Sensor-Equipped Agricultural Harvester for Dynamic Header Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural harvesters face inefficiencies in adjusting operating parameters due to varying crop conditions and the presence of foreign objects, leading to wasted time, ruined crop material, and potential damage to equipment.
Innovation Solution
Equipping agricultural harvesters with sensors that emit and receive sound and/or radio waves to create a field map, allowing for automatic adjustment of operating parameters to optimize harvesting efficiency and avoid foreign objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If operating parameters are manually adjusted through trial and error to optimize harvesting efficiency, then harvesting efficiency can be improved, but valuable crop material is ruined and harvesting time is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment of operating parameters with an automated sensor-based system. Sensors detect crop conditions and foreign objects, and the system automatically adjusts cutter height, throughput, and other parameters without manual intervention, eliminating the time-wasting trial-and-error process while maintaining optimal harvesting efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The harvester equips itself with sensors and control systems that enable it to autonomously monitor and adjust its own operating parameters based on real-time field conditions. The system self-regulates cutter height, detects foreign objects, and optimizes throughput without external input, allowing continuous efficient operation without time loss to manual adjustments
2Productivity
If operating parameters are manually adjusted to optimize harvesting, then harvesting efficiency can be improved, but foreign objects may damage the cutter leading to reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system detects foreign objects in advance before they can reach and damage the cutter. The system provides advance warning and automatically adjusts cutter height or stops operation preemptively, preventing damage before it occurs rather than reacting after damage has happened
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual monitoring and reactive adjustment with automated sensor detection and proactive control systems that continuously scan for foreign objects and automatically protect the cutter, eliminating the reliability issues associated with manual operation
3Ease of operation
If header height is set based on preselected distance from ground, then header control is simplified, but crop head height variations cause inefficient harvesting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, fixed header height setting into a dynamic system that automatically adjusts header height based on real-time sensor detection of crop head positions. The system continuously adapts to varying crop heights across different field sections, maintaining optimal harvesting efficiency while keeping operation simple through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system provides continuous feedback on actual crop head heights and positions, which the control system uses to automatically adjust header height settings. This closed-loop feedback mechanism eliminates the need for manual trial-and-error adjustment while maintaining simplicity for the operator
4Extent of automation
If sonar is used to detect crop top height for automatic header control, then header height can be automatically adjusted, but excessive or insufficient crop material is harvested
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple sensors positioned at different locations and angles to detect variations in crop head height across the entire header width. Each sensor monitors its specific zone, allowing the system to make localized height adjustments for different sections of the header, ensuring optimal harvesting across varying terrain and crop conditions
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 solution enhances harvesting efficiency by optimizing the collection of valuable crop material, reducing waste, and minimizing damage to the harvester's cutter, while maintaining even cuts and consistent residue distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor held by the agricultural harvester so that the sensor is directed in front of the cutter and is configured to emit and receive sound and/or radio waves
Implementation Method 2
a sensor held by the agricultural harvester so that the sensor is directed in front of the cutter and is configured to emit and receive sound and/or radio waves
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural harvester includes a chassis; at least one ground engaging traction member held by the chassis; a cutter held by the chassis; a sensor held by the agricultural harvester so that the sensor is directed in front of the cutter and configured to emit and receive sound and/or radio waves and produce a plurality of output signals; and an electrical processing circuit coupled to the sensor. The electrical processing circuit is configured to produce a field map from the plurality of output signals and adjust an operating parameter of the agricultural harvester based on the field map.