Weather-Predictive Harvest Timing Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional technologies do not effectively facilitate determining the optimal harvest timing for crops when adverse weather, such as typhoons, is predicted, leaving room for improvement in crop harvesting efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that predicts adverse weather conditions based on weather data and presents reference information to farmers, proposing early harvesting before the adverse weather to mitigate potential damage, by calculating projected profits, quality scores, market prices, past damage information, and income/expenditure results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional harvesting methods are used without weather prediction integration, then the harvesting process is simple and straightforward, but the ability to determine optimal harvest timing in adverse weather conditions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary weather prediction and hazard assessment before the harvest decision is made. By predicting adverse weather conditions and calculating potential crop damage in advance, the system enables farmers to make informed harvest timing decisions before the actual harvest event, resolving the contradiction by preparing necessary information beforehand without complicating the core harvesting operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary information processing layer between weather data and harvest decisions. This intermediary component processes weather predictions, calculates damage scenarios, and presents actionable recommendations to farmers, improving reliability of harvest timing determination while maintaining operational simplicity through automated intermediate processing
2Object-affected harmful factors
If early harvesting is proposed to avoid adverse weather, then crop damage from weather is reduced, but crop quality may be compromised due to premature harvesting
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of harvest timing by proposing multiple specific harvest dates within a window period before adverse weather is expected. By calculating and presenting multiple scenarios with different harvest timing parameters, the system enables farmers to optimize between weather protection and quality preservation based on real-time crop development status
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring crop development stages and comparing them against predicted weather hazards. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of harvest recommendations, allowing the system to balance weather protection with quality requirements based on actual crop conditions rather than static assumptions
3Ease of operation
If comprehensive reference information is provided to support harvest decisions, then farmer decision-making is enhanced, but information processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments comprehensive reference information into distinct, manageable components including weather predictions, damage calculation results, quality assessment data, and historical comparisons. By presenting information in segmented sections rather than a monolithic complex report, the system enhances ease of operation while managing information processing complexity through structured organization
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and highlights only the most critical information elements needed for harvest decisions, such as predicted damage percentages, optimal harvest windows, and quality indicators. By taking out and emphasizing only essential information rather than presenting all available data, the system improves ease of operation while reducing the perceived complexity of information processing
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a controller. In a case in which the controller predicts, based on weather data, that there will be adverse weather that could cause damage to a crop in a field, the controller is configured to present reference information and propose harvesting before the adverse weather.