Post-harvest non-containerized reporting system

• US 6,687,616 B1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International (Corteva, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Peterson, Todd A., Gardner, Doug L.
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald E.
• Application Number:
  US10/237,809
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 702/2, 702/5, 701/50
• US Class Current: 702/5
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/127 Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines

Abstract

The present invention provides a post-harvest reporting system that includes an apparatus and method for using time-stamped and location-based data recorded from multiple GPS receivers uploaded to a central information system. The apparatus and method include a GPS receiving device and a data logging device mounted on each of various vehicles used to harvest and transport crop from the field to a final storage place, and a way to upload the data to a central information system and generate reports therefrom. Data is input into the central information system such that data integrity checks can be performed. Reports are generated which track the path of a load of crop from harvest to storage; can be used to evaluate efficiency of the harvest operation; will track yield in certain portions of a field; and source a particular load of crop to certify its origin.

Claims

1. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system comprising:

a) a field of crop for which GPS location-based boundaries are pre-mapped and recorded;

b) means for harvesting said field of crop including a first GPS receiving device, a first data logging device, a first holding tank to store a load of crop that has been harvested from an identifiable portion of said field of crop, and means for transferring said load out of said holding tank wherein said first receiving device and said first data logging device records a discreet GPS data string associated with actuation of said means for transferring said crop load;

c) a grain cart comprising a second holding tank for receiving at least one said crop load from said means for harvesting, and a second GPS receiving device and a second data logging device;

d) a transportation vehicle comprising a third holding tank for receiving at least one said crop load from said grain cart, and a third GPS receiving device and a third data logging device;

e) said grain cart further comprising means for transferring said at least one crop load to said third holding tank in said transportation vehicle wherein said second GPS receiving device and said second data logging device records a discreet GPS data string associated with actuation of said means for transferring said at least one crop load;

f) a final storage location for receiving said third holding tank of said at least one crop load and at which recordable data is established concerning the time of delivery of said crop load to said location;

g) means for uploading data received by said first, second and third GPS receiving devices and recorded by said first, second and third data logging devices; and

h) means for storing, linking and associating said uploaded data and said GPS location boundaries for said field based upon the time of delivery of said crop load to said final storage location, and to create and generate reports of same.

2. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for harvesting said field of crop further comprises a combine.

3. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for transferring said crop load out of said first holding tank and said means for transferring said at least one said crop load from said second holding tank to said third holding tank each comprises an auger.

4. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said final storage location for said third holding tank of said at least one crop load comprises a grain elevator wherein said transportation vehicle is driven across commercial scales where weight and time of time are recorded, said at least one crop load in said third holding tank in said transportation vehicle is unloaded into said grain elevator, and said transportation vehicle is driven across commercial scales again where weight and time of delivery are recorded.

5. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for uploading data comprises collecting and transporting a memory card from each of said data logging devices to said means for storing, linking and associating said uploaded data.

6. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for uploading data received by each said GPS receiving device and recorded by each said data logging device comprises wireless, automatic, periodic transfer of data via digital telephone technology to said means for storing, linking and associating said uploaded data.

7. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first GPS receiving device and said first data logging device receive and record only when said means for transferring said crop load out of said first holding tank is actuated, said second GPS receiving device receives and said second data logging device records periodically, and said third GPS receiving device receives and said second data logging device records only when said transportation vehicle is moving.

8. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for storing, linking and associating said uploaded data and said GPS location-based boundaries for said field, and to create and generate reports of same comprises a geographic information system.

9. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system comprising:

a) a field in which crop is grown comprising pre-mapped boundaries defined by GPS location-based data;

b) means for harvesting said field of crop comprising a first holding tank for a crop load, a first GPS receiving device, and a first data logging device;

c) a plurality of vehicles each comprising a holding tank for transporting at least one said crop load;

d) a plurality of GPS receiving devices, a plurality of data logging devices, each of said plurality of GPS receiving devices associated with one of said plurality of data logging devices and one of said plurality of vehicles;

e) each of said plurality of vehicles further comprising means for transferring said at least one crop load out of said holding tank;

f) a storage location;

g) means for uploading data received by said first GPS receiving device and recorded by said first data logging device and each of said plurality of GPS receiving and each of said plurality of data logging devices; and

h) means for storing, linking and associating said uploaded data by time and location and with said pre-mapped boundaries.

10. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said plurality of vehicles further comprises at least one grain cart for transporting said at least one crop load from said means for harvesting said crop and at least one truck for transporting said at least one crop load from said at least one grain cart to said storage location.

11. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for transferring said at least one crop load out of said holding tank of said grain cart comprises an auger.

12. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for uploading data received by said first GPS receiving device and recorded by said first data logging device and each of said plurality of GPS receiving devices and data logging devices comprises transportable memory cards.

13. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for uploading data recorded by said first GPS receiving device and recorded by said first data logging device and each of said plurality of GPS receiving devices and data logging devices comprises a wireless, automatic, periodic transfer of data using digital telephone technology.

14. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means for storing, linking and associating said uploaded data with said pre-mapped boundaries comprises a geographical information system with report creation and generation capabilities.

