Research on monitoring model for maize entrainment loss sensor applicable to different operating parameters

The entrainment loss monitoring sensor plays a very important role in the intelligent development process of maize combine harvester. However, traditional entrainment loss sensor does not adjust its monitoring ratio according to different working conditions of the harvester, resulting in poor adaptability of the sensor to different working environments. To address the above problems and to improve the applicability of the entrainment loss monitoring sensor, this study proposed a maize entrainment loss sensor monitoring model based on the optimal sensor installation location. The distribution law of threshed material below the threshing drum was investigated, and the optimal installation location of the two symmetrical sensors was determined to be x = 1.7 m along the axial direction of the drum and r1 = 0.1 m and r2 = 0.7 m along the radial direction of the drum. Based on the above, the threshing process was simulated and analyzed using the discrete element method (DEM). A proportional model between the monitoring values and the true values of entrainment loss under different working parameters was established using multiple linear regression algorithms, and the determination coefficients (R2) of the sensor monitoring model on both sides was 0.813 and 0.876, respectively. Finally, the proposed monitoring models were validated through tests, the results show that the accuracy of the entrainment loss sensors can reach above 85 % under different working parameter conditions of the threshing system. The research findings of this paper are of great significance to improve the applicability of maize entrainment loss sensors, which can provide reference for the intelligent control system of combine harvester and provide technical support to enhance maize yield.