Automating distribution of work in a field

• US 10,180,328 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2014
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Original Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Inventors: Matthews, Paul Ross
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US14/904,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20160146611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/001 Steering by means of optical assistance, e.g. television cameras steering devices for road marking vehicles E01C23/163
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/008 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0217 in accordance with energy consumption, time reduction or distance reduction criteria
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0291 Fleet control monitoring fleets in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/127, G08G1/127
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method comprising identifying field boundaries from aerial imagery; detecting entry upon a first field by an agricultural machine without operator intervention, the first field within the identified field boundaries; and providing a first path to be traversed in the first field at least in part by the agricultural machine.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying field boundaries from aerial imagery;

detecting entry upon a first field by an agricultural machine without operator intervention, the first field within the identified field boundaries;

providing a first path to be traversed in the first field at least in part by the agricultural machine; and

providing a visual display of the identified field boundaries and the first path on a display screen, wherein the providing of the visual display comprises visually distinguishing a first portion of the first path traversed by the agricultural machine from one or more portions of the first path traversed by respective one or more additional agricultural machines assigned to the first path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the first path comprises calculating the first path that farms the entire first field based on one or a combination of distance to be traversed, estimated fuel consumption, or entry point to the first field.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the first path comprises calculating the first path that farms the entire first field based on optical recognition of past farming features of the aerial imagery.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the first path comprises providing the first path that farms the entire first field at a first efficiency value, and further comprising providing an alternative path to be traversed in the first field by the agricultural machine, the alternative path associated with a second efficiency value that is different than the first efficiency value.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing an operator a selectable choice between the first path and the alternative path.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to providing of the first path, providing an operator a selectable choice of providing either the first path or an alternative path, wherein the providing of the first path is responsive to the operator selecting an option corresponding to the first path.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying, detecting, and providing occur without an operator that is controlling movement of the agricultural machine selecting any input to prompt the identifying, detecting, or providing.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating commencement of autonomous farming operations on the first field according to the first path.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting when one or more additional agricultural machines enter the first field.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising redistributing tasks of the agricultural machine along the first path for implementation to the agricultural machine and the one or more additional agricultural machines.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the redistributing is based on one or more of quantity of agricultural machines in the first field, capacity of each of the agricultural machines in the first field, implement width for each of the agricultural machines in the first field, speed for each of the agricultural machines in the first field, or efficiency in handling of tasks associated with farming the first field for each of the agricultural machines in the first field.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling an operator to edit the first path.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying is responsive to the agricultural machine traveling in close proximity to the first field.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying additional field boundaries for one or more additional fields responsive to the agricultural machine traveling in close proximity to the first field and the one or more additional fields.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the visual display comprises visually distinguishing the identified boundaries with other objects displayed on the display screen.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the visual display comprises visually distinguishing a portion of the first path traversed by the agricultural machine from non-traversed portions of the first path.

17. An agricultural machine, comprising:

a chassis coupled to rotating elements to cause traversal across a field;

a wireless network interface; and

a computing system configured to;

identify field boundaries from aerial imagery responsive to the agricultural machine traveling in close proximity to a field located within the identified field boundaries;

detect without operator intervention when the agricultural machine enters the field;

provide a path to be traversed in the field at least in part by the agricultural machine, the path corresponding to a farming path for the entire field; and

provide a visual display of the identified field boundaries and the first path on a display screen and visually distinguish a first portion of the first path traversed by the agricultural machine from one or more portions of the first path traversed by respective one or more additional agricultural machines assigned to the first path.

18. An agricultural machine, comprising:

a chassis coupled to rotating elements to cause traversal across a field;

a wireless network interface;

a display screen; and

a computing system comprising one or more processors configured to;

identify on the display screen field boundaries from aerial imagery responsive to the agricultural machine traveling in close proximity to a field located within the identified field boundaries;

detect without operator intervention when the agricultural machine enters the field and present an image corresponding to the agricultural machine on the display screen located within the field; and

provide a display on the display screen, without operator intervention, of an editable path to be traversed in the field at least in part by the agricultural machine, the path corresponding to a farming path for the entire field.