System and method for controlling windrower using crop constituents

A method for adjusting a roller assembly on a windrower implement to improve drying rate for a harvested crop, comprising:

• detecting a condition of the harvested crop using a sensor array;
• receiving sensor data from the sensor array at an implement controller, wherein the sensor data is indicative of one or more target crop characteristics;
• using the implement controller to generate actuator adjustment data, comprising using a computer processor and instructions stored in memory in the implement controller to:
• generate crop condition data indicative of a condition of the harvested crop;
• and
• generate actuator adjustment data indicative of an adjustment to the roller assembly in the windrower implement to meet a predetermined crop condition based at least the crop condition data and upon a target crop dry-down characteristic;
• and
• adjusting the roller assembly using one or more actuators of the windrower implement based at least on the adjustment data;
• wherein the target crop dry-down characteristic is indicative of a threshold crop condition that is configured to provide a target dry-down time for the harvested crop, and the stored instructions are configured to generate the actuator adjustment data based on a comparison between the identified crop condition and the target crop dry-down characteristic, and the actuator adjustment data is configured to provide adjustments to the roller assembly that result in the target dry-down time for the harvested crop.

A system for automatically adjusting a roller assembly on a windrower implement to improve drying rate for a harvested crop, comprising one or more of:

• a sensor array that detects a condition of the harvested crop, the sensor array comprising:
• a crop constituent sensor that detects one or more of:
• moisture content, dry matter content, acid detergent fiber (ADF) content, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content, lignin content, metabolized energy content, and crude protein content;
• a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) sensing array that detects and provides plant health data indicative of a health and/or density of vegetation of the harvested crop;
• and
• an imaging sensor that captures image data of the harvested crop;
• an implement controller that receives sensor data from the sensor array, the sensor data indicative of one or more crop characteristics, the implement controller comprising:
• a computer processor;
• and
• memory that stores instructions configured to, when processed by the computer processor, generate:
• crop condition data indicative of a condition of the harvested crop comprising one or more of:
• constituents of the harvested crop;
• health of the harvested crop;
• and
• plant to stem ratio of the harvested crop;
• actuator adjustment data indicative of an adjustment to the roller assembly in the windrower implement to meet a predetermined crop condition based at least on the crop condition data and upon a target crop dry-down characteristic, wherein the adjustment comprises and adjustment to a distance between rollers in the roller assembly;
• and
• one or more actuators that adjust the roller assembly of the windrower implement based at least on the adjustment data.