A device for use in connection with monitoring and assessing characteristics of harvested specialty crops. The device comprises: an imaging sensor configured to capture an image of a set of harvested specialty crops; a depth sensor; processing circuitry configured to generate depth information at least in part by using data obtained by the depth sensor; and a transmitter configured to transmit the image and the depth information to at least one remote computing device via a communication network.

A system for use in connection with assessing characteristics of harvested specialty crops, the system comprising: at least one computer hardware processor; and at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one computer hardware processor, cause the at least one computer hardware processor to perform: obtaining an image of a set of harvested specialty crops and associated depth information; generating a 3D surface model of the set of harvested specialty crops using the image and the depth information; and estimating the volume of the set of harvested specialty crops using the 3D surface model.

A harvester monitoring system configured to determine one or more parameters associated with harvested items, the system comprising: a camera module having a field of view and configured to generate image data associated with the harvested items; a mounting bracket configured to secure the camera module to a harvester such that a conveyor of the harvester is within the field of view of the camera module; a location sub-system configured to determine and output location data representative of a geographical location of the harvester monitoring system; and a processing unit configured to receive the image data and the location data, to determine one or more parameters associated with the harvested items, and to record the one or more parameters in association with the location data on a computer readable medium.

A material yield sensor assembly comprising a photodiode and a processing element. The photodiode is configured to generate a signal representative of an amount of material passing by the photodiode. The processing element is configured to convert the signal from an analog form to a digital form, determine a clipping density of the signal, decrease a gain of the signal if the clipping density is greater than a first threshold, and increase the gain of the signal if the clipping density is less than a second threshold to optimize signal integrity versus signal resolution.

A method is provided for controlling the operation of a machine for harvesting root crop and/or for separating root crop from the rest of the harvested material comprising extraneous materials. At least one optical image-capturing unit captures at least one test image of at least one part of the harvested material which is moved along relative to a machine frame by means of at least one conveyor element. An evaluation device generates, on the basis of a test data set which is generated using the test image or formed thereby, a separating device setting signal for setting at least one operating parameter of a separating device of the machine.

A method for operating a root crop conveying machine is provided, as well as a root crop conveying machine. Sensor data are recorded by at least one optical sensor. The optical sensor is directed to a measurement region of a flow of harvested material conveyed by at least one conveying element in a conveying direction. On the basis of the sensor data, mass data characterizing at least a mass of at least a part of the harvested material are calculated by an evaluation device. Yield data are calculated and provided by the evaluation device at least on the basis of the mass data. The yield data reflect at least the mass and/or a value calculated on the basis of the mass.