Management of Cotton Modules Using RFID: Wheel Loader and Telehandler Work Tool—System Design

Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are now included in the plastic wrap used to protect seed cotton formed into cylindrical or “round” modules on modern cotton harvesters. In this paper, the development of a new work tool system for handling round modules with articulated wheel loaders or telehandlers is described. The work tool system reads the module-specific identification number from the RFID tags in the wrap and associates the module’s weight, seed cotton moisture content, GPS location, cotton ownership, and load information with the module serial number. Finite element analysis of critical components indicated that the system was capable of processing modules weighing 3178 kg (7000 lb.) Module weight was determined on the loader using measurements of the hydraulic pressure in the lift arm circuit. Seed cotton moisture content was measured using a custom-designed resistance-based probe. To help reduce the potential for lint bale contamination from module wrap plastic, the work tool system was designed to rotate modules so that the wrap can be cut within the manufacturer-recommended cut zone before the wrap is removed at the gin. The total cost for the system configured for fully automated data collection and module rotation control was $28,909.