Granted Patent B2

US 10,537,060 · App. 15/853,371 · Granted Jan 21, 2020

Inventors: Timothy A. Sauder (Tremont, IL); Derek A. Sauder (Tremont, IL); Justin L. Koch (Deer Creek, IL); Troy L. Plattner (Goodfield, IL); David Huber (Bloomington, IL)

Assignee: THE CLIMATE CORPORATION

A01D41/127A01B79/005A01D43/00A01D45/021A01D75/00G01B5/10G01B21/10G01N33/0098G01S19/42G01B2210/00

Abstract

Claims (94)

1. A method providing improvements in agricultural science by determining yield values based on stalk-specific measurements collected by an agricultural combine harvester while traversing a field, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first stalk sensor associated with a first combine row unit of an agricultural combine harvester, a first signal that indicates a position of the first stalk sensor relative to a first stalk;

receiving, from a second stalk sensor associated with a second combine row unit of the agricultural combine harvester, a second signal that indicates a position of the second stalk sensor relative to a second stalk;

determining stalk diameter measurements and stalk measurement locations based on, at least in part, the first signal and the second signal;

based on, at least in part, the stalk diameter measurements and the stalk measurement locations, determining at least one yield value for a region of the field;

wherein the at least one yield value are determined by correlating the stalk diameter measurements and the stalk measurement locations;

generating, and displaying using a computer display device, a first yield map that depicts associations between the stalk diameter measurements, the stalk measurement locations and the at least one yield value.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

moving the second stalk sensor associated with a second combine row unit of the agricultural combine harvester past the second stalk in the field, the second stalk sensor generating the second signal related to a position of the second stalk sensor relative to the second stalk;

storing the second signal in memory;

determining a second stalk diameter of the second stalk based on the second signal;

determining a geo-referenced position of the second stalk based on a second offset from the second stalk sensor to a global positioning receiver;

storing in memory a second association between the second stalk diameter and the geo-referenced position of the second stalk;

measuring a quantity of grain harvested by the agricultural combine harvester with a yield sensor;

determining a yield amount based on the quantity of grain;

associating the yield amount with a region of the field;

storing in memory a partial allotment of the yield amount to the region of the field based on the stalk diameter measurements, wherein the region is specified using the geo-referenced position of the first stalk; and

generating, and displaying, a second yield map associating a graphical representation of the region of the field and the partial allotment of the yield amount.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

contacting the first stalk from a first side with a first feeler, the first feeler rotatably mounted to the first stalk sensor;

contacting the first stalk from a second side with a second feeler, the second feeler rotatably mounted to the first stalk sensor;

measuring a first displacement of the first feeler;

measuring a second displacement of the second feeler; and

determining a first stalk diameter based on the first displacement and the second displacement.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating an electromagnetic field;

detecting the electromagnetic field;

intercepting the electromagnetic field with the first stalk over a time interval; and

determining a first stalk diameter based on speed of the agricultural combine harvester during the time interval or a position of the agricultural combine harvester during the time interval.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using with a yield sensor, measuring a quantity of grain harvested by the agricultural combine harvester;

determining a yield amount based on the quantity of grain;

associating the yield amount with a region of the field;

moving the first stalk sensor past a subsequent stalk of a row unit, the first stalk sensor;

generating a subsequent signal, the subsequent signal related to a position of the first stalk sensor relative to the subsequent stalk;

storing the subsequent signal in memory;

determining a diameter of the subsequent stalk based on the subsequent signal;

associating the yield amount with the region of the field based on a first stalk diameter and a subsequent stalk diameter; and

generating, and displaying, a third yield map that provides a graphical representation of the region of the field and the at least one yield value.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

displaying harvest data on a display screen located in the agricultural combine harvester, wherein the harvest data is determined based on the first stalk diameter.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the harvest data includes the first stalk diameter.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the harvest data includes a portion of yield attributable to the row unit associated with the first stalk sensor.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the harvest data includes an economic loss value; wherein the harvest data includes a statistical variation in the stalk diameter measurements.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: associating the at least one yield value with a region of the field, wherein the at least one yield value is determined based on the stalk diameter measurements.

