A device for analyzing a grain sample including a light source, an image sensor, and a controller. The light source is configured for illuminating the grain sample. The image sensor is configured for capturing images of the grain sample. The controller is coupled to the image sensor and is configured for receiving the images of the grain sample therefrom and for analyzing the images to detect at least one material other than grain in the grain sample. The light source is configured for illuminating the grain sample with a local light spot having a size that is smaller than a width of an average wheat kernel. The image analysis and the detection of material other than grain may, at least partly, be performed using trained neural networks and other artificial intelligence algorithms.

A self-propelled combine for collecting and handling harvested material and a method for cleaning and/or referencing an optical measuring device of the self-propelled combine are disclosed. The self-propelled combine has a bypass device with an optical measuring device for determining harvested material properties of the partial flow of harvested material.

An image capture device captures an image of crop after it has been processed by a kernel processing unit on a forage harvester. A size distribution indicative of the distribution of kernel fragment sizes in the harvested crop is identified from the image captured by the image capture device. A control system generates control signals to control a speed differential in the speed of rotation of kernel processing rollers based on the size distribution. Control signals can also be generated to control a size of a gap between the kernel processing rollers.

An agricultural machine has a capacitive sensor that includes a transmitter assembly having a signal driver, at least one guard driver, and at least one sensing circuit configured to detect an output of the signal driver. At least one sensing electrode is powered by the signal driver. At least one guard electrode is powered by the guard driver. The guard electrode is oriented such that a first electric field emanating from the sensing electrode is shaped at least in part by a second electric field emanating from the guard electrode. A method includes broadcasting a first electric field from a sensing electrode into a volume containing crop material, broadcasting a second electric field from a guard electrode, measuring an attribute related to the first electric field, and correlating the measured attribute related to the first electric field to a property of the crop material in the volume.

Methods and apparatus to generate calibration models in a cloud environment are disclosed. An example apparatus includes training circuitry to generate a calibration model based on a correlation of reference data and spectra, the reference data based on physical samples collected by one or more vehicles, the spectra associated with the physical samples, and distribution circuitry to provide, via a network communication, the calibration model to the one or more vehicles.

An object of the present invention is to improve the quality level discrimination accuracy of the grain G by a grain quality level discrimination device. The device includes an optical unit 3 that emits light to the grain G, receives reflected and/or transmitted light from the grain G by a photosensor, and obtains information for discrimination of the quality level of the grain G from the upper and lower surface side of the grain G, and a quality level discrimination unit 7 that discriminates the quality level of the grain G on the basis of the information. The information on the upper and lower surface sides can be acquired by one optical unit at the same time so that the divergence therebetween due to the displacement or variation of the attitude of the grain G can be avoided. The reference plate for the correction of the information is placed outside of the moving path of the grain G to prevent it from soiling or damaging. Thus the deterioration of information can be avoided. Further, a reference plate especially for the information to be obtained from the side surface of the grain G may be provided for enhancing the accuracy of the side surface information. Thus the quality level discrimination accuracy can be improved further.

A crop constituent value is sensed by a crop constituent sensor on an agricultural machine. The crop constituent value is distributed among subregions covered by the agricultural machine. A vegetative index-estimated crop constituent value is obtained for each of the subregions. A weighted crop constituent value is generated for each subregion based upon the distributed constituent value for each subregion and the vegetative index-estimated constituent value for that subregion. An action signal is generated based upon the weighted crop constituent value for the subregion.

A self-propelled combine configured to collect and handle harvested material and a method for operating the self-propelled combine are disclosed. The combine may include a bypass device that includes an optical measuring device configured to determine one or more harvested material properties of the partial flow of harvested material. The bypass device may have at least one capacitive measuring device for determining the harvested material properties of the partial flow of harvested material.

An agricultural harvesting machine, with at least one work assembly and a monitoring assembly, is disclosed. The agricultural harvesting machine transports harvested material in a harvested material flow along a harvested material transport path. The monitoring assembly includes an measuring system positioned on the harvested material transport path and an evaluation device configured to determine at least one harvested material parameter. The measuring system includes a first passive optical sensor that senses image data indicative of visible light in a first section and a second non-passive non-optical sensor that senses data in a second section that at least partly overlaps the first section. The evaluation device correlates the image data for the overlapping section from the first optical sensor and the data from the second optical sensor and determines, based on the correlation, at least one harvested material parameter.

An agricultural working machine embodying a combine harvester for processing crop includes an intake conveyor mechanism for picking up the crop, a moisture content sensor arrangement for measuring a moisture content of the picked-up crop and generating a crop moisture signal based on the measured moisture content. A throughput sensor arrangement, preferably a layer thickness sensor arrangement, determines a throughput quantity of the picked-up crop. The crop moisture content signal is corrected on a basis of the throughput quantity that is determined.