BREAKTHROUGH HARVESTING AND PELLETING SYSTEM FOR FODDER AND ENERGY GRASSES

摘要

Iron Goat Technology, Inc. has developed a robotic harvesting technology for creating biomass pelletsrndirectly from standing grassy biomass while harvesting. Primary uses include livestock feed from hay crops, andrnpellet fuel from a large number of cultivated and wild sources. By combining harvesting, material processing, andrnpelleting on a single platform with an autonomous guidance system, most of the inefficiencies of conventionalrnbiomass feedstock harvesting and processing are eliminated. Iron Goat can produce a pellet product at a price wellrnbelow the cost of conventional hay harvesting to a baled product. Advances in machine vision and reasoning,rncombined with hyperspectral imaging including night vision and thermal imaging allow the platform to operate dayrnand night in complex environments. The platform uses a conventional internal combustion engine that can run eitherrnoff of traditional liquid or gaseous fuels, or a biomass gasification reactor to provide fuel directly from the biomassrnbeing harvested.