Sensor-Based Swathing Control for Forage Harvest Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural vehicle combinations for swathing mown forage crops do not adequately consider the complex interrelationships of the forage harvesting process, leading to insufficient harvest quality and energy content, particularly due to arbitrary swath shape specifications and lack of optimization in raw ash and dry matter content.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural vehicle combination equipped with an adjustment device that uses sensor-based data to automatically adjust the tractor and swath device, optimizing the energy content and dry matter content of the forage crop by controlling driving speed, steering, and swath device components, supported by an assistance system that optimizes swath formation based on real-time data from various sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated adjustment based on sensor data is implemented, then harvest quality and energy content are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs sensor arrangements that detect parameters such as swath quality, crop coverage, and harvest quality in real-time, feeding this information back to control devices that automatically adjust swathing and harvesting operations. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures high harvest quality while managing system complexity through automated control algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical adjustment systems are replaced with automated electronic control systems that use sensor data to regulate swathing device height, tractor speed, and harvesting operations. This substitution reduces the need for manual intervention and complex mechanical linkages while improving reliability through precise electronic control.
2Use of energy by moving object
If multiple parameters are optimized simultaneously, then energy content and dry matter content are improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system simultaneously adjusts multiple parameters including swathing device height, tractor travel speed, and harvesting equipment settings based on sensor feedback. By dynamically changing these parameters in response to real-time data about crop conditions, the system optimizes energy content and dry matter content while managing control complexity through integrated control algorithms.
3Ease of operation
If arbitrary swath shape specifications are used, then swathing operation is simplified, but harvest quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using fixed arbitrary swath shape specifications, the system dynamically adjusts swathing parameters including swath width, rake angle, and device height based on real-time sensor feedback about crop conditions and desired harvest quality. This dynamic adaptation maintains ease of operation through automated control while ensuring optimal harvest quality for different crop types and field conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an agricultural vehicle combination (1) for swathing cut forage (4) during a forage harvesting process. The present invention is based on the general concept that the agricultural vehicle combination (1) has at least one adjustment device (10) which is designed and configured to adjust the tractor (2) and the swathing device (3) based on sensor-based data in order to optimize the energy content, in particular the crude ash content and/or the dry matter content, of the cut forage (4) for the forage harvesting process.