At the InterPom’24 fair, AVR will showcase its most recent invention: the Puma 4.0’s size measuring system. Thanks to the camera system on the bunker-filling web, growers now have more precise information about yields than ever before.

Vision technology is used to identify potatoes, while stones and clods are ignored.

“For years, various yield measuring systems have been available for potato harvesters. One of the disadvantages of these systems is that they are nothing more than weighing cells relaying a certain value. The system cannot distinguish between potatoes and soil clods or stones. The size measuring system based on camera data first recognizes the potatoes in the product stream and then measures them. As a result, the displayed data is 100% relevant,” Pieter Galle, Product Manager at AVR, mentioned.

Size is a critical quality parameter in the potato cultivation industry.

“Just think about seed potatoes, potatoes for the fresh market and the French fry industry. As a grower, you can see what share of the harvested potatoes has the desired size, which means you have detailed information on at least one quality parameter of your product. Furthermore, the results of the size measurement can provide insights for future agronomic decisions,” Galle added.

It also gives the rest of the chain a perfect view of which sizes will be delivered, which means they do not solely have to rely on spot checks.

In precision agriculture – where the main objective is to achieve as efficient a result as possible with the available resources – size measurement, like yield, is a very interesting litmus test.

“The knowledge about all inputs is already there, but now the result data also becomes available. And not only as far as the number of trucks per field is concerned, but also for the corresponding position or zone in the field,” Galle concluded.

Integrating a Digital Size Measurement System

The Puma 4.0 self-propelled potato harvester features a computerized size measurement system built in by AVR to provide a perfect understanding of what is harvested in the field. To measure potato size during harvest, this method makes use of cameras installed on the bunker-filling web.

Following AVR Connect’s photos processing, there are two possible ways to show the collected data.

Either matrix or geographical data can be used to display the size measurement data. An overview of the potato sizes collected in each field zone is given by the geospatial data. The matrix structure provides a summary of the various potato sizes (width and length) as a percentage of the total amount taken during a field trip. The matrix’s data ranges can all be dynamically changed to suit the demands of individual customers.

“In short, the AVR size measurement system allows for a fully digital size outlay of the harvested potatoes,” the company engineers announced.

Size measurement will be presented at the InterPom’24 fair on November 24, 25, and 26, in Kortrijk (Belgium) and will from now on be available on the Puma 4.0.

At Interpom, AVR’s 175th anniversary will also be highlighted. The Puma 4.0 limited edition model will be on display at the booth: A high-tech self-propelled harvester with a retro look – old meets new. In addition, every day at 3 p.m., AVR will have some surprises in store at the booth, and on Sunday, November 24, we will organize something extra for the youngest visitors.

On Saturday, December 21, AVR warmly invites all customers and interested parties to celebrate the company’s 175th anniversary together at its site in Roeselare.

“This will be the first public event in our completely renovated headquarters. Guided tours of the plant, machines on display, catching up over a tasty snack and a drink around a warm winter fire: the cozy recipe for the AVR Winter Fest. Registration is required. Follow AVR’s social media for further details,” the company representatives concluded.