Abstract: A mower implement includes a cutter having a blade operable to cut crop material. A blade diagnostic controller is operable to capture an image of cut crop stubble rearward of the cutter with an image sensor. The blade diagnostic controller may then identify a cut end of the cut crop stubble in the image, determine a cut quality of the cut end of the cut crop stubble, and correlate the cut quality of the cut end to a blade sharpness index. The blade diagnostic controller may then communicate an index signal to a communicator to generate a communication indicating the blade sharpness index.

Abstract: A baler implement includes a bale formation system operable to form crop material into a bale and eject the bale into an unloading zone. An object detection sensor is positioned to detect data related to the unloading zone. A baler controller is operable to determine if an object is present in the unloading zone or if an object is not present in the unloading zone based on a data signal from the object detection sensor. When an object is not present in the unloading zone, the controller may initiate the bale ejection sequence to eject the bale. When an object is present in the unloading zone, the controller may prevent initiation of the bale ejection sequence to prevent ejection of the bale onto the object.

Abstract: A power management system and method for a work machine that receives real time data, computes current power requirements based on the real time data, computes an optimized engine speed based on the current power requirements and a desired reserve power, and informs an operator of the optimized engine speed. The system can predict upcoming power requirements based on real time and predictive machine data, and compute the optimized engine speed based on the current and upcoming power requirements and the desired reserve power. The system can also receive predictive data, and predict the upcoming power requirements based on the predictive and real time data. Predictive data can include topographical data and/or historical power-consumption data. The system can include an automatic mode where the system automatically adjusts engine speed to the optimized engine speed. The system can maintain a constant machine ground speed as it automatically adjusts engine speed.

Abstract: A cruise control system and method for a work vehicle with vehicle interlocks, and a controller. Each vehicle interlock monitors a vehicle system status. When at least one of the vehicle interlocks is triggered, the controller notifies the operator of the triggered interlock and deactivates cruise control. An activation mechanism can activate cruise control. When the activation mechanism is activated and none of the vehicle interlocks is triggered, the controller activates cruise control and maintains current vehicle ground speed at a vehicle cruise speed. When the activation mechanism is deactivated, the controller deactivates cruise control. The cruise speed can be set to the current vehicle ground speed, or can be set by a speed selection mechanism, or can resume at a previously selected cruise speed, or can be set by another method.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for automatically adjusting conditioning rollers of a windrower implement, such as those used to condition hay and other windrowed crops. Adjustments can be made on the fly to rollers used to condition the crop based on several factors such as the condition of the crop, the density, speed, header conditions, and more. Sensors can be used to detect the crop's and others' conditions, and automatic adjustments can be made, such as the distance between conditioning rollers, and/or the pressure applied by the rollers, to meet a desired crop condition for the windrows.

Abstract: A baler implement includes a bale formation system operable to form crop material into a bale and eject the bale into an unloading zone. An object detection sensor is positioned to detect data related to the unloading zone. A baler controller is operable to determine if an object is present in the unloading zone or if an object is not present in the unloading zone based on a data signal from the object detection sensor. When an object is not present in the unloading zone, the controller may initiate the bale ejection sequence to eject the bale. When an object is present in the unloading zone, the controller may prevent initiation of the bale ejection sequence to prevent ejection of the bale onto the object.

Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a seeding system having a seed transport mechanism configured to transport a seed along a transport route. A terahertz-based seed sensor is configured to direct terahertz electromagnetic radiation toward the seed at a sensing location along the transport route and detect terahertz electromagnetic radiation after the terahertz electromagnetic radiation interacts with the seed to provide terahertz data. An actuator is configured to selectively move the seed. A processing system is configured to receive the terahertz data and classify the seed as qualified or non-qualified and to selectively engage the actuator based on whether the seed is classified as qualified or non-qualified.

Abstract: Methods and system for minimizing soil compaction relating to operations performed by agricultural machines. The agricultural machines can be guided so that at least one engagement body travels along an existing track path that was established by a prior travel of the same or different agricultural machine. Further, travel plans can determine the sequence in which the agricultural machine(s) travel in areas in the field so that travel on the track path(s) can be initiated in drier regions in the field. Operation of agricultural machines can also be adjusted to minimize deviations of other agricultural machines from existing track paths. For example, a windrower can operate a diverter to deposit a windrow at an offset location, and with a non-linear pattern, that may limit a baler from deviating from an existing track path while collecting crop material from the windrow, while also assisting in forming uniformly shaped crop bales.

Abstract: A system and method for grouping crop bales. A constituent sensor can sense properties of a crop material of a crop bale, with the sensed data being stored as a dataset. An operator can select a classification goal, each selectable classification goal having multiple categories that relate to different levels within the selected classification goal. Classification goals can assign weightages to properties of the datasets. A bale grouping computing device can group the datasets using a k-means clustering analysis, with each category of the selected classification goal providing a different cluster for the k-means clustering analysis. The assigned weightages can influence a determination as to a centroid location for each cluster. The cluster to which a dataset is assigned indicates the category to which the crop bale belongs. Crop bales assigned to the same cluster can be grouped together as having similar characteristics for purposes of the selected classification goal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a leaf-to-stem ratio of a crop automatically from an image of the crop. An agricultural vehicle may include a crop analysis system having a computing device and an imaging device for capturing an image of a crop. The computing device analyzes images acquired by the imaging determine to determine a leaf-to-stem ratio of the crop.

Abstract: An arrangement for data recording and sampling for an agricultural machine includes a sensor set-up arrangement to detect properties contained in a material stream, means of taking a sample of the material from the material stream, and an electronic control unit. The control unit is configured to perform the following steps in response to a tripping signal: (a) instruct an actuator to bring the means into a position for sampling; (b) starting a recording of raw sensor arrangement data in a memory; (c) after depositing the sample at a desired sampling location, stop recording the raw data and instruct the actuator to return the means from the sampling position to an inactive position; and (d) store identification data to identify the sample together with the raw data in memory.

Abstract: An agricultural system with an agricultural harvester has a terahertz sensor. The terahertz sensor includes at least one a terahertz source disposed to direct electromagnetic radiation toward a harvest material of the agricultural harvester. A terahertz detector is disposed to detect the terahertz electromagnetic radiation after the terahertz electromagnetic radiation interacts with the harvest material. A controller is operably coupled to the terahertz detector and is configured to detect a harvest-related parameter based on a signal from the terahertz detector and to perform an action based on a detected parameter.

Abstract: An arrangement for data recording and sampling for an agricultural machine includes a sensor set-up arrangement to detect properties contained in a material stream, means of taking a sample of the material from the material stream, and an electronic control unit. The control unit is configured to perform the following steps in response to a tripping signal: (a) instruct an actuator to bring the means into a position for sampling; (b) starting a recording of raw sensor arrangement data in a memory; (c) after depositing the sample at a desired sampling location, stop recording the raw data and instruct the actuator to return the means from the sampling position to an inactive position; and (d) store identification data to identify the sample together with the raw data in memory.

Abstract: A terahertz frequency-based sensing system for an agricultural harvester is provided. The system includes a terahertz sensor mounted to the agricultural harvester. The terahertz sensor at least one a terahertz source disposed to direct electromagnetic radiation toward a harvest material of the agricultural harvester. At least one terahertz detector is disposed to detect the terahertz electromagnetic radiation after the terahertz electromagnetic radiation interacts with the harvest material. A controller is operably coupled to the at least one terahertz detector and is configured to detect at least one harvest-related parameter based on a signal from the at least one terahertz detector and to perform an action based on the at least one detected parameter.