Sensor Cleaning Control During Headland Maneuvers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural sensors on machines like combine harvesters become obscured by dust and non-grain material, requiring periodic cleaning that often leads to machine downtime or unreliable data, especially when the sensor surfaces are not immediately accessible.
Innovation Solution
A control system that uses operational data, such as positional and yield data, to determine the optimal timing for cleaning the sensor surfaces by releasing cleaning fluid only when the machine is not actively working, such as during a headland maneuver, thereby avoiding downtime and ensuring reliable sensor readings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensor surfaces are cleaned periodically to maintain reliable readings, then the measurement precision is improved, but the machine downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is activated in advance during headland maneuvers (when the machine is repositioning between field passes) to clean sensor surfaces before they become obscured during the next working pass. This preliminary cleaning action during non-working time eliminates the need for separate cleaning downtime while maintaining sensor reliability throughout the harvesting operation.
2Measurement precision
If the cleaning system operates continuously to maintain sensor clarity, then the measurement precision is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system operates periodically during headland maneuvers rather than continuously. The controller activates the cleaning system based on detected working conditions - specifically during transitions between field passes when material flow is minimal or absent. This periodic operation maintains sensor clarity while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding cleaning during active harvesting when it would be wasteful.
3Ease of operation
If the sensor arrangement is made accessible for cleaning, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is designed to automatically clean the sensor surfaces without requiring manual intervention or complex mechanical accessibility. The cleaning fluid is delivered directly to the sensor surfaces through nozzles positioned in the material flow path, and the moving material itself helps distribute and apply the cleaning fluid. This self-service approach maintains ease of operation while avoiding the complexity of manual cleaning mechanisms.
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
The system efficiently cleans the sensors without machine downtime by utilizing operational data to control the cleaning process, maintaining sensor clarity and reliability during harvesting operations.
Implementation Method 1
a dispensing arrangement for releasing the cleaning fluid onto a sensor surface
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for controlling operation of a cleaning system for a sensor arrangement of an agricultural machine. Operational data for the machine is used to determine the working of a working environment by the agricultural machine, such as whether a given operation is being performed or not at a given time and/or location. Operation of the cleaning system is then controlled in dependence on the determined operation.