System and method for mapping obstructions in a work area to corresponding locations

A system for mapping obstructions in a work area, the system comprising:

• one or more sensors associated with a work machine;
• and
• one or more processors functionally linked to the one or more sensors and configured, while the work machine traverses the work area,
• via output signals from the one or more sensors, to detect one or more obstructions at and/or below a ground surface, and
• modify a mapped data structure associated with the work area, wherein a sensed location and one or more identified characteristics for each respective one of the one or more detected obstructions are mapped to corresponding locations in the mapped data structure, and wherein the mapped data structure comprises a multidimensional coordinate system;
• wherein the sensed location is determined based on a location of the obstruction relative to the work machine and a current location of the work machine in the multidimensional coordinate system of the mapped data structure;
• and
• wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine an intervention event at least in part by comparing at least one of the one or more identified characteristics for a respective obstruction to corresponding intervention states.

A method of mapping obstructions in a work area traversed by a work machine, the method comprising:

• iterative development of a model over time to correlate input data sets, corresponding to output signals from one or more sensors associated with the work machine, with labeled outcomes, wherein the labeled outcomes are selected from among obstructions having one or more corresponding characteristics;
• during a current traverse of the work area by the work machine, and by reference to the model based on current input data sets corresponding to the output signals from the one or more sensors, detecting one or more obstructions at and/or below a ground surface;
• and
• modifying a mapped data structure associated with the work area, wherein a sensed location and one or more identified characteristics for each respective one of the one or more detected obstructions are mapped to corresponding locations in the mapped data structure, and wherein the mapped data structure comprises a multidimensional coordinate system;
• wherein the sensed location is determined based on a location of the obstruction relative to the work machine and a current location of the work machine in the multidimensional coordinate system of the mapped data structure.