BR-102025006099-A2 - COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD

BR102025006099A2BR 102025006099 A2BR102025006099 A2BR 102025006099A2BR-102025006099-A2

Abstract

An estimation and control system generates a metric indicating whether a combine harvester can perform a headland pass to open a field without needing to be unloaded. If the metric indicates that the combine harvester will likely need to be unloaded, the estimation and control system will determine if the field can be divided into smaller areas so that the combine harvester can perform a headland pass in a smaller area without needing to be unloaded. A control signal is generated based on the combine harvester's ability to perform a pass without needing to be unloaded.

Inventors

SCOTT N. CLARK
FEDERICO PARDINA-MALBRAN
ALEX A. BRIMEYER
TROY M. HEIMS

Assignees

DEERE & COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date: 20260310
Application Date: 20250327
Priority Date: 20240827

Claims (15)

1. Computer-implemented method, characterized in that it comprises: obtaining (260) a first pass indicator indicating a first breakout pass in a field for an agricultural combine harvester (102); generating (264) a first metric value indicating whether the agricultural combine harvester (102) can complete the first forward pass without unloading an agricultural commodity from the agricultural combine harvester (102); and generating (266, 280) a control signal based on the first metric value.
2. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, characterized in that obtaining a first-pass indicator comprises: obtaining (260) a geographical location of the first forward pass.
3. Computer-implemented method according to claim 2, characterized in that the generation of a first metric value comprises: accessing (226, 262) a georeferenced yield estimate corresponding to the geographic location of the first advance pass.
4. Computer-implemented method according to claim 3, characterized in that the generation of a first metric value comprises: calculating (224) an estimate of yield corresponding to the first break pass; identifying (224) a remaining capacity of a clean grain tank in the combine harvester (102); comparing (236) the estimated yield with the remaining capacity of the clean grain tank in the combine harvester to generate a comparison result; and generating (264) the first metric value based on the comparison result.
5. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: if the first metric value indicates that the agricultural combine harvester (102) is unlikely to complete the first forward pass without unloading a tank of clean grain into the agricultural combine harvester (102), then obtaining (268) a second pass indicator indicating a second forward pass in the field; generating (278) a second metric value indicating whether the agricultural combine harvester (102) can complete the second forward pass without unloading the tank of clean grain into the agricultural combine harvester (102); and generating (280) the control signal based on the second metric value.
6. Computer-implemented method according to claim 5, characterized in that, if the second metric value indicates that the agricultural combine harvester (102) can probably complete the second advance pass without discharging the clean grain tank into the agricultural combine harvester (102), then the generation of the control signal comprises: generating (282) an operator interface control signal to control an operator interface mechanism to identify the second break pass.
7. Computer-implemented method according to claim 5, characterized in that, if the second metric value indicates that the combine harvester can probably complete the second forward pass without unloading the clean grain tank into the combine harvester, then the generation of the control signal comprises: generating (288) a control signal from the path planning system to control a path planning system to generate a route for the combine harvester using the second forward pass.
8. Computer-implemented method according to claim 5, characterized in that, if the second metric value indicates that the combine harvester can probably complete the second forward pass without discharging the clean grain tank into the combine harvester, then the generation of the control signal comprises: generating (284) a navigation control signal to control a navigation control system to control a steering system to navigate the combine harvester along the second forward pass.
9. Computer-implemented method according to claim 5, characterized in that, if the second metric value indicates that the combine harvester is likely to complete the second forward pass without unloading the clean grain tank into the combine harvester, then the generation of the control signal comprises: generating (286) a control signal from the communication system to control a communication system to communicate a message to a material transfer vehicle indicating that the combine harvester (102) is likely to complete the second forward pass without unloading the clean grain tank.
10. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, characterized in that the generation of a metric value comprises: obtaining (262) characteristic data of the machine indicative of a characteristic of the agricultural harvester (102), characteristic data of the field indicative of a characteristic of the field and characteristic data of the crop indicative of a characteristic of a crop; and executing a model (204) to obtain the metric value based on the characteristic data of the machine, the characteristic data of the field and the characteristic data of the crop.
11. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: if the first metric value indicates that the agricultural combine harvester (102) is unlikely to complete the first forward pass without discharging a tank of clean grain into the agricultural combine harvester (102), then perform (236) a headland analysis to determine whether performing an additional headland pass to reduce the length of the first forward pass alters the first metric value to indicate that the agricultural combine harvester (102) is likely to complete the first forward pass without discharging the tank of clean grain.
12. Computer-implemented method, characterized in that it comprises: calculating a metric indicating whether an agricultural harvester (102) has the capacity to complete a first field opening pass in a field without unloading harvested material from the agricultural harvester (102); if the metric indicates that the agricultural harvester (102) has the capacity to complete the first field opening pass in the field without unloading the harvested material from the agricultural harvester (102), generating (266) a first control signal to control a controllable system (162) based on the metric; and if the metric indicates that the agricultural harvester (102) does not have sufficient capacity to complete the first field opening pass in the field without unloading the harvested material from the agricultural harvester (102), generating (268) a second control signal to control a controllable system (162) based on the metric.
13. Computer-implemented method according to claim 12, characterized in that the generation of a second control signal comprises: identifying (268) an alternate field opening pass that is different from the first field opening pass; and calculating (268) the indicative metric of whether the agricultural combine harvester (102) has the capacity to complete the alternate field opening pass in the field without unloading the harvested material from the agricultural combine harvester (102).
14. Computer-implemented method according to claim 13, characterized in that the identification of an alternative field opening pass comprises: identifying (268), as an alternative field opening pass, a field opening pass that corresponds to a lower crop yield estimate than the first field opening pass.
15. Computer-implemented method according to claim 13, characterized in that the identification of an alternative field opening pass comprises: obtaining (260) a first advance pass indicator indicative of a first advance pass in the field, wherein the calculation of the metric comprises the calculation of the metric based on the estimated crop yield corresponding to the first advance pass.