11. A stalk sensor system providing improvements in agricultural science and for use with an agricultural combine harvester while traversing a field, comprising:

a first stalk sensor;

a second stalk sensor;

a yield sensor; and

processing circuitry configured to:

receive, from the first stalk sensor associated with a first combine row unit of an agricultural combine harvester, a first signal that indicates a position of the first stalk sensor relative to a first stalk;

receive, from the second stalk sensor associated with a second combine row unit of the agricultural combine harvester, a second signal that indicates a position of the second stalk sensor relative to a second stalk;

determine stalk diameter measurements and stalk measurement locations based on, at least in part, the first signal and the second signal;

determine at least one yield value for a region of the field based on, at least in part, the stalk diameter measurements and the stalk measurement locations;

wherein the at least one yield value are determined by correlating the stalk diameter measurements and the stalk measurement locations;

generate, and display, a first yield map that depicts associations between the stalk diameter measurements, the stalk measurement locations and the at least one yield value.

12. The stalk sensor system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

move the second stalk sensor associated with a second row unit of the agricultural combine harvester past the second stalk in the field, the second stalk sensor generating the second signal related to a position of the second stalk sensor relative to the second stalk;

store the second signal in memory;

determine a second stalk diameter of the second stalk based on the second signal;

determine a geo-referenced position of the second stalk based on a second offset from the second stalk sensor to a global positioning receiver;

store in memory a second association between the second stalk diameter and the geo-referenced position of the second stalk;

measure a quantity of grain harvested by the agricultural combine harvester with a yield sensor;

determine a yield amount based on the quantity of grain;

associate the yield amount with a region of the field;

store in memory a partial allotment of the yield amount to the region of the field based on the stalk diameter measurements, wherein the region is specified using the geo-referenced position of the first stalk; and

generate, and display, a second yield map associating a graphical representation of the region of the field with the partial allotment of the yield amount.

13. The stalk sensor system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

contact the first stalk from a first side with a first feeler, the first feeler rotatably mounted to the first stalk sensor;

contact the first stalk from a second side with a second feeler, the second feeler rotatably mounted to the first stalk sensor;

measure a first displacement of the first feeler;

measure a second displacement of the second feeler; and

determine a first stalk diameter based on the first displacement and the second displacement.

14. The stalk sensor system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

generate an electromagnetic field;

detect the electromagnetic field;

intercept the electromagnetic field with the first stalk over a time interval; and

determine a first stalk diameter based on speed of the agricultural combine harvester during the time interval or a position of the agricultural combine harvester during the time interval.

15. The stalk sensor system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

using with a yield sensor, measure a quantity of grain harvested by the agricultural combine harvester;

determine a yield amount based on the quantity of grain;

associate the yield amount with a region of the field;

move the first stalk sensor past a subsequent stalk of a row unit, the first stalk sensor;

generate a subsequent signal, the subsequent signal related to a position of the first stalk sensor relative to the subsequent stalk;

store the subsequent signal in memory;

determine a diameter of the subsequent stalk based on the subsequent signal;

associate the yield amount with the region of the field based on a first stalk diameter and a subsequent stalk diameter; and

generate, and display, a third yield map that provides a graphical representation of the region of the field and the at least one yield value.

16. The stalk sensor system of claim 15 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

display harvest data on a display screen located in the agricultural combine harvester, wherein the harvest data is determined based on the first stalk diameter.

17. The stalk sensor system of claim 16 , wherein the harvest data includes the first stalk diameter.

18. The stalk sensor system of claim 16 , wherein the harvest data includes a portion of yield attributable to the row unit associated with the first stalk sensor.

19. The stalk sensor system of claim 16 , wherein the harvest data includes an economic loss value; wherein the harvest data includes a statistical variation in the stalk diameter measurements.

20. The stalk sensor system of claim 16 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to associate the at least one yield value with a region of the field, wherein the at least one yield value is determined based on the stalk diameter measurements.

Assignments (8)

Continuity (4)

Cited By (9)

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