100) that includes a harvesting device, for instance pruning shears (102) and a harvesting separation stroke detector (108) housed within a control module housing (110) mounted to the shears (102). A person operating the pruning shears (102) produces discernible separation strokes when the handles (104) of the shears (102) are squeezed together to produce a shearing action. The stroke detector (108) detects the separation strokes of the shears (102). By the addition of the control module (108) to the pruning shears (102), the shears are essentially converted into a data logging device by means of which important aspects of a produce harvesting process can be digitised and supplied to a harvest data digital data processing system.