Systems and methods for monitoring implement performance during an agricultural operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12315311-B2
Application number	US-202218072404-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2022
Priority date	Nov 30, 2022
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

A method for monitoring the operating performance of agricultural implements includes moving an agricultural implement in a direction of travel along a first swath of a field, and receiving data associated with a field profile of an aft portion of the field located rearward of the agricultural implement relative to the direction of travel as the implement is being moved along the first swath, with the aft portion including both the first swath and a second swath of the field located adjacent the first swath. The method also includes determining one or more profile parameters associated with the first swath and the second swath based at least in part on the data, and comparing the one or more profile parameters for the first swath to the one or more profile parameters for the second swath to assess an operating performance of the agricultural implement within the field.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for monitoring operating performance of agricultural implements, the method comprising:
moving an agricultural implement in a direction of travel along a first swath of a field to perform an agricultural operation within the first swath of the field;
receiving, with a computing device, data associated with a field profile of an aft portion of the field located rearward of the agricultural implement relative to the direction of travel as the agricultural implement is being moved along the first swath, the aft portion comprising both the first swath and a second swath of the field located adjacent the first swath within the field;
determining, with the computing device, one or more profile parameters associated with the first swath and the second swath based at least in part on the data; and
comparing, with the computing device, the one or more profile parameters for the first swath to the one or more profile parameters for the second swath to assess an operating performance of the agricultural implement within the field.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the data comprises receiving the data from at least one field profile sensor supported relative to the agricultural implement.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more profile parameters comprises determining an average height of the first swath and an average height of the second swath.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein comparing the one or more profile parameters for the first swath to the one or more profile parameters for the second swath comprises:
determining a height differential between the average height of the first swath and the average height of the second swath; and
comparing the height differential to a predetermined differential threshold to assess the operating performance of the agricultural implement within the field.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more profile parameters comprises determining a roll orientation of the first swath and a roll orientation of the second swath.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein comparing the one or more profile parameters for the first swath to the one or more profile parameters for the second swath comprises:
determining an orientation differential between the roll orientation of the first swath and the roll orientation of the second swath; and
comparing the orientation differential to a predetermined differential threshold to assess the operating performance of the agricultural implement within the field.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating a control action based at least in part on the assessment of the operating performance of the agricultural implement within the field.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein comparing the one or more profile parameters for the first swath to the one or more profile parameters for the second swath comprises determining that the agricultural implement is out-of-level based on the comparison; and
wherein initiating the control action comprises initiating a control action to adjust a levelness of the agricultural implement in response to the determination that the agricultural implement is out-of-level.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein initiating the control action comprises generating an operator notification associated with the operating performance of the agricultural implement.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein initiating the control action comprises adjusting an operation of at least one of the agricultural implement or a work vehicle towing the agricultural implement across the field.

11. A system for monitoring operating performance of agricultural implements, the system comprising:
an agricultural implement including a plurality of ground-engaging tools;
at least one field profile sensor supported relative to the agricultural implement, the at least one field profile sensor being configured to generate data associated with a field profile of an aft portion of a field located rearward of the agricultural implement relative to a direction of travel of the agricultural implement;
a controller communicatively coupled to the field profile sensor, the controller being configured to:
receive the data from the at least one field profile sensor associated with the field profile of the aft portion of the field as the agricultural implement is being moved along a first swath of the field during performance of an agricultural operation, the aft portion comprising both the first swath and a second swath of the field located adjacent the first swath within the field;
determining one or more profile parameters associated with the first swath and the second swath based at least in part on the data; and
comparing the one or more profile parameters for the first swath to the one or more profile parameters for the second swath to assess an operating performance of the agricultural implement within the field.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one field profile sensor comprises at least one of one or more LIDAR devices, one or more cameras, one or more radar sensors, or one or more ultrasound sensors.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more profile parameters comprises an average height of the first swath and an average height of the second swath.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a height differential between the average height of the first swath and the average height of the second swath, and compare the height differential to a predetermined differential threshold to assess the operating performance of the agricultural implement within the field.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more profile parameters comprises a roll orientation of the first swath and a roll orientation of the second swath.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an orientation differential between the roll orientation of the first swath and the roll orientation of the second swath, and compare the orientation differential to a predetermined differential threshold to assess the operating performance of the agricultural implement within the field.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to initiate a control action based at least in part on the assessment of the operating performance of the agricultural implement within the field.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that the agricultural implement is out-of-level based on the comparison between the one or more profile parameters for the first swath and the one or more profile parameters for the second swath, the control action being associated with adjusting a levelness of the agricultural implement in response to the determination that the agricultural implement is out-of-level.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the control action comprises generating an operator notification associated with the operating performance of the agricultural implement.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the control action comprises adjusting an operation of at least one of the agricultural implement or a work vehicle towing the agricultural implement across the field.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Cozza Michael R

Classifications

• A01B63/1112

  using a non-tactile ground distance measurement, e.g. using reflection of waves · CPC title

• A01B63/114

  to achieve a constant working depth · CPC title

• A01B69/004

  automatic · CPC title

• G07C5/0825 Primary

  using optical means · CPC title

• A01B79/005

  Precision agriculture · CPC title