Map based farming for windrow merger operation

A computer implemented method of controlling a mobile windrowing machine, the method comprising:

• receiving an information map that maps values of a first characteristic to different geographic locations in a worksite;
• detecting, with an in-situ sensor, a value of a mass flow corresponding to a geographic area;
• generating a predictive model indicative of a relationship between values of the first characteristic and values of a second characteristic based on the value of the mass flow detected by the in-situ sensor corresponding to the geographic area and a value of the first characteristic in the information map corresponding to the geographic area;
• generating a functional predictive map of the worksite that maps predictive values of the second characteristic to the different geographic locations in the worksite based on the values of the first characteristic in the information map at the different geographic locations and the predictive model;
• and
• generating a control signal to control the mobile windrowing machine based on the functional predictive map and follow-on machine and operation data.

A mobile agricultural windrowing machine comprising:

• a communication system configured to receive an information map that maps values of a first characteristic to different geographic locations in a worksite;
• an in-situ mass flow sensor configured to detect a value of mass flow corresponding to a geographic location;
• one or more processors;
• and
• a data store configured to store computer executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the one or more processors to:
• generate a predictive model indicative of a relationship between the first characteristic and a second characteristic based on the value of mass flow detected by the in-situ mass flow sensor corresponding to the geographic location and the value of the first characteristic in the information map at the geographic location;
• generate a functional predictive map of the worksite that maps predictive values of the second characteristic to the different geographic locations in the worksite based on the values of the first characteristic in the information map at those different geographic locations and based on the predictive model;
• and
• generate a control signal to control the mobile agricultural windrowing machine based on the functional predictive map and follow-on machine and operation data.