System and method for monitoring plugging of basket assemblies of an agricultural implement

A system for monitoring basket plugging of an agricultural implement, the system comprising:

• a basket assembly configured to roll relative to a surface of a field as the agricultural implement travels across the field, the basket assembly including a plurality of bars spaced circumferentially about an outer perimeter of the basket assembly;
• an ultrasonic sensor configured to emit ultrasonic signals directed at the basket assembly and receive return signals based on reflections of the ultrasonic signals off of the basket assembly;
• and
• a computing system communicatively coupled to the ultrasonic sensor, the computing system configured to determine when the basket assembly is plugged based on a lack of return signals being received by the ultrasonic sensor, wherein the computing system is further configured to:
• determine when the lack of return signals being received by the ultrasonic sensor occurs;
• monitor a time period across which the lack of return signals being received by the ultrasonic sensor occurs;
• compare the monitored time period to a threshold time period;
• and
• determine that the basket assembly is plugged when the monitored time period exceeds the threshold time period.

A method for monitoring basket plugging of an agricultural implement, the agricultural implement including a basket assembly configured to roll relative to a surface of a field as the agricultural implement travels across the field, the basket assembly including a plurality of bars spaced circumferentially about an outer perimeter of the basket assembly, the method comprising:

• receiving, with a computing system, sensor data from an ultrasonic sensor configured to emit ultrasonic signals directed at the basket assembly and receive return signals based on reflections of the ultrasonic signals off of the basket assembly;
• determining, with the computing system, when a lack of return signals being received by the ultrasonic sensor occurs based on the received sensor data;
• determining, with the computing system, that the basket assembly is plugged when the lack of return signals being received by the ultrasonic sensor occurs, wherein determining that the basket assembly is plugged comprises:
• monitoring, with the computing system, a time period across which the lack of return signals being received by the ultrasonic sensor occurs;
• comparing, with the computing system, the monitored time period to a threshold time period;
• and
• determining, with the computing system, that the basket assembly is plugged when the monitored time period exceeds the threshold time period;
• and
• initiating, with the computing system, a control action associated with de-plugging the basket assembly when it is determined that the basket assembly is plugged.