1. A crop residue energy-recovery harvester comprising: a residue collection mechanism (101) integrated with a conventional combine harvester, including guide vanes, pickup reels, and controlled airflow channels; an enclosed residue processing unit (102) configured for size reduction and moisture conditioning of collected biomass; and an energy recovery module (103) configured to convert crop residue into usable energy during harvesting through thermochemical or mechanical conversion methods; wherein the energy recovery module (103) operates using combustion, gasification, or bio-mechanical power generation; wherein the recovered energy is converted into electrical or mechanical power through a generator or transmission system (104).

2. The harvester as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the generated power is utilized to operate auxiliary systems of the harvester including conveyors, residue choppers, hydraulic pumps, lighting, or electronic control units (105).

3. The harvester as claimed in Claim 1, wherein excess recovered energy is stored in an onboard energy storage unit (106) or supplied to external agricultural equipment.

4. The harvester as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the system operates continuously during harvesting without requiring additional field passes or separate residue management machinery.

5. The harvester as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the modular design allows adaptation to different crop varieties, field conditions, and farm sizes.

6. The harvester as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the system reduces fossil fuel dependence by offsetting harvester fuel or electrical energy requirements.

Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a millet-specific smart inter-row weeder with crop recognition and selective weed removal system
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Z Millets, including finger millet (Eleusine coracana), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), little millet (Panicum sumatrense), barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea), and kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum), are predominantly cultivated by small and marginal farmers under rainfed, dryland, and low-input agricultural systems. Despite their resilience to drought and poor soils, millet crops suffer significant yield losses due to severe weed competition during early growth stages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention.
This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
The Millet-Specific Smart Inter-Row Weeder with Crop Recognition and Selective Weed Removal System is a compact, ground-operated agricultural implement designed to perform precision weed removal between millet crop rows without damaging crop plants.
To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
FIGURE 1: SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a",” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
In addition, the descriptions of "first", "second", “third”, and the like in the present invention are used for the purpose of description only, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defining "first" and "second" may include at least one of the features, either explicitly or implicitly.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
The invention relates to a crop residue energy-recovery harvester designed to simultaneously manage crop residue and recover usable energy during harvesting. The system integrates a residue collection mechanism (101) comprising guide vanes, pickup reels, and controlled airflow channels to gather straw and stubble after grain separation. Unlike conventional systems that merely chop and spread residue, the collected biomass is directed into an enclosed processing unit (102), where it undergoes controlled size reduction and moisture conditioning to prepare it for energy conversion.
The conditioned biomass is fed into an energy recovery module (103), which operates using thermochemical or mechanical conversion methods such as combustion, gasification, or bio-mechanical power extraction. The recovered energy is converted into usable electrical or mechanical power through a generator or transmission system (104). This energy is utilized in real time to power auxiliary functions of the harvester, including conveyors, residue choppers, hydraulic pumps, lighting, and electronic control units (105). Excess energy, if available, is stored in an onboard energy storage unit (106) or supplied to external farm equipment.
The system operates continuously during harvesting, enabling simultaneous grain collection, residue management, and energy recovery without requiring additional machinery or field passes. Its modular design allows adaptation to different crop varieties, field conditions, and farm sizes. By converting crop residue into energy at the point of generation, the invention eliminates open-field burning, reduces environmental pollution, lowers operational costs, and promotes sustainable agricultural practices.
The Millet-Specific Smart Inter-Row Weeder with Crop Recognition and Selective Weed Removal System is a compact, ground-operated agricultural implement designed to perform precision weed removal between millet crop rows without damaging crop plants.
The invention integrates crop recognition technology, selective mechanical actuation, and ground-driven synchronization into a single lightweight unit suitable for manual operation or attachment to a power tiller.
The invention introduces a Millet-Exclusive AI Crop Recognition System, which is a key novelty as it is trained exclusively on millet crops such as finger millet, pearl millet, foxtail millet, and little millet. The recognition model is specifically designed to identify millet-specific morphological features including narrow leaf width, leaf orientation and angle, tillering patterns, and early-stage growth appearance. Unlike existing AI weeders that rely on datasets dominated by broadleaf crops or wide-row cereals, this invention creates a dedicated millet recognition domain, thereby achieving significantly higher discrimination accuracy. This millet-exclusive recognition capability does not exist in any known agricultural weeding implement.
Another novelty lies in the Real-Time Selective Weeding Decision Algorithm, which dynamically determines whether a detected plant is a millet crop or a weed, the spatial position of the weed relative to the crop row, the type of weeding action required (inter-row or intra-row), and the depth and duration of mechanical actuation. Unlike conventional weeders that operate continuously and indiscriminately, this invention activates weeding tools only when weeds are detected and remains inactive near crop plants. This event-based actuation significantly reduces crop damage and energy consumption.
A further advancement is the Selective Intra-Row Weeding Mechanism, which operates extremely close to millet plants without uprooting or injuring them. The system employs retractable or shielded micro-weeding elements that extend only when weeds are detected in close proximity and retract immediately upon detection of a millet plant. Existing mechanical weeders are incapable of safe intra-row operation due to lack of crop recognition, but this invention uniquely enables precision intra-row weeding in millet crops.
