Yield Allocation via Travel Time Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aggregate yield data for crop harvesting is often inaccurate due to variations in travel times of crops from different portions of a harvester head to the aggregate sensor, leading to incorrect allocation of yields to geo-referenced regions.
Innovation Solution
An aggregate yield allocation system that accounts for the different travel times of crops from various portions of the harvester head to the sensor by using a geo-referencing system, machine controller, and yield allocation module to accurately allocate yields to specific geo-referenced locations based on the time taken for crops to reach the sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If aggregate yield data is collected from the sensor, then crop management information is obtained, but the yield allocation accuracy to geo-referenced regions deteriorates due to variations in crop travel times from different portions of the harvester head
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines the travel time of crops from different portions of the harvesting head to the sensor in advance, and uses this pre-determined time information to correctly allocate aggregate yield data to the appropriate geo-referenced regions. This preliminary determination of travel times allows the system to compensate for time variations and maintain accurate yield allocation.
2Measurement precision
If aggregate yield data is used for crop management, then overall yield information is available, but the precision of yield measurement for specific regions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the harvesting head into different portions (e.g., left, center, right sections) and determines specific travel times for each segment. By dividing the harvesting head into multiple portions and tracking their individual travel times, the system can allocate yield data more precisely to corresponding geo-referenced regions, thereby improving spatial yield distribution accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the determined travel times as feedback to adjust and improve the allocation of aggregate yield data to geo-referenced regions. By continuously using travel time information to correct and refine yield allocation, the system maintains high measurement precision for specific regions despite the aggregated nature of the sensor data.
3Reliability
If simple aggregate yield sensing is used, then the device complexity is low, but the yield allocation reliability to geo-referenced regions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces travel time determination as an intermediary element between the aggregate yield sensor and the yield allocation process. This intermediary travel time information acts as a mediator that connects the aggregated sensor data to the specific geo-referenced regions, enabling reliable yield allocation without requiring complex segmented sensors or multiple measurement devices.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus may include a harvester head having a crop harvesting width, different components across the harvesting width to interact with plants being harvested, at least one sensor to sense a power characteristic associated with each of the different components and a processing unit to output a crop quantity distribution signal based upon differences in the power characteristic associated with the different components across the harvesting width.