US-12622340-B2 - System and method for controlling the operation of ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement

US12622340B2US 12622340 B2US12622340 B2US 12622340B2US-12622340-B2

Abstract

A system for controlling the operation of ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement includes a ground-engaging tool configured to be moved through the soil of a field. Furthermore, the system includes an actuator configured to apply a force on the ground-engaging tool. Additionally, the system includes a vision-based sensor configured to generate data indicative of a cellulose content of crop residue present within a field of view of the vision-based sensor. Moreover, the system includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the vision-based sensor and configured to determine the cellulose content of the crop residue based on the vision-based sensor data. Additionally, the computing system is configured to control the operation of the actuator based on the determined cellulose content.

Inventors

Brittany Schroeder

Assignees

CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230814

Claims (17)

1 . A method for controlling the operation of ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement, the agricultural implement including a ground-engaging tool configured to be moved through the soil of a field, the agricultural implement further including an actuator configured to apply a force on the ground-engaging tool, the method comprising: receiving reflections of output light waves emitted by a vision-based sensor; determining, with a computing system, a parameter indicative of a light penetration through crop residue based on the received reflections of the output light waves; determining, with the computing system, the cellulose content of the crop residue based on the determined parameter; and controlling, with the computing system, an operation of the actuator based on the determined cellulose content.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, when controlling the operation of the actuator based on the determined cellulose content, the method further comprises: comparing, with the computing system, the determined cellulose content of the crop residue to a predetermined cellulose content range; and controlling, with the computing system, the operation of the actuator to adjust the force applied to the ground-engaging tool when the determined cellulose content falls outside of the predetermined cellulose content range.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein, when controlling the operation of the actuator to adjust the force applied to the ground-engaging tool when the determined cellulose content falls outside of the predetermined cellulose content range, the method further comprises: controlling, with the computing system, the operation of the actuator to increase the force applied to the ground-engaging tool when the determined cellulose content exceeds the predetermined cellulose content range.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein, when controlling the operation of the actuator to adjust the force applied to the ground-engaging tool when the determined cellulose content falls outside of the predetermined cellulose content range, the method further comprises: controlling, with the computing system, the operation of the actuator to decrease the force applied to the ground-engaging tool when the determined cellulose content falls below the predetermined cellulose content range.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining, with the computing system, a size of the crop residue based on the determined parameter; and controlling, with the computing system, the operation of the actuator based on the determined size.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: notifying, with the computing system, an operator of the agricultural implement of the determined cellulose content.
7 . An agricultural implement, comprising: a frame; a disk blade supported relative to the frame and configured to be moved through the soil of a field; an actuator configured to apply a force on the disk blade; a vision-based sensor configured to emit output light waves directed at crop residue present on a portion of the field within a field of view of the vision-based sensor and receive reflections of the output light waves; and a computing system communicatively coupled to the vision-based sensor, the computing system configured to: determine a parameter indicative of a light penetration through the crop residue based on the received reflections of the output light waves; determine the cellulose content of the crop residue based on the determined parameter; and control an operation of the actuator based on the determined cellulose content.
8 . The agricultural implement of claim 7 , wherein, when controlling the operation of the actuator based on the determined cellulose content, the computing system is further configured to: compare the determined cellulose content of the crop residue to a predetermined cellulose content range; and control the operation of the actuator to adjust the force applied to the disk blade when the determined cellulose content falls outside of the predetermined cellulose content range.
9 . The agricultural implement of claim 8 , wherein, when controlling the operation of the actuator to adjust the force applied to the disk blade when the determined cellulose content falls outside of the predetermined cellulose content range, the computing system is further configured to: control the operation of the actuator to increase the force applied to the disk blade when the determined cellulose content exceeds the predetermined cellulose content range.
10 . The agricultural implement of claim 8 , wherein, when controlling the operation of the actuator to adjust the force applied to the disk blade when the determined cellulose content falls outside of the predetermined cellulose content range, the computing system is further configured to: control the operation of the actuator to decrease the force applied to the disk blade when the determined cellulose content falls below the predetermined cellulose content range.