15. A post-harvest GPS-based reporting system comprising:

a) a field of crop with a perimeter for which boundaries defined by GPS locations have been pre-mapped said boundaries including a buffer zone of about 200 feet beyond said perimeter;

b) a combine comprising a first holding tank for a load of crop, a first GPS receiving device, a first data logging device, and a first auger for transferring said crop load out of said first holding tank wherein said first data logging device operates to record time-stamped and location-based data only when said first auger is transferring said load;

c) a grain cart comprising a second holding tank for receiving at least one said crop load from said combine, a second GPS receiving device, a second data logging device, and a second auger for transferring said at least one crop load out of said second holding tank wherein said second data logging device operates to record time-stamped and location-based data when said second auger is not actuated and to record a discreet data string of time-stamped and location-based data when said second auger is actuated and transferring said at least one crop load from said second holding tank;

d) a truck comprising a third holding tank for receiving said at least one crop load from said second holding tank of said grain cart, and a third GPS receiving device, and a third data logging device, wherein said third data logging device operates to record location-based and time-stamped data when said truck is moving;

e) a grain elevator wherein said truck is weighed and time recorded prior to and after said truck transfers said at least one crop load from said third holding tank to said elevator;

f) means for uploading data from said first, second, and third data logging devices comprises wireless, automatic, periodic transfer of data using digital telephone technology;

g) a geographic information system for storing, linking and associating said periodic uploads of data wherein said data is associated according to proximity of said combine, said grain cart, and said truck as determined by time-stamped and location-based data received by said first, second, and third GPS receiving devices and recorded by said first, second, and third data logging devices and by said boundaries; and

h) said geographic information system has the capability to create and generate reports.

16. A method for providing a post-harvest GPS-based reporting system comprising:

a) Recording and storing GPS locations around a field of crop comprising boundaries and assigning an identifier to said field;

b) Recording and storing GPS locations corresponding to at least one final crop storage place and assigning an identifier to said at least one final storage place;

c) Harvesting said field of crop using

1. at least one combine for gathering a load of crop, at least one grain cart for transporting at least one said load of crop, and at least one truck for transporting said at least one said load of crop from said at least one grain cart to said at least one final crop storage place;

2. said at least one combine comprising first means for transporting said load of crop to said grain cart;

3. said at least one grain cart comprising second means for transferring at least one load of said crop to said truck;

d) Assigning identifiers to said at least one combine, said at least one grain cart, and said at least one truck;

e) Recording and storing GPS location-based and time-stamped corresponding to the location of said at least one combine upon actuation of said first means for transferring said load of said crop, and to the location of said at least one grain cart both upon actuation of said second means for transferring said at least one load of said crop and when said grain cart is moving, and to the location of said at least one truck as it transports said at least one load of said crop to said final storage place;

f) Uploading all GPS location-based and time-stamped data recorded and stored to a central information system and associating said uploaded data by identifiers and by matching proximity of said combine to said at least one grain cart, said grain cart to said at least one truck, and said at least one truck to said at least one final crop storage place;

g) Inputting acceptable speeds for said at least one grain cart, said at least one combine, and said at least one truck and acceptable locations for stoppage of said at least one truck into said central information system;

h) Running data integrity checks by comparing said acceptable speeds and said acceptable locations to said GPS times and locations recorded for said at least one combine, said at least one grain cart, and said at least one truck; and

i) Generating post-harvest reports using said GPS time-stamped and location-based data recorded for said field boundaries, said final storage places, said at least one combine, said at least one grain cart, said at least one truck and said identifiers.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said central information system comprises a geographic information system and said post-harvest reports can be geographically presented.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said GPS time-stamped and location-based data are received by a plurality of GPS receiving devices and recorded by a plurality of data logging devices one of each of which is mounted on said at least one combine, said at least one grain cart, and said at least one truck.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said GPS time-stamped and location-based data are input to said geographic information system via wireless, automatic, periodic uploads of data by digital telephone technology from each said plurality of data logging devices.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said post-harvest reports include yield per load, yield per field, yield per portion of field, efficiency reports regarding transportation per field, integrity check reports per field, integrity check reports per load, and assurance-of-source reports.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one final storage place comprises a grain elevator which includes a weigh scales upon which said truck is weighed before and after unloading said at least one load of crop and a receipt generator for generating a receipt showing weight of said truck before and after unloading and time recorded for each.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said time on said receipt and said identifier of said truck is input to said central information system.

23. A method for providing a post-harvest GPS-based reporting system comprising:

a) Recording and storing GPS locations around said field of crop comprising boundaries and assigning an identifier to said field;

b) Recording and storing GPS locations corresponding to at least one final crop storage place and assigning an identifier to said at least one final storage place;

c) Harvesting said field of crop using

1. at least one combine for gathering a load of crop and a plurality of vehicles for transporting at least one load of crop;

2. said at least one combine comprising first means for transferring said load of crop;

3. each of said plurality of vehicles comprising means for transferring at least one said load of crop to another of said vehicles;

d) Assigning identifiers to said at least one combine, and each of said plurality of vehicles;

e) Recording and storing GPS location-based and time-stamped data corresponding to the location of said at least one combine upon actuation of said first means for transferring said load of said crop, and to the location of each of said plurality of vehicles as it transports said at least one load of said crop;

f) Uploading all GPS location-based and time-stamped data recorded and stored to a central information system and associating said uploaded data by identifiers and by matching proximity of said combine and each of said plurality of vehicles and to said final crop storage place;

g) Inputting acceptable speeds for each of said plurality of vehicles and said at least one combine into said central information system;

h) Running data integrity checks by comparing said acceptable speeds and said acceptable locations to said GPS time-stamped and location-based data recorded for each of said plurality of vehicles; and

i) Generating post-harvest reports using said GPS time-stamped and location-based data recorded for said field boundaries, said final storage places, said at least one combine, each of said plurality of vehicles and said identifiers.