A robot comprises an auger-based drive system, a memory, and a processor coupled with the memory and configured to control movement of the robot relative to a piled granular material in a bulk store, via the auger-based drive system, such that the robot traverses a first surface of the piled granular material in a mapping pattern. The processor is further configured to record a plurality of three-dimensional locations of the robot during the traversal in the mapping pattern. The processor or a computer system coupled with the processor is configured to assemble the plurality of three-dimensional locations of the robot into a three-dimensional surface map of the first surface of the piled granular material.

An apparatus for steam treating plant fibres is provided, the apparatus comprising: a steam manifold that is adapted to receive steam from a steam source and to distribute steam to a plurality of lances, the lances being configured to deliver steam into the interior volume of a batch of plant fibres; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the batch of plant fibres, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor, and to control the supply of steam to the lances to raise the temperature of the plant fibres to a target temperature. A method of steaming plant fibres is also provided.

A system for measuring a number of layers in a layered environment includes an ultrasound transducer positioned at an exterior surface of a first layer at a first location. At least one receiving sensor is positioned perpendicular to the exterior surface of the first layer at a second location. The ultrasound transducer and the at least one receiving sensor are in communication with a computer processor, power source, and computer-readable memory. The ultrasound transducer is configured to emit a first ultrasound signal into the first layer at the first location. The at least one receiving sensor is configured to receive a plurality of propagated ultrasound signals. The processor is configured to determine a total number of layers in the layered environment based on at least one from the set of: a number of signals received and a number of propagation direction changes only of the first ultrasound signal.

A system for measuring a number of layers in a layered environment includes an ultrasound transducer positioned at an exterior surface of a first layer at a first location. At least one receiving sensor is positioned perpendicular to the exterior surface of the first layer at a second location. The ultrasound transducer and the at least one receiving sensor are in communication with a computer processor, power source, and computer-readable memory. The ultrasound transducer is configured to emit a first ultrasound signal into the first layer at the first location. The at least one receiving sensor is configured to receive a plurality of propagated ultrasound signals. The processor is configured to determine a total number of layers in the layered environment based on at least one from the set of: a number of signals received and a number of propagation direction changes only of the first ultrasound signal.

The present disclosure relates to the field of food chain monitoring at a plurality of situations and more particularly to a system and method for remotely monitoring of atmospheric conditions of one or more products. The remote monitoring system may comprise a data logger, a data collector, and an industrial tablet. The data logger may be enabled to log atmospheric data of the products present in a container and further send the atmospheric data to the data collector through data packet channels. The system may be further enabled for providing unique time slot to each data logger for sending the data packets without collision. The system may be further enabled with re-synchronisation methods for updating and synchronising the time of each data logger to avoid collision of two or more advertising packets.

The present disclosure relates to the field of food chain monitoring at a plurality of situations and more particularly to a system and method for remotely monitoring of atmospheric conditions of one or more products. The remote monitoring system may comprise a data logger, a data collector, and an industrial tablet. The data logger may be enabled to log atmospheric data of the products present in a container and further send the atmospheric data to the data collector through data packet channels. The system may be further enabled for providing unique time slot to each data logger for sending the data packets without collision. The system may be further enabled with re-synchronisation methods for updating and synchronising the time of each data logger to avoid collision of two or more advertising packets.

A measurement device for detecting a material level and a temperature has a cable, a level sensing module, a thermal sensing module, a processing module, and a power module. The measurement device detects difference of currents between an electrode of the cable and the earth, and calculates a material level of a material stored in a silo according to the RF admittance. The cable comprises a plurality of thermal sensing units for detecting a temperature of the material. The measurement device further calibrates a material capacitance of the material with the temperature for avoiding an error caused by an inaccurate parameter.

A measurement device for detecting a material level and a temperature has a cable, a level sensing module, a thermal sensing module, a processing module, and a power module. The measurement device detects difference of currents between an electrode of the cable and the earth, and calculates a material level of a material stored in a silo according to the RF admittance. The cable comprises a plurality of thermal sensing units for detecting a temperature of the material. The measurement device further calibrates a material capacitance of the material with the temperature for avoiding an error caused by an inaccurate parameter.

Method for detecting a quality of paving material distributed along a paving area using a paver, including: receiving a first thermal profile of a portion of the paving area where the paving material is distributed, the first thermal profile having a plurality of temperature values assigned to respective measurement points; the portion including a first subportion; analyzing the first thermal profile to detect segregated spots of paving material within the portion enabling to determine a quality of the paving material, including: determining a first zone of the measuring points arranged adjacent to each other and having temperature values within a predetermined range, the first zone corresponding to the first subportion and being at least partially surrounded by measurement points having temperature values out of the predetermined range; determining a first analysis parameter for the first zone; and determining a first quality parameter for the subportion to assign the first quality parameter to the first analysis parameter.

Method for detecting a quality of paving material distributed along a paving area using a paver, including: receiving a first thermal profile of a portion of the paving area where the paving material is distributed, the first thermal profile having a plurality of temperature values assigned to respective measurement points; the portion including a first subportion; analyzing the first thermal profile to detect segregated spots of paving material within the portion enabling to determine a quality of the paving material, including: determining a first zone of the measuring points arranged adjacent to each other and having temperature values within a predetermined range, the first zone corresponding to the first subportion and being at least partially surrounded by measurement points having temperature values out of the predetermined range; determining a first analysis parameter for the first zone; and determining a first quality parameter for the subportion to assign the first quality parameter to the first analysis parameter.