Agricultural system for bale appearance assessment

1 . A control system of an agricultural system, the agricultural system including a frame, the control system being operatively coupled with the frame, the control system comprising:

(a) at least one sensor configured for:

detecting remotely (i) a bale of a crop material lying on a ground surface and (ii) at least one operative condition of the bale lying on the ground surface, wherein the at least one operative condition includes at least one bale dimension of the bale lying on the ground surface; and

outputting at least one operative condition signal corresponding to the at least one operative condition;

(b) a controller system operatively coupled with the at least one sensor and configured for:

receiving the at least one operative condition signal; and

determining at least one operative parameter based at least in part on the at least one operative condition signal, the at least one operative parameter being associated with a performance of a baler,

wherein the sensor is at least one camera mounted to a frame of the baler and the camera is pointed in a direction away from the baler for detecting the bale on the ground surface.

2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one operative parameter includes at least one of the at least one operative condition, a comparison of the at least one operative condition to a standard, a statistical analysis, and a sale price.

3 . The control system of claim 2 , wherein the control system is configured for being at least a part of the baler which includes the frame.

4 . The control system of claim 2 , wherein the control system is configured for being at least a part of a handheld device which includes the frame.

5 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein remotely detecting the bale is based on a shape of the bale lying on the ground surface.

6 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) that is employed in combination with the sensor for determining a location of the bale lying on the ground surface.

7 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera comprises a first camera pointed in a direction that is rearward of the baler and a second camera that is pointed in a direction from one side of the baler.

8 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is not in contact with the bale lying on the ground surface.

9 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one operative condition includes a width, height or diameter of the bale lying on the ground surface.

10 . An agricultural system, comprising:

a frame;

a control system operatively coupled with the frame, the control system including:

at least one sensor configured for:

(a) detecting remotely (i) a bale of a crop material lying on a ground surface and (ii) at least one operative condition of the bale lying on the ground surface, wherein the at least one operative condition includes at least one bale dimension of the bale lying on the ground surface; and

(b) outputting at least one operative condition signal corresponding to the at least one operative condition;

a controller system operatively coupled with the at least one sensor and configured for:

(a) receiving the at least one operative condition signal; and

(b) determining at least one operative parameter based at least in part on the at least one operative condition signal, the at least one operative parameter being associated with a performance of a baler,

wherein the sensor is at least one camera mounted to a frame of the baler and the camera is pointed in a direction away from the baler for detecting the bale on the ground surface.

11 . The agricultural system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one operative parameter includes at least one of the at least one operative condition, a comparison of the at least one operative condition to a standard, a statistical analysis, and a sale price.

12 . The agricultural system of claim 11 , further including the baler which includes the frame and, at least in part, the control system.

13 . The agricultural system of claim 11 , further including a handheld device which includes the frame and, at least in part, the control system.

14 . A method of using an agricultural system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing that the agricultural system includes a frame and a control system operatively coupled with the frame, the control system including at least one sensor and a controller system operatively coupled with the at least one sensor;

detecting remotely, by the at least one sensor, (i) a bale of a crop material lying on a ground surface and (ii) at least one operative condition of the bale lying on the ground surface, wherein the at least one operative condition includes at least one bale dimension of the bale lying on the ground surface;

outputting, by the at least one sensor, at least one operative condition signal corresponding to the at least one operative condition;

receiving, by the controller system, the at least one operative condition signal; and determining, by the controller system, at least one operative parameter based at least in part on the at least one operative condition signal, the at least one operative parameter being associated with a performance of a baler,

wherein the sensor is at least one camera mounted to a frame of the baler and the camera is pointed in a direction away from the baler for detecting the bale on the ground surface.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one operative parameter includes at least one of the at least one operative condition, a comparison of the at least one operative condition to a standard, a statistical analysis, and a sale price.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the agricultural system further includes the baler which includes the frame and, at least in part, the control system.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the agricultural system further includes a handheld device which includes the frame and, at least in part, the control system.