Agricultural Machine And Operator Performance Information Systems and Related Methods

• US 20100036696A1
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FarmLink LLC
• Original Assignee: Machinerylink, Inc.
• Inventors: Morris, Landon, Mayes, William C., Lang, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 9,152,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/127 Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining

Abstract

In one example, a system can comprise a first data gathering mechanism set and a data processing mechanism set. The a first data gathering mechanism set can be configured to gather a first operational data set during operation of a first agricultural machine set, and to transmit the first operational data set to a network. The first operational data set can comprise information representative of one or more characteristics of an agricultural crop during production. The a data processing mechanism can be configured to store a combined data set comprising the first operational data set, and generate one or more reports based on the combined data set. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first data gathering mechanism set configured to;

couple with a first agricultural machine set;

gather a first operational data set during operation of the first agricultural machine set; and

transmit the first operational data set to a network;

and

a data processing mechanism configured to;

store a combined data set comprising;

the first operational data set received via the network from the first data gathering mechanism set; and

a second operational data set received via the network from a second data gathering mechanism set coupled to a second agricultural machine set;

and

generate one or more reports based on the combined data set;

wherein the first operational data set comprises information representative of one or more characteristics of an agricultural crop during production.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first agricultural machine set comprises a single agricultural machine; and

the first data gathering mechanism set comprises a single data gathering mechanism.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first data gathering mechanism set is configured to transmit the first operational data set to the network in real time; and

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

receive the first operational data set from the network in real time;

update the combined data set in real time; and

present the one or more reports in real time based on the combined data set as updated.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein

the data processing mechanism is configured to deliver the one or more reports periodically to a client.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

present at least a first report of the one or more reports at a screen of an electronic terminal; and

update the first report at the screen of the electronic terminal when the combined data set is updated in real time.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

present at least a first report of the one or more reports at a screen of an electronic terminal; and

control access to the one or more reports based on a user profile.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first agricultural machine set comprises a first agricultural machine;

the first data gathering mechanism set comprises a first data gathering mechanism coupled to the first agricultural machine;

the first data gathering mechanism is configured to gather first operational data during operation of the first agricultural machine, the first operational data comprising a portion of the first operational data set;

the first data gathering mechanism comprises;

a GPS receiver configured to determine, as part of the first operational data, a geographical location of the first data gathering mechanism;

one or more crop production sensors;

an operation monitor coupled to the one or more crop production sensors and configured to gather, as part of the first operational data, information about at least one of;

one or more parameters of the first agricultural machine;

or

a harvesting from a field by the first agricultural machine;

and

a transmitter coupled to at least one of the GPS receiver or the operation monitor and configured to wirelessly transmit the first operational data to the network;

and

the data collection mechanism comprises;

a database to store the combined data set; and

a processor coupled to the database to generate the one or more reports based on the combined data set.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the operation monitor comprises a yield monitor;

the information about the harvesting from the field comprises at least one of;

a harvest field map, a harvest field area, a crop weight value, a yield value,

a yield per unit of area, a moisture content, or a hillside compensation setting;

the one or more parameters of the first agricultural machine comprise at least one of;

an operating parameter;

a mechanical parameter;

or a production parameter;

the operating parameter comprises at least one of;

a ground speed, a rotor speed, a fan speed, a shoe setting, a concave setting, a header position, a header specification, a header size, or an operator setting;

the mechanical parameter comprises at least one of;

an engine performance parameter, a drivetrain parameter, a pressure parameter, a fuel consumption parameter, or a temperature parameter; and

the production parameter comprises at least one of;

a yield parameter, or a moisture parameter.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the first data gathering mechanism is configured to;

transmit the first operational data to the network continuously during the operation of the first agricultural machine.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the first data gathering mechanism is configured to;

transmit the first operational data to the network upon at least one of;

a completion of a predetermined time interval;

or

a completion of a task during the operation of the first agricultural machine.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more reports comprise a performance benchmark report;

the first operational data set comprises at least one of;

a first geographical data set;

a first environmental data set;

a first yield data set;

or

a first agricultural machine setting data set;

the data processing mechanism is configured to generate a benchmark data set from the combined data set, subsets of the benchmark data set comprising at least one of;

a benchmark geographical data set;

a benchmark environmental data set;

a benchmark yield data set;

or

a benchmark agricultural machine setting data set;

and

the performance benchmark report comprises;

a performance assessment of the operation of the first agricultural machine set, the performance assessment based on a comparison by the data processing mechanism between the first operational data set against the benchmark data set.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the performance assessment of the performance benchmark report comprises;

a comparative performance summary with respect to one or more seasons, crops or geographies, the comparative performance summary comparing one or more of;

different numbers of agricultural machines,

different types of agricultural machines,

different models of agricultural machines,

different brands of agricultural machines, or

different configurations of agricultural machines.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the one or more reports comprise a benchmark settings recommendation report comprising;

