Systems and methods for monitoring the presence of a shank attachment member of an agricultural implement

An agricultural implement, comprising:

• a frame configured to be actuated relative to the ground between a raised position and a lowered position;
• a shank extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being pivotally coupled to the frame, an opening being defined within the shank at or adjacent to the distal end of the shank;
• a shank attachment member including a retention slot configured to receive the distal end of the shank, the shank attachment member and the distal end of the shank being positioned at least partially below a ground surface of a field during an agricultural operation within the field;
• a sensor at least partially embedded within the opening defined within the shank, the sensor including a sensing end positioned flush with an outer surface of the shank, the sensing end being positioned directly adjacent an inner surface defined by the retention slot of the shank attachment member when the distal end of the shank is received within the retention slot of the shank attachment member, the sensor being configured to provided data indicative of an installation status of the shank attachment member relative to the shank;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, the controller configured to determine the installation status of the shank attachment member based on data received from the sensor.

A method for monitoring the installation status of a shank attachment member of an agricultural implement, the agricultural implement including a shank extending between a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end being pivotally coupled to a portion of the agricultural implement, the method comprising:

• controlling, with a computing device, an operation of the agricultural implement during the performance of an agricultural operation within a field such that the shank attachment member penetrates through the ground as the agricultural implement is moved across the field, the distal end of the shank being positioned at least partially below a ground surface of the field during the agricultural operation;
• receiving, with the computing device, sensor data from a sensor installed within an opening defined within the shank at or adjacent to the distal end of the shank, the sensor having a sensing end positioned flush with an outer surface of the shank, the sensing end being positioned directly adjacent an inner surface defined by a retention slot of the shank attachment member when the distal end of the shank is received within the retention slot, the sensor data being associated with an installation status of the shank attachment member relative to the shank;
• and
• determining, with the computing device, when a change in the installation status of the shank attachment member occurs based on the sensor data received from the sensor as the agricultural operation is being performed within the field.