SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CROP STABILIZATION AND MEASUREMENT

Organization Name

DEERE & COMPANY

Inventor(s)

Gurmukh H. Advani of West Fargo ND (US)

Michael L. Rhodes of Richfield MN (US)

Kevin P. Cowles of Ankeny IA (US)

Noel W. Anderson of Fargo ND (US)

Ali Haidous of Johnston IA (US)

Andrew M. Schefter of Fargo ND (US)

Eric M. Johnson of Geneseo IL (US)

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CROP STABILIZATION AND MEASUREMENT - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18150030 titled 'SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CROP STABILIZATION AND MEASUREMENT

The abstract describes an agricultural header with stabilizers that can displace or deform in response to engaging with a crop, aiding in stabilizing it for measuring purposes. Sensors detect characteristics of the stabilizers, which are then communicated to a controller to determine the size of the crop. If the measured size indicates an adjustment is needed, the controller can operate an actuator to displace the deck plates accordingly.

Stabilizers of the agricultural header can displace or deform when engaging with a crop.
Sensors detect characteristics of the stabilizers to determine the size of the crop.
A controller uses the measured size to adjust the width between deck plates if needed.
An actuator is operated by the controller to displace the deck plates as required.
This innovation allows for precise measurement and adjustment of the crop size during harvesting.

Potential Applications: - Precision agriculture - Crop harvesting equipment - Agricultural machinery technology

Problems Solved: - Ensuring accurate measurement of crop size - Improving stability during harvesting - Enhancing efficiency in crop processing

Benefits: - Increased accuracy in determining crop size - Improved stability for harvesting equipment - Enhanced efficiency in crop processing operations

Commercial Applications: Title: "Advanced Crop Size Measurement and Adjustment Technology for Agricultural Headers" This technology can be utilized in modern agricultural machinery to enhance precision and efficiency in crop harvesting processes. It can be marketed to agricultural equipment manufacturers and farmers looking to optimize their harvesting operations.

Questions about the technology: 1. How does this technology improve the efficiency of crop harvesting operations? - This technology allows for precise measurement and adjustment of crop size, leading to more accurate harvesting processes. 2. What are the potential cost savings associated with implementing this innovation in agricultural equipment? - By improving stability and efficiency, this technology can help reduce waste and increase overall productivity in crop harvesting.

Original Abstract Submitted

Stabilizers of an agricultural header can be either, or both, displaceable and deformable in response to engagement with a portion of a crop, such as, for example, a stalk, in a manner that can assist in stabilizing the crop for at least purposes of determining a corresponding cross-sectional size of the crop. Characteristics relating to the displacement or the deformation of the stabilizers can be detected by one or more sensors and communicated to a controller to determine a measured size of the crop. Using the measured size, the controller can determine if the size of the crop corresponds to a current size of a width between deck plates of the header. If the measured size indicates the width is to be adjusted, the controller can selectively operate an actuator that is coupled to at least one of the deck plates to displace at least one deck plate.