Harvester Swath Mapping Using Accelerometer-Based Scan Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural harvester systems face data quality degradation due to sensor movement over uneven terrain, limiting the accuracy of swath volume and layout detection, especially in inclement weather and obstructed fields.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural harvester equipped with a swath sensor and sensor accelerometer captures scan data while simultaneously recording acceleration data, which is used to temporally correlate and spatially align the data, enhancing data quality by compensating for sensor movement, and optionally incorporating vehicle acceleration data for further accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a swath sensor is mounted on the harvester to capture scan data, then swath distribution detection is enabled, but data quality degrades due to sensor movement over uneven terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses accelerometers to continuously monitor sensor movement and feeds this information back to the controller, which then compensates for the detected movements when processing scan data, maintaining measurement precision despite terrain-induced sensor displacement
Solution Approach 2:
Accelerometers serve as an intermediary device that measures sensor movement caused by terrain variations, allowing the system to indirectly detect and correct for positional changes without directly tracking the sensor's location over uneven ground
2Measurement precision
If an aerial drone with field scanning equipment is used, then swath mapping capability is improved, but system complexity and operational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The harvester performs its own swath mapping function by mounting the sensor on itself, eliminating the need for separate aerial drone operations and reducing system complexity while maintaining mapping capability
Solution Approach 2:
The harvester is equipped with dual functionality: it both harvests crop and performs swath mapping, allowing one device to serve multiple purposes and reducing the need for additional specialized equipment like drones
3Area of stationary object
If multiple scan instances are merged to cover the entire field, then field coverage is improved, but spatial alignment accuracy decreases due to sensor movement
Solution Approach 1:
The controller uses real-time acceleration data as feedback to adjust the spatial alignment of each scan instance during the merging process, compensating for sensor movement and maintaining alignment precision across the entire field coverage area
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
This approach provides high-quality swath mapping, enabling efficient collection planning, obstacle avoidance, and accurate volume estimation, reducing the risk of harvester jams and optimizing collection routes.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor accelerometer disposed to capture information corresponding to the relative movement of the swath sensor in the form of sensor acceleration data
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural harvester (100) comprising a swath detection system (102) for determining a distribution of a swath (200) in a field (400) and a method of its use. The swath detection system (102) comprises: a swath sensor (104) attached to the harvester (100) and disposed to capture scan data of the distribution of the swath (200) in the field (400); a sensor accelerometer (106) disposed to capture sensor acceleration data at the same time as the swath sensor (104) captures the scan data; and a controller (108) operatively coupled to the swath sensor (104) and the sensor accelerometer (106), the controller (108) being configured to temporally correlate the scan data with the sensor acceleration data and merge the scan data whilst spatially aligning the scan data in dependence of the temporally correlated sensor acceleration data.