Development of user terminal software for Korean grain yield monitoring systems

Authors: LEE, KYUHO - University Of Missouri; CHUNG, SUN-OK - Chungnam National University; Sudduth, Kenneth - Ken

Submitted to: Journal of Biosystems Engineering
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2022
Publication Date: 8/16/2022
Citation: Lee, K., Chung, S., Sudduth, K.A. 2022. Development of user terminal software for Korean grain yield monitoring systems. Journal of Biosystems Engineering. 47:386–401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42853-022-00153-x.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42853-022-00153-x

Interpretive Summary: In combine grain yield monitoring software, the user terminal is the component that collects data from onboard sensors, transforms that data into a form usable for yield mapping, and allows the operator to interact with the system. These terminals and the accompanying software are well-developed for the commercial yield monitoring systems used in harvesting the large fields found in the USA; however, modifications are needed in many parts of Asia, where fields and combine harvesters are much smaller. The purpose of this research was to develop the software needed for the user terminal of a Korean grain yield monitoring system. The software functioned well in removing inaccurate data, improving the quality of yield maps. Field tests showed that errors in grain yield and moisture content were in an acceptable range, below 5%. The software developed in this study provides an important step toward a grain yield monitoring system tailored to the Korean harvesting environment.

Technical Abstract: In yield monitoring systems, user terminal software plays a role in collecting harvest data and creating yield maps. The software developed in this study was made specifically for Korean grain yield monitoring systems. The main functions of the software were based on commercial yield monitoring software, but modified for Korean systems. In order to demonstrate accuracy and performance of the yield monitoring system, we conducted indoor and field tests. Through the indoor test, we demonstrated functions of the software such as automatic position filter and delay time filter with yield data collected in the USA and the Republic of Korea. To prove the accuracy of the software in yield estimation, six field tests were conducted, three at 1.5 m/s, and the other three at 1.7 m/s. Software results were compared to manual weight and moisture content measurements collected from the grain tank. In the indoor test, the automatic position filter removed inaccurate position data (1.9%) and average accuracy of the sensors after applying the calibration function was 91%. After applying the delay time function, yield maps became more coherent in spatial yield patterns. Through the field test, the error rate of yield and moisture content were 4.24 and 2.51%, respectively. The user terminal software developed in this study has potential for use in Korean grain yield monitoring systems, but should be improved to better consider the Korean harvesting environment.