Intelligent loading for an agricultural machine
An intelligent, automated system for loading agricultural product application equipment is provided in which a control system can determine a necessary amount of product for completing a field operation and can automatically couple with a tendering system to receive such product at an optimal time and location. The control system can determine a current amount of product, a projected amount of product necessary to complete a field operation and a refill amount of product from the current amount and the projected amount, then transmit the refill amount to the tender. The control system can further determine whether a position of the equipment relative to the tender is within a threshold, and whether an intake coupler of the equipment is connected to a supply coupler of the tender, and can control valve(s) to open and close channel(s) for loading fluid into the storage tank.
1. An automated loading system for an agricultural machine, comprising:
a storage tank for holding agricultural product;
a wireless communications system; and
a control system in communication with the wireless communications system, the control system executing a program stored in a non-transient medium operable to:
determine a current amount of agricultural product in the storage tank;
determine a projected amount of agricultural product necessary to complete an agricultural field operation;
determine a refill amount of agricultural product from the current amount and the projected amount; and
use the wireless communications system to communicate the refill amount to a tender configured to supply the agricultural product
wherein the control system determines the projected amount by monitoring progress of the agricultural field operation relative to a prescription map;
wherein the control system is further operable to determine the refill amount at a location for deviating from the prescription map to the tender;
wherein the location determined to minimize the current amount of agricultural product in the shortage tank and minimize a distance between the agricultural machine and the tender with at least some agricultural product remaining in the storage tank at the location.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system determines the current amount from a sensor configured to sense an amount of agricultural product in the storage tank.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system determines the current amount by monitoring application rate of the agricultural product and speed of the agricultural machine.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS), wherein the control system uses the GPS for monitoring progress of the agricultural field operation.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein minimization of the current amount and minimization of the distance are applied as weighted variables so that minimization of one is prioritized over minimization of the other.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a Human Machine Interface (HMI) arranged in a cab of the agricultural machine, wherein the control system is further operable to indicate an alert to the HMI when approaching the location.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural product comprises a mixture of chemical concentration and carrier fluid, and wherein communication of the refill amount comprises communicating an amount of chemical concentration and an amount of carrier fluid for the tender to prepare.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communications system comprises a cellular network.
9. A method for automated loading an agricultural machine, comprising:
determining a current amount of agricultural product in a storage tank;
determining a projected amount of agricultural product necessary to complete an agricultural field operation;
determining a refill amount of agricultural product from the current amount and the projected amount;
using a wireless communications system to communicate the refill amount to a tender configured to supply the agricultural product;
determining the projected amount by monitoring progress of the agricultural field operation relative to a prescription map;
determining the refill amount at a location for deviating from the prescription map to the tender; and
comprising determining to minimize the current amount of the agricultural product in the storage tank and minimize a distance between the agricultural machine and the tender with at least some agricultural product remaining in the storage tank at the location.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising applying minimization of the current amount and minimization of the distance as weighted variables so that minimization of one is prioritized over minimization of the other.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising indicating an alert to an HMI arranged in a cab of the agricultural machine.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein communicating the refill amount comprises communicating an amount of chemical concentration and an amount of carrier fluid for the tender to prepare.