The invention also introduces a Shallow Root-Safe Mechanical Design, recognizing that millet crops possess shallow and delicate root systems. The working depth is restricted to a shallow range of 2–4 cm, continuously regulated using ground-adaptive control, and soil disturbance is localized only to weed-infested zones. This design philosophy differs fundamentally from existing weeders that rely on deep soil stirring, offering a crop-protective approach to weed management.
Another embodiment is the Adaptation for Narrow Row Spacing in Millets, which are typically cultivated at row spacings of 20–30 cm. The invention is uniquely adapted for such narrow spacing through compact mechanical assemblies, slim inter-row tool profiles, and high positional accuracy enabled by vision-based guidance. This narrow-row compatibility, combined with intelligent crop recognition, represents a novel solution not addressed by existing agricultural implements.
The invention is further optimized for Dryland and Rainfed Agricultural Conditions, which are typical of millet cultivation. It operates effectively in uneven terrain, functions under variable lighting and soil conditions, requires minimal power input, and does not depend on continuous internet connectivity or complex infrastructure. Unlike most smart weeders designed for controlled, irrigated systems, this invention specifically addresses the realities of small-scale millet farming.
The novelty of the present invention resides in the synergistic and non-obvious integration of a millet-specific crop recognition system with a selectively actuated mechanical weeding mechanism, forming an intelligent inter-row and intra-row weed management solution uniquely tailored for millet crops.
Unlike existing mechanical weeders, which operate blindly, and existing smart weeders, which are designed for wide-row crops and large mechanized farms, the present invention introduces a crop-exclusive intelligence layer specifically trained on the morphological characteristics of millet plants. This integration enables real-time crop–weed discrimination and precision weed removal without causing crop injury, even under narrow row spacing and dryland conditions.
The inventive concept is not merely the presence of artificial intelligence or mechanical weeding alone, but the functional cooperation between millet-trained vision algorithms, real-time decision logic, and root-safe mechanical actuation, all implemented in a compact, low-cost system suitable for small and marginal farmers.
In one embodiment, the harvester may be adapted for multi-crop residue management, enabling effective collection and energy recovery not only from wheat straw but also from rice stubble, maize stalks, sugarcane trash, and cotton residues. Adjustable guide vanes, pickup reels, and airflow channels can be reconfigured to handle varying residue sizes, densities, and moisture levels, making the system versatile across diverse cropping systems.
In another embodiment, the energy recovery module may be designed as a hybrid system that combines thermochemical conversion methods such as combustion or gasification with mechanical energy extraction. This dual-mode configuration ensures maximum energy recovery efficiency under different field conditions and residue compositions, while allowing flexibility in choosing the most suitable conversion pathway.
A further embodiment incorporates advanced onboard energy storage and distribution systems. Excess energy generated during harvesting can be stored in lithium-ion batteries or supercapacitors, and a DC/AC inverter may be included to supply power to external farm equipment or micro-grids. This enables farmers to utilize recovered energy beyond the harvester itself, supporting broader farm electrification.
In yet another embodiment, the harvester integrates a smart control system with IoT-based sensors to monitor biomass feed rate, moisture content, and energy output in real time. A farmer-friendly dashboard provides live data on energy recovery and residue management efficiency, enabling predictive maintenance and informed operational decisions.
Another embodiment emphasizes modularity, allowing the energy-recovery unit to be designed as an attachment compatible with conventional combine harvesters, balers, or mulchers. This reduces cost and enables retrofitting of existing machinery, making the technology accessible to small and marginal farmers.
In an environmentally focused embodiment, the energy recovery module may include emission control systems such as filters or scrubbers to minimize particulate emissions during combustion or gasification. This ensures compliance with environmental standards while generating clean energy.
A dual-mode operational embodiment allows the system to function either in residue management-only mode, where biomass is collected and conditioned for later use, or in energy-recovery mode, where biomass is converted into usable energy during harvesting. This flexibility makes the system adaptable to varying farmer requirements and field conditions.
The embodiments may be scaled for different farm sizes, with compact versions designed for smallholder farmers and high-capacity versions for large-scale mechanized farms. Integration with renewable energy systems such as solar panels can further reduce fossil fuel dependence, while safety features such as automatic shutdown, fire suppression, and fail-safe mechanisms ensure reliable and secure operation in diverse agricultural environments.
, Claims:1. A crop residue energy-recovery harvester comprising: a residue collection mechanism (101) integrated with a conventional combine harvester, including guide vanes, pickup reels, and controlled airflow channels; an enclosed residue processing unit (102) configured for size reduction and moisture conditioning of collected biomass; and an energy recovery module (103) configured to convert crop residue into usable energy during harvesting through thermochemical or mechanical conversion methods;
wherein the energy recovery module (103) operates using combustion, gasification, or bio-mechanical power generation;
wherein the recovered energy is converted into electrical or mechanical power through a generator or transmission system (104).
2. The harvester as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the generated power is utilized to operate auxiliary systems of the harvester including conveyors, residue choppers, hydraulic pumps, lighting, or electronic control units (105).
3. The harvester as claimed in Claim 1, wherein excess recovered energy is stored in an onboard energy storage unit (106) or supplied to external agricultural equipment.
4. The harvester as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the system operates continuously during harvesting without requiring additional field passes or separate residue management machinery.
5. The harvester as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the modular design allows adaptation to different crop varieties, field conditions, and farm sizes.
6. The harvester as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the system reduces fossil fuel dependence by offsetting harvester fuel or electrical energy requirements.