Dynamic Modeling of a Conventional and Robotic Harvester System

Conventional and potential robotic harvester systems approach harvest from different perspectives. A conventional system waits till a majority of the bolls are open and then the entire field is harvested at once. A robotic system begins to harvest as soon as bolls are open and may make several passes through the field. This paper uses a dynamic modelling approach to calculate the cost to harvest under each system. This model accounts for cotton quality due to weather events throughout the season and will ultimately be used as a guide to designing a robotic system so that costs remain comparable to a conventional system.