Stereo Vision Crop Transfer Arm Alignment for Grain Bin Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of receiving vehicles face challenges in aligning grain bins with combine and forage harvesters during crop transfer, especially in conditions like excessive dust or nighttime, due to limited visibility and the need to evenly fill large bins without seeing into the bin from the cabin.
Innovation Solution
A vision system with two cameras positioned on opposite sides of the crop transfer arm, each with a wide field of view (at least 140 degrees), angled to partially overlap and provide stereo imaging, allowing for automated alignment of the crop transfer arm with the receiving vehicle by combining image data to determine its location and depth relative to the harvester.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the operator manually aligns the grain bin with the spout during motion, then the alignment can be adjusted in real-time, but the operator's visibility is limited and the operation becomes laborious and challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment operations with an automated vision-based system. Cameras mounted on the harvester capture images of the receiving vehicle, and a control system automatically calculates and adjusts the crop transfer arm positioning, eliminating the need for manual alignment while improving precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The vision system creates visual copies (images) of the receiving vehicle and its grain bin position. These visual copies are processed by the control system to determine precise alignment, allowing the system to 'see' and respond to the relative positions without relying on the operator's limited visibility.
2Quantity of substance
If the receiving vehicle has a large or elongated grain bin, then the storage capacity increases, but it becomes difficult to evenly fill the bin and avoid spilling grain
Solution Approach 1:
The vision system continuously monitors the position of the receiving vehicle and the crop transfer arm, providing real-time feedback to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts the transfer arm positioning to optimize grain distribution across the grain bin, ensuring even filling and preventing spillage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multiple cameras positioned at different locations on the harvester to capture images from different angles. This multi-dimensional visual information allows the control system to calculate three-dimensional positions and adjust the crop transfer arm accordingly, enabling precise control over grain distribution across the entire grain bin.
3Productivity
If automated alignment is implemented using vision systems, then alignment precision and speed improve, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vision system serves multiple functions: it captures images for alignment, monitors the position of the receiving vehicle, tracks the crop transfer arm position, and provides data for automated control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sensing systems while improving overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the vision system, image processing algorithms, and crop transfer arm control into an integrated automated system. The cameras, control system, and actuators work together as a unified system, allowing precise and rapid alignment without requiring separate manual operations for each function.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vision system for a harvester includes a first camera positioned on a first side of a crop transfer arm of the harvester and a second camera positioned on a second side of the crop transfer arm of the harvester, the second side being opposite the first side. A center of the first field of view and a center of the second field of view are angled away from one another by an angle of at least ten degrees. A first portion of the first field of view overlaps at least a portion of the second field of view and a second portion of the first field of view does not overlap the second field of view, and a first portion of the second field of view overlaps at least a portion of the first field of view and a second portion of the second field of view does not overlap the first field of view.