Sugarcane Harvester Topper Height Control Using Cut-Section Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The positioning of the topper assembly in a sugarcane harvester is challenging due to variations in the elevation of the soft joint of sugarcane plants, leading to inefficiencies when cutting above or below the joint, which affects sugar yield and machine efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A sugarcane harvester equipped with an image sensor and controller that analyzes the cut cross-section of the plant to identify discrete leaf sections, adjusting the top cutter's height relative to the soft joint to ensure precise cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the topper assembly is positioned at a fixed elevation, then the structure is simple and easy to operate, but the cutting precision deteriorates due to variations in soft joint elevation
Solution Approach 1:
The topper assembly is equipped with adjustable elevation mechanisms that allow dynamic positioning of the top cutter at different heights. This enables the system to adapt to variations in soft joint elevation while maintaining cutting precision, resolving the contradiction between fixed simple structure and variable precision requirements
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors detect the elevation of the soft joint and provide feedback to the control system, which automatically adjusts the topper assembly height. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains precise cutting despite ground surface variations, achieving high precision without requiring complex manual intervention
2Productivity
If the topper assembly cuts above the soft joint, then the cutting operation is simple, but sugar yield deteriorates due to leaf material attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment with automated sensor-based positioning. Image sensors or other detection devices identify the soft joint location, and the control system automatically positions the top cutter at the optimal height, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring consistent precise cutting that maximizes sugar yield while maintaining operational efficiency
3Ease of operation
If the topper assembly cuts below the soft joint, then the cutting operation is simple, but sugar yield deteriorates due to stalk loss
Solution Approach 1:
The topper assembly system performs self-positioning and self-adjustment based on sensor input. The system automatically detects soft joint elevation and positions the cutter accordingly without requiring operator intervention, thereby maintaining operational simplicity while preventing stalk loss through precise automated cutting
Data Source
AI summary
A sugarcane harvester includes an image sensor positioned to capture an image of a cut cross section of a sugarcane plant after removal of an upper leaf portion by a top cutter. A controller is operable to analyze an image of the cut cross section of the sugarcane plant and determine a location of the cut cross section of the sugarcane plant relative to a soft joint of the sugarcane plant from the image based on identification of any discrete leaf portions in the image. The controller may then control a topper actuator to adjust a cut height of the top cutter relative to the ground surface based on the location of the cut cross section of the sugarcane plant relative to the soft joint of the sugarcane plant.