System and method for controlling the operation of an agricultural implement

1 . An agricultural implement, comprising:

a frame;

a disk blade supported on the frame, the disk blade configured to rotate relative to soil in a field across which the agricultural implement is traveling;

an imaging device configured to generate image data depicting a portion of the field positioned forward of the disk blade relative to a travel direction of the agricultural implement; and

a computing system communicatively coupled to the imaging device, wherein the computing system:

identifies one or more pieces of residue present on a surface of the imaged portion of the field;

classifies each of the identified one or more pieces of residue as having one of a corn stalk classification or a non-corn stalk classification;

determines a length of each identified piece of residue having the corn stalk classification;

determines a length parameter based on the determined lengths;

generates a map identifying the determined length parameter at a plurality of locations within the field;

accesses the map;

receives location sensor data indicative of a current location of the agricultural implement within the field; and

controls an operating parameter of the disk blade based on the accessed map and the received location sensor data.

2 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the length parameter comprises an average length.

3 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the length parameter comprises a length distribution.

4 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter comprises at least one of a force being applied to the disk blade, a penetration depth of the disk blade, or a position of the disk blade relative to a frame of the agricultural implement.

5 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the image data was generated during a previous agricultural operation.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is mounted on an agricultural harvester.

7 . A system for controlling an operation of an agricultural implement, the system comprising:

a disk blade configured to rotate relative to soil in a field across which the agricultural implement is traveling;

an imaging device configured to generate image data depicting a portion of the field positioned forward of the disk blade relative to a travel direction of the agricultural implement; and

a computing system communicatively coupled to the imaging device, wherein the computing system:

identifies one or more pieces of residue present on a surface of the imaged portion of the field;

classifies each of the identified one or more pieces of residue as having one of a corn stalk classification or a non-corn stalk classification;

determines a length of each identified piece of residue having the corn stalk classification;

determines a length parameter based on the determined lengths;

generates a map identifying the determined length parameter at a plurality of locations within the field;

accesses the map;

receives location sensor data indicative of a current location of the agricultural implement within the field; and

controls an operating parameter of the disk blade based on the accessed map and the received location sensor data.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the length parameter comprises an average length.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the length parameter comprises a length distribution.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the operating parameter comprises at least one of a force being applied to the disk blade, a penetration depth of the disk blade, or a position of the disk blade relative to a frame of the agricultural implement.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein, when determining the length parameter, the computing system disregards each piece of residue having the non-corn stalk classification.

12 . A method for controlling an operation of an agricultural implement, the agricultural implement including a disk blade configured to rotate relative to soil in a field across which the agricultural implement is traveling, the method comprising:

receiving, with a computing system, image data depicting a portion of the field positioned forward of the disk blade relative to a travel direction of the agricultural implement;

identifying, with the computing system, one or more pieces of residue present on a surface of the imaged portion of the field;

classifying, with the computing system, each of the identified one or more pieces of residue as having one of a corn stalk classification or a non-corn stalk classification;

determining, with the computing system, a length of each identified piece of residue having the corn stalk classification;

determining, with the computing system, a length parameter based on the determined lengths;

generating, with the computing system, a map identifying the determined length parameter at a plurality of locations within the field;

accessing, with the computing system, the map;

receiving, with the computing system, location sensor data indicative of a current location of the agricultural implement within the field; and

controlling, with the computing system, an operating parameter of the disk blade based on the accessed map and the received location sensor data.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the length parameter comprises an average length.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the length parameter comprises a length distribution.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the operating parameter comprises at least one of a force being applied to the disk blade, a penetration depth of the disk blade, or a position of the disk blade relative to a frame of the agricultural implement.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the image data was generated during a previous agricultural operation.