Disclosed herein is a diagnostic module configured to determine an average image of a set or a sequence of collected images, to obtain a last image of the set or the sequence of collected images, and to determine a difference between the average image and the last image to yield a differenced image. Background image data or background pixels are eliminated from the differenced image to produce an initial image mask of unchanged content in the last image. A diagnostic module or data processor determines a mask area of the initial image mask or a revised image mask derived from the initial image mask. A diagnostic module or data processor generates an alert data message to inspect or clean the imaging system if the mask area exceeds a threshold area.

A combine for reaping culms in a field while traveling, and accumulating, in a grain tank 2, grains obtained by threshing reaped culms, includes: a yield calculator for calculating a yield per unit of travel, which is a yield per unit of travel distance; a work travel determiner 53 for determining non-harvest work travel that does not involve grain harvesting, and harvest work travel that involves grain harvesting; a harvest map data generator 66 for generating harvest map data in which the yield per unit of travel, a travel route on which the combine has traveled in a field, and a result of determination performed by the work travel determiner are associated with one another; and a harvest information recorder for recording the harvest map data.

A display controller controls a display device in a harvester to display an interface showing adjustments to combine harvester settings, received from a remote computing system, along with an adjustment actuator. A settings adjustment is made based on user actuation of the adjustment actuator input is received through the settings adjustment actuator on the displayed interface. A verification notification is sent to the remote computing system, showing the adjusted settings on the combine.

One or more information maps are obtained by an agricultural work machine. The one or more information maps map one or more agricultural characteristic values at different geographic locations of a field. An in-situ sensor on the agricultural work machine senses an agricultural characteristic as the agricultural work machine moves through the field. A predictive map generator generates a predictive map that predicts a predictive agricultural characteristic at different locations in the field based on a relationship between the values in the one or more information maps and the agricultural characteristic sensed by the in-situ sensor. The predictive map can be output and used in automated machine control.

Combine harvesters are provided for use in harvesting seed corn from corn plants in fields. In connection therewith, a method for producing such seed corn from the corn plants, for use in growing subsequent corn plants, includes measuring a moisture content of corn kernels on ears of the corn plants in the field and removing, by one of the combine harvesters, the ears of corn from the corn plants when the moisture content satisfies a threshold moisture content. The method then includes separating the corn kernels from cobs of the ears of corn onboard the combine harvester and collecting the separated corn kernels for use as seed corn, whereby one or more subsequent corn plants can be grown from the collected corn kernels.

A management and control system is provided for a user to interface with an inspecting apparatus having at least one digital optical instrument. The management and control system comprises a processor configured to receive images from the at least one digital optical instrument, analyze the images, and transmit instructions to the inspecting apparatus, and a display configured to display analysis of the images wherein the user is capable of interfacing and providing instructions to the inspecting apparatus based on the analysis of the images, wherein the display simultaneously displays histograms and thumbnail-image generated in the processor based on the images. A method for controlling and managing the inspecting apparatus for items as well as an UI are disclosed.

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.

An agricultural harvesting machine and a method for operating an agricultural harvesting machine. The agricultural harvesting machine includes an attachment configured to receive a crop containing grain components, at least one work assembly for processing the received crop, a transfer device, a near-infrared (NIR), and an evaluation device. The crop is received by the attachment and traverses the harvesting machine, thereby defining a crop stream. The NIR sensor is positioned along the crop stream downstream from the at least one work assembly and generates one or more signals indicative of at least one aspect of the grain components in the crop stream. Further, the evaluation device receives and analyzes the signals from the NIR sensor in order to determine a degree to which the grain components contained in the crop stream are cracked.

A combine includes: a yield measurement container (32) having a yield receiving opening (32a) for receiving at least some of grains supplied to a grain tank (15) which accumulates grains obtained by threshing, a yield discharge opening (32b) for discharging received grains, and a yield shutter (34) for opening and closing the yield discharge opening (32b); a yield measurement section for detecting, while the yield shutter (34) is closed, that a predetermined volume of grains has been accumulated in the yield measurement container (32) and then outputting a detection signal; a time calculation section for calculating, based on the detection signal, an accumulating time required to accumulate the predetermined volume of grains; and a yield calculation section for calculating a yield per unit travel based on a travel speed and the accumulation time.

Systems, and methods for controlling a modular system for improved real-time yield monitoring and sensor fusion of crops in an orchard are disclosed. According to some embodiments of the invention, a modular system for improved real-time yield monitoring and sensor fusion may include a collection vehicle, a modular processing unit, a volume measurement module, a three-dimensional point-cloud scanning module, an inertial navigation system, and a post-processing server. As the collection vehicle travels through an orchard, the volume measurement module calculates volume measurements of the windrow, the three-dimensional point-cloud scanning module assembles point-clouds of each plant in the orchard, and the inertial navigation system calculates geodetic positions of the collection vehicle. The modular processing unit may fuse the collected data together and transmit the fused data set to a post-processing server. The post-processing server may process the geodetic position data for errors which may be used for geo-referencing the fused data.