System and method for pre-emptively adjusting machine parameters based on predicted field conditions

A system for pre-emptively adjusting machine parameters based on predicted field conditions, the system comprising:

• an agricultural machine configured to perform an agricultural operation on a field as the agricultural machine is moved across the field, the agricultural machine including a ground engaging tool;
• a sensor configured to detect a ground contact parameter associated with the agricultural machine, the ground contact parameter varying as a function of a travel speed of the agricultural machine and a field condition of the field;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, the controller configured to:
• monitor the ground contact parameter as the agricultural machine makes a first pass across the field to perform the agricultural operation along a first swath within the field based on data received from the sensor;
• initiate active adjustments of the travel speed of the agricultural machine based on the monitored ground contact parameter as the agricultural machine makes the first pass across the field along the first swath such that contact between the ground engaging tool and the ground is maintained;
• generate a field map based on the travel speed of the agricultural machine and the monitored ground contact parameter that includes a plurality of efficiency zones across the first swath of the field, each efficiency parameter being associated with one or more recorded travel speeds of the agricultural machine at which the monitored ground contact parameter is maintained within a predetermined range associated with maintaining contact between the ground engaging tool and the ground as the agricultural machine is traversed across such efficiency zone;
• determine predicted efficiency zones for an adjacent second swath within the field based on the efficiency zones of the first swath within the field map, each predicted efficiency zone of the second swath being associated with the same one or more recorded travel speeds of a corresponding efficiency zone of the plurality of efficiency zones of the first swath;
• and
• pre-emptively initiate adjustments of the travel speed of the agricultural machine as the agricultural machine makes a second pass across the field to perform the agricultural operation along each predicted efficiency zone within the adjacent second swath based on the one or more recorded travel speeds associated with each predicted efficiency zone.

A method for pre-emptively adjusting machine parameters based on predicted field conditions, the method comprising:

• monitoring, with an implement controller of a seed-planting implement, an operating parameter associated with the seed-planting implement towed by an agricultural vehicle as the seed-planting implement makes a first pass across a field to perform an agricultural operation along a first swath within the field, the operating parameter varying as a function of a travel speed of the seed-planting implement and a field condition of the field;
• initiating, with the implement controller, active adjustments of the travel speed of the seed-planting implement based on the monitored operating parameter as the seed-planting implement makes the first pass across the field along the first swath by transmitting speed requests to a vehicle controller of the agricultural vehicle;
• generating, with the implement controller, a field map based on the travel speed of the seed-planting implement and the monitored operating parameter that includes a plurality of efficiency zones across the first swath of the field, each efficiency zone being associated with one or more recorded travel speeds of the seed-planting implement at which the monitored operating parameter is maintained within a predetermined range as the seed-planting implement is traversed across such efficiency zone;
• determining, with the implement controller, predicted efficiency zones for an adjacent second swath within the field based on the efficiency zones of the first swath within the field map, each predicted efficiency zone of the second swath being associated with the same one or more recorded travel speeds of the corresponding efficiency zone of the plurality of efficiency zones of the first swath;
• and
• pre-emptively initiating, with the implement controller, adjustments of the travel speed of the seed-planting implement as the seed-planting implement makes a second pass across the field to perform the agricultural operation along each predicted efficiency zone within the adjacent second swath based on the one or more recorded travel speeds associated with each predicted efficiency zone by transmitting speed requests to the vehicle controller.