one or more recommendations for adjusting one or more machine settings of a first agricultural machine of the first agricultural machine set;

and

the one or more recommendations are generated by the data processing mechanism based on a machine setting analysis of the first agricultural machine setting data set of the first operational data set with respect to at least one of the subsets of the benchmark data set.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the data processing mechanism is configured to adjust the one or more machine settings of the first agricultural machine, via the network, based on the one or more recommendations of the benchmark settings recommendation report.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the benchmark data set comprises at least one of;

historical information derived from the first operational data set;

present comparative information derived from the second operational data set;

or

historical comparative information derived from the second operational data set.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the data processing mechanism is configured to generate at least a portion of the benchmark data set based on information from at least one of;

a predicted performance report;

or

a target performance report.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more reports comprise an agricultural machine monitoring report;

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

parse the first operational data set during operation of a first agricultural machine of the first agricultural machine set;

generate a first agricultural machine parameter set about the first agricultural machine, the first agricultural machine parameter set comprising information about at least one of an operating parameter, a mechanical parameter, or a production parameter of the first agricultural machine;

and

generate the agricultural machine monitoring report to comprise a summary of the first agricultural machine parameter set for the first agricultural machine.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the agricultural machine monitoring report further comprises;

information regarding a maintenance operation for at least the first agricultural machine, the maintenance operation comprising at least one of;

a preventive maintenance operation;

a scheduled maintenance operation;

or

a required maintenance operation.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the agricultural machine monitoring report comprises;

one or more operating recommendations for adjusting at least one of a machine setting or an operating technique of the first agricultural machine, the one or more operating recommendations;

based on an analysis of the summary of the first agricultural machine parameter set for the first agricultural machine; and

delivered during the operation of the first agricultural machine.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the data processing mechanism is configured to adjust the machine setting of the first agricultural machine, via the network, based on the one or more operating recommendations of the agricultural machine monitoring report.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a population of data gathering mechanisms, the population comprising at least one of;

the first data gathering mechanism set;

or

the second data gathering mechanism set;

wherein;

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

receive production data from a statistically significant number of data gathering mechanisms of the population for at least one of a market or a geographical area; and

generate an aggregated data set based on the received production data from the population.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the aggregated data set is derived from information about a presently transcurring timeframe.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the one or more reports comprise an estimated performance report;

the aggregated data set comprises a yield parameter and a geographical location parameter; and

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

generate the estimated performance report based on the yield parameter and the geographical location parameter of the aggregated data set, the estimated performance report comprising an estimated yield for a geographical location throughout completion of a predetermined timeframe.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

generate the estimated yield for the geographical location based on a comparison between the yield parameter and the geographical location parameter of the aggregated data set against yield information derived form at least one of;

a government organization yield report;

an industry organization yield report;

or

historical yield data from the combined data set for the geographical location.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the one or more reports comprise an estimated market effect report;

the combined data set comprises;

a market conditions set comprising at least one of;

current market crop prices;

current market crop sizes;

historical market crop prices;

or historical market crop sizes;

and

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

estimate a predicted crop size for the geographical location based on the estimated yield; and

generate the estimated market effect report based on a comparison between the predicted crop size and the market conditions set.

26. A method comprising:

providing a first data gathering mechanism set;

coupling the first data gathering mechanism set with a first agricultural machine set;

gathering a first operational data set via the first data gathering mechanism set during operation of the first agricultural machine set;

transmitting the first operational data set from the first data gathering mechanism set to a network;

providing a data processing mechanism;

receiving the first operational data set from the network at the data processing mechanism;

updating a combined data set in the data processing mechanism when the first operational data set is received; and

generating one or more reports with the data processing mechanism based on the combined data set.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

modifying the one or more reports in real time when the combined data set is updated;

wherein;

transmitting the first operational data set comprises;

transmitting the first operational data set in real time during the operation of the first agricultural machine set; and

updating the combined data set comprises;

updating the combined data set in real time.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein:

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

present at least a first report of the one or more reports at a screen of an electronic terminal; and

update the first report at the screen in real time.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein:

coupling the first data gathering mechanism set comprises;

coupling a first data gathering mechanism of the first data gathering mechanism with a first agricultural machine of the first data gathering mechanism set;

providing the first data gathering mechanism set comprises;

providing the first data gathering mechanism to gather first operational data as part of the first operational data set during operation of the first agricultural machine, the first data gathering mechanism comprising;

a GPS receiver configured to determine, as part of the first operational data, a geographical location of the first data gathering mechanism;

an operation monitor configured to gather, as part of the first operational data, information about at least one of;

one or more parameters of the first agricultural machine;

or

a harvesting from a field by the first agricultural machine;

and

a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the first operational data to the network, the transmitter coupled to at least one of the GPS receiver or the operation monitor;

and

providing the data processing mechanism comprises;

providing a database to store the combined data set; and

providing a processor coupled to the database to generate the one or more reports.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein:

the information about the harvesting from the field comprises at least one of;

