Patent classifications
A01D41/1275
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREDICTING MATERIAL DYNAMICS
One or more information maps are obtained by an agricultural system. The one or more information maps map one or more characteristic values at different geographic locations in a worksite. An in-situ sensor detects a material dynamics characteristic value as a mobile machine operates at the worksite. A predictive map generator generates a predictive map that predicts a predictive material dynamics characteristic value at different geographic locations in the worksite based on a relationship between the values in the one or more information maps and the material dynamics characteristic value detected by the in-situ sensor. The predictive map can be output and used in automated machine control.
INTELLIGENT HYBRID POWERTRAIN SYSTEMS FOR COMBINE HARVESTERS
Embodiments of an intelligent hybrid powertrain system include an engine, a controller architecture, and an electric drive subsystem having a battery supply and a motor/generator. The controller architecture is configured to: (i) monitor a current state of charge (SoC) of the battery supply when the combine harvester engages in a combine harvest cycle having a tank fill phase and a tank unload phase; (ii) during the tank fill phase, operate the motor/generator to supplement the engine power output and regulate a rate of battery discharge to prevent the current SoC of the battery supply from decreasing below a lower predetermined SoC threshold prior to completion of the tank fill phase; and (iii) during the tank unload phase, operate the motor/generator to charge the battery supply until the current SoC of the battery supply is equal to or greater than a first upper predetermined SoC threshold.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING MATERIAL SPILL
A mobile machine includes a material receptacle configured to hold a material and a material spill sensor configured to detect a characteristic indicative of a material spill characteristic and to generate a sensor signal based on the detected characteristic. The mobile machine further includes a control system configured to determine the material spill characteristic based on the sensor signal. In some examples, the control system is configured to generate an action signal to control an action of the mobile machine based on the determined material spill characteristic.
Harvesting machine and swivel conveyor screw therefor
A harvesting machine has a crop tank and a conveyor screw inside the tank which extends from a material inlet opening on a wall of the crop tank into the interior of the crop tank. The conveyor screw comprises at least one proximal portion adjacent to the material inlet opening and one distal portion spaced apart from the material inlet opening at least by the proximal portion. The proximal portion and distal portion are rotatable around conveying axes running in different directions. The conveyor screw can be operated in a work position in which the conveying axis of the distal portion is oriented to be steeper than the conveying axis of the proximal portion.
HARVEST LOGISTICS
A system comprises a first portable electronic device associated with an agricultural harvester and a second portable electronic device associated with a crop transport vehicle. At least one of the first portable electronic device and the second portable electronic device is configured to receive a geographic position of the other portable electronic device and, using only the first geographic position and the second geographic position, identify a harvesting operation performed by the agricultural harvester; determine a harvesting distance, a harvesting duration of time, or both of the harvesting operation; and estimate a current fill level of the crop transport vehicle based on the harvesting distance, the harvesting duration of time, or both.
KERNEL-LEVEL GRAIN MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR COMBINE HARVESTERS
Embodiments of a kernel-level grain monitoring system include a grain camera positioned to capture bulk grain sample images of a currently-harvested grain taken into and processed by a combine harvester, a moisture sensor, and a display device. A controller architecture is coupled to the grain camera, to the moisture sensor, and to the display device. The controller architecture is configured to: (i) analyze the bulk grain sample images, as received from the grain camera, to determine an average per kernel (APK) volume representing an estimated volume of a single average kernel of the currently-harvested grain; (ii) repeatedly calculate one or more topline harvesting parameters based, at least in part, on the determined APK volume and the moisture sensor data; and (iii) selectively present the topline harvesting parameters on the display device for viewing by an operator of the combine harvester.
Control system detecting fill level on receiving vehicle(s)
A detector detects an overall fill level of a receiving vehicle. A mobile device on the receiving vehicle includes a mobile application that receives and displays the overall fill level of the receiving vehicle. The overall fill level can be overlaid on a geographic map that shows locations of multiple receiving vehicles, in which case an overall fill level indicator for each receiving vehicle is displayed on the geographic map as well.
SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ASSISTED OR AUTOMATED GRAIN UNLOAD SYNCHRONIZATION
A combine harvester includes a crop processor, a grain tank, an unloading conveyor, and an electromagnetic detecting and ranging module positioned at or above a top of the grain tank for detecting a fill level of the grain tank and the location of a receiving vehicle relative to the combine harvester. One or more computing devices of the combine harvester are configured for receiving data from the electromagnetic detecting and ranging module, the data indicating the fill level of the grain tank and the location of the receiving vehicle relative to the combine harvester, and generating automated navigation data based on the data received from the electromagnetic detecting and ranging module, the automated navigation data to automatically control operation of at least one of the combine harvester and the receiving vehicle to align the unloading conveyor with the grain bin of the receiving vehicle.
SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ASSISTED OR AUTOMATED GRAIN UNLOAD SYNCHRONIZATION
A harvester includes a first electromagnetic detecting and ranging module for detecting the location of a receiving vehicle and a second electromagnetic detecting and ranging module for detecting at least one of a fill level and a distribution of processed crop in a grain bin of the receiving vehicle. One or more computing devices are configured to receive first data from the first electromagnetic detecting and ranging module, receive second data from the second electromagnetic detecting and ranging module and use the first data and the second data to generate graphic data defining a graphical representation illustrating the relative positions of an unload conveyor of the harvester and the grain bin and illustrating at least one of a fill level and a distribution of processed crop in the grain bin. An electronic device is configured to use the graphic data to present the graphical representation on a graphical user interface.
SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ASSISTED OR AUTOMATED GRAIN UNLOAD SYNCHRONIZATION
An agricultural harvester includes a crop processor, a grain tank, an unload conveyor, and an electromagnetic detecting and ranging module positioned at or above a top of the grain tank for detecting a fill level of the grain tank and the location of a receiving vehicle relative to the combine harvester. One or more computing devices receive data from the electromagnetic detecting and ranging module, the data indicating the fill level of the grain tank and the location of the receiving vehicle relative to the combine harvester, and use the data to generate graphic data defining a graphical representation illustrating the relative positions of the unload conveyor and a grain bin of the receiving vehicle. An electronic device including a graphical user interface presents the graphical representation on the graphical user interface.