Methods of operating a tillage implement
A method of operating a tillage implement includes performing a first calibration of the tillage implement based on a curated library, propelling the tillage implement through a field, capturing an image of the field with a camera carried by the tillage implement, comparing information from the captured image with the curated library, identifying residue based on the comparison of the information from the captured image with the curated library, modifying the curated library based on the captured image, and performing a second calibration of the tillage implement based on the modified library. The curated library includes a correlation of observed data with material properties of soil and/or residue, and may initially be based on information from other fields or prior times. The tillage implement has at least one ground-engaging tilling assembly, and propelling the tillage implement through the field causes the tilling assembly to work the soil.
1. A method of operating a tillage implement having at least one ground-engaging tilling assembly configured to work soil in a field being traversed by the tillage implement, the method comprising:
performing a first calibration of the tillage implement based on a curated library, the curated library including a correlation of previously observed data with material properties of soil and residue from other fields;
propelling the tillage implement through the field such that the at least one tilling assembly works the soil;
capturing an image of the field with a camera carried by the tillage implement;
comparing information from the captured image with the curated library;
identifying residue in the image based on the comparison of the information from the captured image with the curated library;
modifying the curated library based on the captured image; and
performing a second calibration of the tillage implement based on the modified library.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein capturing the image of the field comprises capturing visible light.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein capturing the image of the field comprises capturing infrared radiation.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing information from the captured image with the curated library comprises comparing shapes in the captured image with shapes in the curated library.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing information from the captured image with the curated library comprises comparing a color in the captured image with a color in the curated library.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing information from the captured image with the curated library comprises comparing a measured reflectivity with the curated library.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing information from the captured image with the curated library comprises comparing a visible spectrum in the captured image with the curated library.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying residue in the image comprises determining an amount of residue on a surface of the field.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying residue in the image comprises identifying topography of a surface of the field.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying residue in the image comprises identifying a property of soil in the field.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting an operating parameter of the tillage implement to maintain a selected amount of residue on a ground surface.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the operating parameter of the tillage implement comprises adjusting at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a gang angle, a gang depth, an implement depth, a shank depth, a time delay, a data-filtering parameter, a finishing tool pressure, a finishing tool angle, a hitch draft load, a wheel load, and a vehicle speed.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein capturing the image of the field with the camera carried by the tillage implement comprises capturing the image of the field before the tilling assembly carried by the tillage implement works the field.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising capturing a second image of the field after the tilling assembly works the field.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising comparing the second image of the field with the curated or modified library.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the previously observed data comprises known field conditions and crop types.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the known field conditions comprise at least one known property selected from the group consisting of moisture level, light conditions, soil type, and ground cover amount.