System and method for controlling the operation of an agricultural implement

A system for controlling an operation of an agricultural implement, the system comprising:

• an imaging device configured to generate image data depicting a portion of a field across which the agricultural implement is traveling;
• and
• a computing system communicatively coupled to the imaging device, the computing system configured to:
• identify a plurality of residue pieces present within the portion of the field based on the image data generated by the imaging device;
• determine a number of residue pieces of the identified plurality of residue pieces having a length within a first length range;
• determine a number of residue pieces of the identified plurality of residue pieces having a length within a second length range, the second length range being different from the first length range;
• determine one of the first length range or the second length range having the greatest number of residue pieces associated therewith such that a characteristic length range for the portion of the field corresponds to the one of the first length range or the second length range having the greatest number of residue pieces associated therewith;
• compare the determined characteristic length range to a previously determined characteristic length range;
• when the determined characteristic length range differs from the previously determined characteristic length range, provide a notification to an operator of the agricultural implement that the characteristic length range has changed, the notification including a recommended operating parameter adjustment;
• receive a first input from the operator indicative of acceptance of the recommended operating parameter adjustment or a second input from the operator indicative of rejection of the recommended operating parameter adjustment;
• and
• automatically initiate the recommended operating parameter adjustment upon receipt of the first input.

A method for controlling an operation of an agricultural implement, the method comprising:

• receiving, with a computing system, image data depicting a portion of a field across which the agricultural implement is traveling;
• identifying, with the computing system, a plurality of residue pieces present within the portion of the field based on the received image data;
• determining, with the computing system, a number of residue pieces of the identified plurality of residue pieces having a length within a first length range;
• determining, with the computing system, a number of residue pieces of the identified plurality of residue pieces having a length within a second length range, the second length range being different from the first length range;
• determining, with the computing system, one of the first length range or the second length range having the greatest number of residue pieces associated therewith such that a characteristic length range for the portion of the field corresponds to the one of the first length range or the second length range having the greatest number of residue pieces associated therewith;
• comparing, with the computing system, the determined characteristic length range to a previously determined characteristic length range;
• when the determined characteristic length range differs from the previously determined characteristic length range, providing, with the computing system, a notification to an operator of the agricultural implement that the characteristic length range has changed, the notification including a recommended operating parameter adjustment;
• receiving, with the computing system, a first input from the operator indicative of acceptance of the recommended operating parameter adjustment or a second input from the operator indicative of rejection of the recommended operating parameter adjustment;
• and
• automatically initiating, with the computing system, the recommended operating parameter adjustment upon receipt of the first input.