Abstract: A method of controlling the weight of bales made by an agricultural baler. The method includes: receiving a bale weight setpoint; receiving crop parameter data; and, while a bale is being made: receiving baler operating data relating to baling parameters; inputting the crop parameter data and baler operating data into a weight prediction model to generate a predicted final weight of the bale; and changing a baling parameter setpoint of one of the baling parameters based on the predicted final weight of the bale and the bale weight setpoint.

Abstract: An agricultural baler with a pre-compression chamber configured to introduce a slice towards a baling chamber. The baling chamber includes a plunger provided for reciprocally moving in the baling chamber, the reciprocal movement having a power movement. In use, during the power movement, slices of crop material are compressed into a bale and the bale is pushed through the baling chamber. The baling chamber further includes at least one movable wall for exercising a compression force to the crop material in a direction transverse to the propelling movement so that, in use, the at least one movable wall provides a counter pressure for the propelling through the baling chamber of the bale. The agricultural baler further includes a controller adapted to influence a compression force of the at least one movable wall at a predetermined moment of the power movement to reduce the counter pressure.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a bale shape. The method includes receiving a series of bale images from a camera, identifying the bale in the bale images, determining at least one bale shape parameter of the identified bale, and providing an electronic signal representative of the bale shape parameter. The bale images include a view of at least an outlet of a bale chamber of an agricultural baler, of a bale being ejected from the outlet, and of a field travelled by the agricultural baler during the ejection of the bale. The at least one bale shape parameter of the identified bale is then determined based on at least one of the bale images. The identifying of the bale may, at least partly, be performed using trained neural networks and other artificial intelligence algorithms.

Abstract: A method for determining a quality of an agricultural bale produced by an agricultural baler, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first bale parameter signal indicative of a first bale parameter of the agricultural bale; receiving a second bale parameter signal indicative of a second bale parameter of the agricultural bale, wherein the first bale parameter and the second bale parameter each represents a different physical property of the agricultural bale; determining, based on the respective first bale parameter signal and the second bale parameter signal, a bale quality parameter indicative of a perceived quality of the agricultural bale; and providing an electronic signal representative of the bale quality parameter.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a bale shape. The method includes receiving a series of bale images from a camera, identifying the bale in the bale images, determining at least one bale shape parameter of the identified bale, and providing an electronic signal representative of the bale shape parameter. The bale images include a view of at least an outlet of a bale chamber of an agricultural baler, of a bale being ejected from the outlet, and of a field travelled by the agricultural baler during the ejection of the bale. The at least one bale shape parameter of the identified bale is then determined based on at least one of the bale images. The identifying of the bale may, at least partly, be performed using trained neural networks and other artificial intelligence algorithms.

Abstract: A rectangular baler including a bale chamber having a plurality of walls including a movable wall section, an actuator for exerting a pressure on the movable wall section, a plunger for compressing crop material, and a control system configured to control the plunger to perform cyclic plunger strokes such that in each stroke the plunger force (F) exerted by the plunger on the crop material increases to reach a maximum plunger force (Fmax) to compress a newly inserted slice of crop material. The control system includes a first module to measure, at consecutive moments during a plunger stroke, a plurality of first values for the plunger force exerted by the plunger and/or for the pressure (Pd) in the actuator; and a control module to control at least one baling setting influencing the compressing of the crop material in the bale chamber as a function of the plurality of first values.

Abstract: An agricultural baler with a pre-compression chamber configured to introduce a slice towards a baling chamber. The baling chamber includes a plunger provided for reciprocally moving in the baling chamber, the reciprocal movement having a power movement. In use, during the power movement, slices of crop material are compressed into a bale and the bale is pushed through the baling chamber. The baling chamber further includes at least one movable wall for exercising a compression force to the crop material in a direction transverse to the propelling movement so that, in use, the at least one movable wall provides a counter pressure for the propelling through the baling chamber of the bale. The agricultural baler further includes a controller adapted to influence a compression force of the at least one movable wall at a predetermined moment of the power movement to reduce the counter pressure.

Abstract: A method and system for operating an agricultural baler, that includes measuring at least one physical input parameter associated with a compression profile of crop material in a bale chamber of the baler; analyzing the compression profile of the crop material, dependent upon the measured at least one physical input parameter; and adjusting at least one physical output parameter of the baler which affects the compression profile of the crop material in the bale chamber.

Abstract: A rectangular baler including a bale chamber having a plurality of walls including a movable wall section, an actuator for exerting a pressure on the movable wall section, a plunger for compressing crop material, and a control system configured to control the plunger to perform cyclic plunger strokes such that in each stroke the plunger force (F) exerted by the plunger on the crop material increases to reach a maximum plunger force (Fmax) to compress a newly inserted slice of crop material. The control system includes a first module to measure, at consecutive moments during a plunger stroke, a plurality of first values for the plunger force exerted by the plunger and/or for the pressure (Pd) in the actuator; and a control module to control at least one baling setting influencing the compressing of the crop material in the bale chamber as a function of the plurality of first values.

Abstract: A method and adapted electronic systems for determining a value representative for or an estimate of the load on a plunger of a baler for harvested agricultural material includes obtaining the speed of movement of a drive element for the plunger, followed by determining the estimate of or value representative for the load on the plunger based upon the obtained speed of movement of the drive element.

Abstract: A method and system for operating an agricultural baler, that includes measuring at least one physical input parameter associated with a compression profile of crop material in a bale chamber of the baler; analyzing the compression profile of the crop material, dependent upon the measured at least one physical input parameter; and adjusting at least one physical output parameter of the baler which affects the compression profile of the crop material in the bale chamber.

Abstract: A method and adapted electronic systems for determining a value representative for or an estimate of the load on a plunger of a baler for harvested agricultural material includes obtaining the speed of movement of a drive element for the plunger, followed by determining the estimate of or value representative for the load on the plunger based upon the obtained speed of movement of the drive element.