Agricultural Implement Residue Length Control Using Field Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for controlling agricultural implements fail to accurately adjust operating parameters based on the varying lengths of residue pieces on a field, often resulting in residue lengths that deviate from the desired range due to skewed distributions.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural implement equipped with an imaging device and a computing system that analyzes field residue pieces to determine a characteristic length range with the most residue pieces, providing notifications to operators for parameter adjustments, allowing for precise control of residue lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional systems control agricultural implement operations, then basic tillage operations are performed, but residue piece lengths deviate from desired ranges due to skewed distributions
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures images of residue pieces on the field, analyzes their length distribution using image processing algorithms, and provides feedback to operators about the characteristic length range. This closed-loop feedback enables continuous adjustment of implement parameters to achieve desired residue length precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and mechanical measurement methods with automated optical imaging and digital image processing. The computing system automatically identifies residue pieces, measures their lengths, and determines length distribution characteristics, eliminating the need for manual measurement and providing more precise data.
2Manufacturing precision
If operators manually monitor and adjust residue lengths, then some control is achieved, but accuracy is limited by human observation capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-measurement and self-analysis of residue piece lengths through automated image capture and processing. The computing system independently identifies residue pieces, measures their dimensions, and determines length distribution without requiring external measurement tools or manual intervention, achieving high precision through autonomous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of residue pieces through imaging and uses these copies for measurement and analysis. By working with digital representations rather than physical specimens, the system achieves precise measurements without disturbing the actual residue pieces and enables repeated analysis of the same data.
3Measurement precision
If the system analyzes all residue piece lengths individually, then precise measurements are obtained, but processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system analyzes the complete set of residue piece lengths to determine the full length distribution, including identifying the characteristic length range that represents the majority of pieces. This comprehensive analysis ensures accurate characterization of the residue length distribution while the automated processing minimizes time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously captures images and maintains a running analysis of residue piece lengths as the implement operates. By performing preliminary measurements and updating the length distribution analysis in real-time, the system avoids the need for post-operation batch processing, reducing overall time loss while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural implement includes a computing system is configured to identify a plurality of residue pieces present within the portion of the field based on the image data generated by the imaging device. Furthermore, the computing system is configured to determine a number of residue pieces having a length within a first length range and a number of residue pieces of the identified plurality of residue pieces having a length within a second length range. Additionally, the computing system is configured to determine a characteristic length range for the portion of the field, with the characteristic length range corresponding to one of the first length range or the second length range having the greatest number of residue pieces associated therewith. Moreover, the computing system is configured to provide a notification associated with the determined characteristic length range to an operator of the agricultural implement.