Residue monitoring and residue-based control
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsRobert T. Casper, Ricky B. Theilen, John M. Schweitzer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer-implemented method and a control system are described for controlling operations involving residue. The method and system include analyzing residue on an agricultural field. A first image is captured with an image sensor of an area of the field that is ahead of or behind the implement. The first image is analyzed to determine an indicator of residue coverage on the field. A subsequent operation on the field is executed, one or more aspects of which are controlled based upon the determined indicator of residue coverage.
Claims20
A control system for residue management with an agricultural implement, the control system comprising:
- at least one image sensor mounted to the agricultural implement to capture a first image of an area of ground ahead of or behind the agricultural tillage implement;
- a computing device that determines an indicator of residue coverage on the area of ground;
- wherein the computing device further determines if the indicator is within a regulatory standard addressing erosion that specifies a target percent coverage;
- wherein the computing device further determines an effect of an operation on the residue coverage based upon the determined indicator;
- and
- wherein the agricultural implement changes one or more aspects of a subsequent or on-the-go ground engaging operation on the area of ground based upon the effect and based upon the determined indicator.
A method for residue management for an agricultural implement with at least one image sensor, the method comprising:
- capturing, with the at least one image sensor, a first image of a first area of a field that is ahead of the agricultural implement and a second image of a second area of the field that is behind the agricultural implement;
- analyzing the first and second images, by one or more computing devices, to acquire and compare residue information from each of the first and second images to determine an indicator of residue coverage on the field;
- comparing the determined indicator with a regulatory standard addressing erosion that specifies a target percent coverage;
- executing a subsequent or on-the-go operation on the field with the agricultural implement;
- and
- controlling, by the one or more computing devices, one or more aspects of the subsequent or on-the-go operation based upon, at least in part, the determined indicator and the target percent coverage.
A control system for operation of one or more agricultural operations on a field with residue, the control system comprising:
- an image sensor including a first sensor and a second sensor spaced apart from a first camera in a direction of travel of a tillage implement;
- one or more processor devices in communication with the image sensor;
- and
- one or more memory architectures coupled with the one or more processor devices;
- wherein the one or more processor devices are configured to:
- identify the execution of a first tillage operation on the field with the tillage implement, the first operation resulting in residue on the field;
- cause the image sensor to capture first and second images of first and second areas of the field that are ahead of and behind the tillage implement, respectively;
- analyze the first and second images to determine an indicator of residue coverage on the field;
- compare the indicator of residue coverage on the field with a target percentage coverage provided by a regulatory standard addressing erosion;
- execute a subsequent or on-the-go operation on the field;
- and
- control one or more aspects of the subsequent or on-the-go operation on the field based upon, at least in part, the determined indicator of residue coverage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.