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Innovation & Technologie Angebot

High precision on-board volume measurement of log wood for harvesters with reduced calibration effort

Country of Origin: Germany
Reference Number: TODE20180629002
Publication Date: 29 June 2018

Summary

A German research institute has developed a solution for high-precision on-board volume measurement of log wood. Precise measuring of log wood volume during the harvesting process is
not possible up to now. The new developed combination of sensor, specimen and processing software enables a more precise measurement as well as a reduced calibration effort. The research institute is searching for license and technical cooperation agreements for the further development of the technology.

Description

Current log wood volume measuring equipment for harvesters has to be calibrated regularly by measurements of logs with a slide calliper during the cutting down process. The data is

evaluated in a downstream process. So the precise amount of the wood volume is not available online.

The new measuring unit developed by a German research institute uses an integrated specimen to reduce this calibration effort in a dramatic way towards a standardised procedure. The system enables an easy analysis of the condition of all sensors of the measuring unit.

Simultaneously the system enables more precise measurements. Conventional measurements of logs are not necessary anymore; due to the principle of the technology. Furthermore the data processing does not depend on the type and construction of the measuring unit which is integrated in commercial harvester heads.

A second offered technology also overbears another problem of conventional measuring devices. Caused by the construction principle the measuring results of angle based sensor leads to inaccuracy of the measurement results, as the measuring regulator control elements like delimbing blades do not contact the log directly or axial feed rollers are pressed into the log's surface with an undefined depth.

The principle of the developed measuring solution is based on a gross determination of the logs diameter. An additional tactile sensor which is positioned in a small opening in the lateral area of the feed roller guarantees the high-precision measurement, as the actual diameter of the log in the feed roller gets measured in equidistant distances and volume value calculation is based on

complete logs.

The high precision measurement of log wood volumes leads to savings in accounting and logistic operations between the owner of the wood, the logging company and the wood processing industry.

The research institute is searching for license and technical cooperation agreements for the further development of the technology. 

The offered technology can be used as licensee or the further development to market ready product, can be target of technical cooperation agreement.

Advantages and Innovations

The newly developed measuring solution leads to:

- more precise measurements of the volume of log wood.

- reduced effort for the calibration of measuring equipment.

- less effort for accounting and logistic operations between contract partners.

The technology is suitable for log wood measuring devices of different types and construction principles.

The profile owner offers additional technology for the wood logging and processing industry, which leads to an increased production, while the cost effort can be reduced up to 5 %.

Stage Of Development

Under development/lab tested

Requested partner

Type of partner sought: Industry.

- Specific area of activity of the partner:

Development and production of harvesters, harvester heads and measuring devices for harvester heads.

- Task to be performed by the partner sought:

Use the offered technology as licensee or joint further development to market ready product