GRAIN CUTTING APPARATUS
Technical Background
It is known to use flying bodies such as drones for the cultivation of crops. For example, a flying body control system for controlling a flying body that sprays chemicals onto a field is known. The system comprises a quality information acquisition unit that acquires, in association, quality information relating to the quality measured by a quality measuring machine of crops harvested in a predetermined area of the field and the corresponding area, and a planning calculation unit that calculates a spraying plan for chemicals and a flight plan for the flying body based on the quality information and the area. The flying body sprays chemicals onto the field based on the spraying plan and the flight plan.
The system further comprises a storage unit that stores a spraying management table in which the spraying plan sprayed onto the harvested crops and the quality information of the harvested crops are recorded in association with the area each time the crops are harvested. The planning calculation unit refers to the spraying management table to calculate the flight plan by referring, for each area, to the transition of the quality information of crops harvested in the past and the spraying plan.
Current Problems
Due to recent global warming, there are regions, traditionally known as grain production areas, where conditions suitable for the growth of grains are being lost. In particular, high summer temperatures inhibit the development of ears, resulting in a decrease in yield.
For this reason, the cultivation of grains in relatively cool mountainous areas has been reconsidered.
However, in mountainous areas, it is sometimes difficult to move machinery for sowing or harvesting ears due to reasons such as steep terrain and narrow roads.
In one aspect, the present invention aims to enable sowing of grains in a short time regardless of the type of grain, even in locations where the introduction of agricultural machinery is difficult.
Means for Solving Problems
To achieve the above object, a disclosed grain ear harvesting apparatus is provided. The grain ear harvesting apparatus is a device mounted on a drone-type flying body, and comprises: a cutting unit that cuts ears and stems of uncut grains as the flying body moves; a storage unit that stores the cut ears; a control unit that moves the flying body to a position for cutting below the ears based on an image of uncut grain ears; and an air-blowing unit that transfers the cut grain ears to the storage unit by air flow.
Accordingly, it is possible to harvest grain ears in a short time regardless of the type of grain, even in locations where the introduction of agricultural machinery is difficult.
Scope of Claims
[Claim 1]
A grain cutting device to be attached to a drone type flying object, comprising:
A cutting unit configured to move the flying body to a position where the ear and the stem of the grain are cut based on the image of the grain ear in the uncut state, and cut the ear and the stem of the grain in the uncut state along with the movement of the flying body, wherein
A storage unit configured to store the cut cereal ears;
An air blowing unit configured to move the cut cereal ears to the storage unit by air blowing;
The grain cutting device according to claim 1
[Claim 2]
The grain cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting unit is moved to a position at which the ear and the stem are cut based on an image of a height, an inclination, and an ear droop of a set of uncut grain ears.
[Claim 3]
The grain ear-cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit has a convex joint portion that divides the stem from which the ear has been cut into left and right parts, a side surface of the storage unit has a shape of a board, and the divided stems are pushed apart backward while sliding on the side surface of the storage unit.
[Claim 4]
The cereal ear-cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising a V-shaped guide plate that guides the tip of the cereal ear to the cutting unit and has a distal end side disposed outside, wherein a lower side of the guide plate is inclined toward a proximal end side.