Radio frequency grain mass and constituent measurement systems for combine harvesters

A radio frequency (RF) grain mass and constituent measurement system utilized onboard a combine harvester, the RF grain mass and constituent measurement system comprising:

• an RF sensor subsystem configured to capture RF sensor readings of a currently-harvested grain within an area of the combine harvester containing the currently-harvested grain;
• a memory storing an RF characteristic database, the RF characteristic database containing RF characteristic testing data observed for tested grain samples over one or more tested frequency ranges;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the RF sensor subsystem and to the memory, the controller configured to:
• receive the RF sensor readings from the RF sensor subsystem;
• determine grain mass and a first constituent content of the currently-harvested grain based, at least in part, on the RF sensor readings as compared to the RF characteristic testing data;
• and
• perform at least one action, including display or storing values associated with, or adjusting a component of the combine harvester, in response to determining the grain mass and the first constituent content of the currently-harvested grain;
• wherein the RF characteristic testing data comprises at least one RF signal response map plotting RF signal responses of the tested grain samples over a tested frequency range:
• wherein the RF sensor subsystem comprises a first RF sensor configured to capture RF sensor readings of the currently-harvested grain over a frequency range overlapping with the tested frequency range;
• and
• wherein the controller is configured to determine the grain mass and the first constituent content of the currently-harvested grain based, at least in part, on matching the RF sensor readings with a specific RF signal response included in the RF signal responses plotted on the RF signal response map.

A radio frequency (RF) grain mass and constituent measurement system utilized onboard a combine harvester, the RF grain mass and constituent measurement system comprising:

• an RF sensor subsystem configured to capture RF sensor readings of a currently-harvested grain within an area of the combine harvester containing the currently-harvested grain;
• a memory storing an RF characteristic database, the RF characteristic database containing RF characteristic testing data observed for tested grain samples over one or more tested frequency ranges;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the RF sensor subsystem and to the memory, the controller configured to:
• receive the RF sensor readings from the RF sensor subsystem;
• estimate a moisture content of the currently-harvested grain;
• recall selected RF characteristics from the RF characteristic database corresponding to the estimated moisture content;
• determine grain mass and a first constituent content of the currently-harvested grain based, at least in part, on the RF sensor readings as compared to the RF characteristic testing data and utilizing the selected RF characteristics;
• and
• perform at least one action, including display or storing values associated with, or adjusting a component of the combine harvester, in response to determining the grain mass and the first constituent content of the currently-harvested grain.

A radio frequency (RF) grain mass and constituent measurement system utilized onboard a combine harvester, the RF grain mass and constituent measurement system comprising:

• an RF sensor subsystem, comprising:
• a first RF sensor configured to capture RF sensor readings of the currently-harvested grain at a first frequency or frequency range;
• and
• a second RF sensor configured to capture RF sensor readings of the currently-harvested grain at a second frequency or frequency range different than the first frequency or frequency range;
• a memory storing an RF characteristic database, the RF characteristic database containing RF characteristic testing data observed for tested grain samples over one or more tested frequency ranges;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the RF sensor subsystem and to the memory, the controller configured to:
• receive the RF sensor readings from the RF sensor subsystem;
• identify a grain type of the currently-harvested grain;
• recall selected RF characteristics from the RF characteristic database corresponding to the identified grain type;
• determine grain mass and a moisture content of the currently-harvested grain based, at least in part, on the RF sensor readings as compared to the RF characteristic testing data and utilizing the selected RF characteristics;
• and
• perform at least one action in response to determining the grain mass and moisture content of the currently-harvested grain.