11 . A system for controlling the operation of ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement, the system comprising: a ground-engaging tool configured to be moved through the soil of a field; an actuator configured to apply a force on the ground-engaging tool; a vision-based sensor configured to emit output light waves directed at the crop residue present on a portion of the field within the field of view and receive reflections of the output light waves; and a computing system communicatively coupled to the vision-based sensor, the computing system configured to: determine a parameter indicative of a light penetration through the crop residue based on the received reflections of the output light waves; determine the cellulose content of the crop residue based on the determined parameter; and control an operation of the actuator based on the determined cellulose content.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein, when controlling the operation of the actuator based on the determined cellulose content, the computing system is further configured to: compare the determined cellulose content of the crop residue to a predetermined cellulose content range; and control the operation of the actuator to adjust the force applied to the ground-engaging tool when the determined cellulose content falls outside of the predetermined cellulose content range.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein, when controlling the operation of the actuator to adjust the force applied to the ground-engaging tool when the determined cellulose content falls outside of the predetermined cellulose content range, the computing system is further configured to: control the operation of the actuator to increase the force applied to the ground-engaging tool when the determined cellulose content exceeds the predetermined cellulose content range.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein, when controlling the operation of the actuator to adjust the force applied to the ground-engaging tool when the determined cellulose content falls outside of the predetermined cellulose content range, the computing system is further configured to: control the operation of the actuator to decrease the force applied to the ground-engaging tool when the determined cellulose content falls below the predetermined cellulose content range.
15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the computing system is further configured to: determine a size of the crop residue based on the determined parameter; and control the operation of the actuator based on the determined size.
16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the computing system is further configured to: notify an operator of the agricultural implement of the determined cellulose content.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the ground-engaging tool comprises a disk blade.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure generally relates to agricultural implements and, more particularly, to systems and methods for controlling the operation of ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known that, to attain the best agricultural performance from a field, a farmer must cultivate the soil, typically through a tillage operation. Modern farmers perform tillage operations by pulling an agricultural implement, such as a tillage implement, behind an agricultural work vehicle, such as a tractor. For example, tillage implements generally include ground-engaging tillage tools, such as shanks, disk blades, and/or the like, supported on its frame. Each ground-engaging tool, in turn, is configured to be moved relative to the soil within the field as the tillage implement travels across the field. Such movement of the ground-engaging tools loosens and/or otherwise agitates the soil to prepare the field for subsequent planting operations. As the agricultural implement travels across the field, the implement may encounter varying field conditions. For example, the size and/or cellulose content of crop residue, particularly corn stalks, present on the surface of the field may vary. As such, larger crop residue tends to wrap around and become stuck on the ground-engaging tools than smaller crop residue and needs to be broken up. However, crop residue with higher cellulose content is more difficult to break up than crop residue with lower cellulose content. Accordingly, an improved system and method for controlling the operation of ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement would be welcomed in the technology. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects and advantages of the technology will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the technology. In one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a system for controlling the operation of ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement. The system includes a ground-engaging tool configured to be moved through the soil of a field. Additionally, the system includes an actuator configured to apply a force on the ground-engaging tool. Furthermore, the system includes a vision-based sensor configured to generate data indicative of a cellulose content of crop residue present within a field of view of the vision-based sensor. Moreover, the system includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the vision-based sensor. The computing system is configured to determine the cellulose content of the crop residue based on the vision-based sensor data. Additionally, the computing system is configured to control an operation of the actuator based on the determined cellulose content. In another aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a method for controlling the operation of ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement. The agricultural implement includes a ground-engaging tool configured to be moved through the soil of a field. Additionally, the agricultural implement includes an actuator configured to apply a force on the ground-engaging tool. The method includes receiving, with a computing system, vision-based sensor data indicative of a cellulose content of crop residue within a field of view of the vision-based sensor. Furthermore, the method includes determining, with the computing system, the cellulose content of the crop residue based on the received vision-based sensor data. Additionally, the method includes controlling, with the computing system, an operation of the actuator based on the determined cellulose content. In a further aspect, the present subject matter is directed to an agricultural implement. The agricultural implement includes a frame and a disk blade supported relative to the frame and configured to be moved through the soil of a field. Additionally, the agricultural implement includes an actuator configured to apply a force on the disk blade. Furthermore, the agricultural implement includes a vision-based sensor configured to generate data indicative of a cellulose content of crop residue present within a field of view of the vision-based sensor. Moreover, the agricultural implement includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the vision-based sensor. The computing system is configured to determine the cellulose content of the crop residue based on the vision-based sensor data. Furthermore, the computing system is configured to control an operation of the actuator based on the determined cellulose content. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present technology will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the technology and, together with the description, serve to explain the pr