Agricultural machine control based on sensed blockage distance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11818976-B2
Application number	US-202017010324-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2020
Priority date	Oct 21, 2019
Publication date	Nov 21, 2023
Grant date	Nov 21, 2023

Abstract

A dispensing machine dispenses a material on a field. A blockage is detected, and an initial blockage location, where the blockage started, is identified. A blockage characterization system identifies characteristics of the blockage, and a control signal generator generates control signals based upon the detected blockage, and the characteristics of the blockage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for controlling an agricultural machine, comprising:
an initial blockage location identifier that receives a blockage signal indicative of a blockage in a conduit, through which material passes from a container to an application mechanism, that dispenses the material on the field, the initial blockage location identifier identifying a geographic starting location indicative of a geographic location of the application mechanism when the blockage occurred;
a blockage area processing system that identifies a geographic location of an affected area over which the application mechanism traveled during the blockage; and
a control signal generator that generates a control signal to control a controllable subsystem on the agricultural machine based on the affected area.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the control signal generator generates an operator interface control signal to generate an output indicative of the affected area for surfacing on an operator interface mechanism on the agricultural machine.

3. The control system of claim 1 and further comprising:
a blockage extent identifier generating a blockage extent signal indicative of an extent of the blockage in the conduit, the control signal generator generating the control signal based on the extent of the blockage.

4. The control system of claim 3 and further comprising:
a yield loss processing system that generates an estimated yield loss signal indicative of an estimated yield loss, corresponding to the blockage, based on the affected area, the control signal generator generating the control signal based on the estimated yield loss signal.

5. The control system of claim 4 and further comprising:
a mapping generator configured to, when the blockage extent identifier identifies the extent of the blockage as being sufficient, generate a map indicating the location of the blockage based on the geographic starting location corresponding to the blockage and the affected area.

6. The control system of claim 1 wherein the control signal generator comprises:
a machine control system configured to automatically control the application mechanism to dispense material when the application mechanism is over the affected area.

7. The control system of claim 6 wherein the agriculture machine comprises a dispensing machine with a plurality of independently actuatable sections of application mechanisms and wherein the machine control system comprises:
a section control system configured to selectively actuate different sections of application mechanisms based on the geographic location of the affected area and a geographic location of each of the sections of application mechanisms.

8. The control system of claim 6 wherein the agriculture machine comprises a application machine with a plurality of independently actuatable application mechanisms, each comprising a row unit, and wherein the machine control system comprises:
a row control system configured to selectively actuate different row units based on the geographic location of the affected area and a geographic location of each of the row units.

9. The control system of claim 1 wherein the controllable subsystem comprises a steering subsystem and wherein the control signal generator comprises:
a steering control system configured to automatically control the steering subsystem to steer the agricultural machine to the affected area corresponding to the blockage.

10. An agricultural application machine control system, comprising:
at least one processor; and
memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform steps, comprising:
receiving a blockage signal indicative of a blockage in a conduit, through which material passes from a container to a dispensing mechanism, that dispenses the material on the field, during an application operation;
identifying a geographic starting location indicative of a geographic location of the dispensing mechanism when the blockage occurred;
identifying a geographic location of an affected area over which the dispensing mechanism traveled during the blockage; and
generating a control signal to control a controllable subsystem on the agricultural machine based on the affected area.

11. The agricultural machine control system of claim 10 wherein generating the control signal comprises:
generating an operator interface control signal, indicative of the affected area, for surfacing on an operator interface mechanism on the agricultural machine.

12. The agricultural machine control system of claim 10 wherein the steps further comprise:
identifying a blockage extent indicative of an extent of the blockage in the conduit, wherein generating the control signal comprises generating the control signal based on the extent of the blockage.

13. The agricultural machine control system of claim 10 wherein the steps further comprise:
generating an estimated yield loss signal indicative of an estimated yield loss, corresponding to the blockage, based on the affected area, wherein generating the control signal comprises generating the control signal based on the estimated yield loss signal.

14. The agricultural machine control system of claim 13 wherein the steps further comprise:
generating a map indicating the location of the blockage based on the geographic starting location corresponding to the blockage and the affected area.

15. The agricultural machine control system of claim 10 wherein generating the control signal comprises:
automatically controlling the dispensing mechanism to dispense the material when the dispensing mechanism is over the affected area.

16. The agricultural machine control system of claim 15 wherein the agriculture machine comprises an application machine with a plurality of independently actuatable sections of dispensing mechanisms and wherein generating the control signal comprises:
selectively actuating different sections of dispensing mechanisms based on the geographic location of the affected area and a geographic location of each of the sections of dispensing mechanisms.

17. The agricultural machine control system of claim 15 wherein the agriculture machine comprises an application machine with a plurality of independently actuatable dispensing mechanisms, each comprising a row unit, and wherein generating the control signal comprises:
selectively actuating different row units based on the geographic location of the affected area and a geographic location of each of the row units.

18. The agricultural machine control system of claim 10 wherein the controllable subsystem comprises a steering subsystem and wherein generating the control signal comprises:
automatically controlling the steering subsystem to steer the agricultural machine to the affected area corresponding to the blockage.

19. A computer implemented method, comprising:
receiving a blockage signal indicative of a blockage in a conduit, through which material passes from a container to a dispensing mechanism, that dispenses the material on the field during a dispensing operation;
identifying a geographic starting location indicative of a geographic location of the dispensing mechanism when the blockage occurred;
identifying a geographic location of an affected area over which the dispensing mechanism traveled during the blockage, based on the geographic starting location and an agricultural machine ground speed indicative of a ground speed of the dispensing mechanism; and

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• EKHE Sandeep
• Kale Mandar Mhalsakant
• Mahrt Sean A
• Graham William Douglas
• Nedved Peter R
• Wonderlich Grant J
• Casper Robert T
• Joshi Omkar

Classifications

• A01B79/005 Primary

  Precision agriculture · CPC title

• A01B69/008

  automatic · CPC title

• A01C7/082

  Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders · CPC title

• A01C14/00

  Methods or apparatus for planting not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• A01C21/005 Primary

  Following a specific plan, e.g. pattern · CPC title