Description

DESCRIPTION FIELD [001] This description refers to agricultural equipment. More specifically, this description refers to the estimation of a field opening or advance passage and machine control. FUNDAMENTALS [002] There are many different types of agricultural machinery. Some of these agricultural machines include agricultural harvesters. These agricultural harvesters may include things like combine harvesters. [003] During operation, a combine harvester moves across the field engaging the crop. The engaged crop is processed by the combine harvester, and the cleaned crop can be stored in a clean grain tank on the combine harvester. When the clean grain tank is full, or at another desired time, the harvest in the clean grain tank is unloaded from the combine harvester and transferred to a material transfer vehicle, such as a grain cart positioned alongside the combine harvester. [004] The above discussion is provided for general information only and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the matter claimed. SUMMARY [005] An estimation and control system generates a metric indicating whether a combine harvester can perform a headland pass to open a field without needing to be unloaded. If the metric indicates that the combine harvester will likely need to be unloaded, the estimation and control system determines whether the field can be divided into smaller areas so that the combine harvester can perform a headland pass (a pass through a field where adjacent passes have not yet been harvested) in a smaller area without needing to be unloaded. A control signal is generated based on the combine harvester's ability to perform a pass without needing to be unloaded. [006] This Summary is provided to present a selection of concepts in a simplified form, which will be further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that resolve any or all of the disadvantages observed in the fundamentals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [007] Figure 1 shows an example of a combine harvester opening a field by crossing an entire field boundary. [008] Figure 2 is a pictorial illustration showing an example of a combine harvester performing a forward pass over a smaller area of land, which is smaller than the entire field. [009] Figure 3 is a pictorial illustration showing a combine harvester in an irregularly shaped field. [0010] Figure 4 is a pictorial illustration showing a plurality of different guidelines that define passages through a field, a plurality of different regions with different yield estimates, and a subset of the guidelines showing passages that can be performed without a combine harvester needing to unload. [0011] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a field opening and advance control and estimation system. [0012] Figure 6 is a flow diagram that illustrates an example of the operation of the system illustrated in Figure 5 in estimating whether a combine harvester can perform a headland pass and in controlling the combine harvester. [0013] Figure 7 is a flow diagram that shows an example of the system operation illustrated in Figure 5 in identifying a forward pass and controlling the combine harvester. [0014] Figure 8 shows an example of the system illustrated in Figure 5, deployed in a remote server environment. [0015] Figures 9, 10 and 11 show examples of mobile devices that can be used in the systems and machines shown in other figures. [0016] Figure 12 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a computing environment that can be used in the systems and machines illustrated in other figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0017] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of this description, reference will now be made to the examples illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe them. However, it will be understood that there is no intention to limit the scope of the description. Any further alterations and modifications to the devices, systems, methods described and any further application of the principles of this description are fully contemplated, as would normally occur to someone skilled in the art to which the description refers. In particular, it is fully contemplated that the features, components and/or steps described with respect to one example may be combined with the features, components and/or steps described with respect to other examples in this description. [0018] When an agricultural combine harvester is opening a field, it can be difficult to decide how to open the field (such as harvesting headlands and/or performing a headland pass) in a way that promotes operational efficiency for both the combine harvester and the material transfer