To gain a perfect insight into what is harvested in the field, AVR has integrated a digital size measurement system on the Puma 4.0 self-propelled potato harvester. This system utilizes cameras mounted on the bunker filling belt to determine potato size during harvest.

The images are processed through AVR Connect, and the gathered data can then be displayed in two ways.

The size measurement data can be displayed either as geospatial or matrix data. The geospatial data provides an overview of which potato sizes are harvested per zone in the field. The matrix structure gives an overview of the different sizes (length and width) of the potatoes as a percentage of the total harvested quantity of a harvest trip or a field. All data ranges within the matrix can be dynamically adjusted based on specific customer needs.

The AVR size measurement system allows for a fully digital size outlay of the harvested potatoes.

Date of market introduction in Belgium (if still in development: expected date of launch)
23/11/2024

Briefly formulate what is new. If your innovation is selected for inclusion in the innovation route, your text will be used as the basis for the texts in the communication to the visitors, press, etc... (max. textarea: 1000 characters)
For years, several yield measurement systems have been available for potato harvesters. One of the drawbacks of these systems is that they are ultimately just weighing cells that transmit a certain value. The system cannot distinguish between potatoes and clods/stones/soil. The calibre measurement system based on camera data, will first recognise the potatoes in the product stream and then measure them. So the data displayed is all relevant. Calibre is a very important quality parameter within potato cultivation. Think of seed potatoes, potatoes for fresh market, and the french fry industry. This allows growers to see what proportion of the harvested potatoes is in the desired calibre size. This can also provide insights for future agronomic decisions.

Added value for the user (in commercial terms, user-friendliness ...)
With the calibre measurement system, growers can see what proportion of the harvested potatoes is in the desired calibre size. As a grower, this gives you extra info on at least one quality parameter of your product. This info can also provide insights for future agronomic decisions.

Added value for the further sustainability and professionalization of the potato sector.
Professionalise: the user has insight into the calibre harvested. Being able to link this info as a user to availability of these calibres can be valuable information for the rest of the chain. Sustainability: within possibilities of precision agriculture, which looks at achieving the most efficient results with the available resources, calibre measurement, like yield, is a very interesting litmus test. The knowledge about all inputs is there, now yield data is also becoming available. And not just in ‘number of trucks per field’, but with the corresponding position/zone in the field.