a harvest field map, a harvest field area, a crop weight value, a yield value,

a yield per unit of area, a moisture content, or a hillside compensation setting;

the one or more parameters of the first agricultural machine comprise at least one of;

an operating parameter;

a mechanical parameter;

or a production parameter;

the operating parameter comprises at least one of;

a ground speed, a rotor speed, a fan speed, a shoe setting, a concave setting, a header position, a header specification, a header size, or an operator setting;

the mechanical parameter comprises at least one of;

an engine performance parameter, a drivetrain parameter, a pressure parameter, a fuel consumption parameter, or a temperature parameter;

and

the production parameter comprises at least one of;

a yield parameter, or a moisture parameter.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein:

transmitting the first operational data to the network comprises at least one of;

transmitting the first operational data to the network continuously during the operation of the first agricultural machine;

or

transmitting the first operational data to the network upon completion of a task during the operation of the first agricultural machine.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein:

generating the one or more reports comprises generating at least one of;

a performance benchmark report;

or

an agricultural machine monitoring report;

generating the performance benchmark report comprises;

gathering the first operational data set to comprise;

first geographical data;

first environmental data;

first yield data; and

first agricultural machine setting data;

generating a benchmark data set from the combined data set, the benchmark data set comprising;

benchmark geographical data;

benchmark environmental data;

benchmark yield data; and

benchmark agricultural machine setting data;

comparing the benchmark data set against the first operational data set; and

presenting a performance assessment of the operation of the first agricultural machine set based on the comparison between the benchmark data set against the first operational data set;

and

generating the agricultural machine monitoring report comprises;

parsing the first operational data set to generate a first agricultural machine parameter set about a first agricultural machine of the first agricultural machine set, the first agricultural machine parameter set generated during operation of the first agricultural machine and comprising information about at least one of an operating parameter, a mechanical parameter, or a production parameter of the first agricultural machine;

presenting one or more operating recommendations for adjusting at least one of a machine setting or an operating technique of the first agricultural machine, the one or more operating recommendations;

based on an analysis of the first agricultural machine parameter set for the first agricultural machine; and

delivered during the operation of the first agricultural machine.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein:

the benchmark data set is derived from at least one of;

historical information derived from the first operational data set;

comparative information derived from the second operational data set;

a predicted performance report;

or

a target performance report;

and

generating the performance benchmark report comprises;

providing one or more recommendations for adjusting one or more parameters of the first agricultural machine setting data for at least the first agricultural machine of the first agricultural machine set.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein:

generating the one or more reports comprises generating an aggregated data report;

receiving the first operational data set comprises;

receiving production data from a statistically significant population of data gathering mechanisms for at least one of a market or a geographical area, the population comprising the first data gathering mechanism set;

generating the aggregated data report comprises;

generating an aggregated data set with the data processing mechanism based on the production data; and

generating at least one of;

an estimated performance report;

or

an estimated market effect report;

generating the estimated performance report comprises;

deriving a yield parameter and a geographical location parameter at least in part from the aggregated data set;

generating an estimated yield for a geographical location throughout completion of a presently transcurring timeframe, the estimated yield based on a comparison of the yield parameter and the geographical location parameter of the aggregated data set against yield information derived form at least one of;

a government organization yield report;

an industry organization yield report;

or

historical yield data from the combined data set for the geographical location;

and

presenting the estimated yield for the geographical location as part of the estimated performance report;

and

generating the estimated market effect report comprises;

generating a market conditions set as part of the combined data set, the market conditions set comprising information about at least one of;

current market crop prices;

current market crop sizes;

historical market crop prices;

or historical market crop sizes;

estimating a predicted crop size for the geographical location based on the estimated yield; and

presenting the estimated market effect report based on a comparison between the predicted crop size and the market conditions set.

35. A method comprising:

providing a plurality of data gathering mechanisms coupled to a plurality of agricultural machines;

providing a data processing mechanism comprising a database and a processor coupled to the database, the data processing mechanism configured to;

receive crop production data in real time via a network from a statistically significant population of the plurality of data gathering mechanisms during crop harvesting;

receive crop market data comprising information about current crop market conditions;

modify a combined data set in the database in real time as the crop production data and the crop market data are received;

generate an aggregated data set based on the combined data set, the aggregated data set comprising a yield parameter and a geographical location parameter; and

modify one or more reports in real time via the processor based on the combined data set as modified;

wherein the one or more reports comprise at least one of;

an estimated performance report comprising;

an estimated yield for a geographical location throughout completion of a harvest timeframe, the estimated yield based on a comparison of the yield parameter and the geographical location parameter of the aggregated data set against reference information derived form at least one of;

a historical yield report, a target yield report, or historical data from the combined data set;

or

an estimated market effect report comprising;

a predicted effect summary for at least one of a market price or a market inventory, the predicted effect summary based on a comparison between the crop market data received by the data processing mechanism and the estimated yield of the estimated performance report.