Site-specific harvest statistics analyzer

• US 5,771,169 A
• Filed: 08/29/1996
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Case Corporation (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Wendte, Keith W.
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald E.
• Application Number:
  US08/704,990
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 364/420, 364/806, 364/578, 395/904, 395/928, 395/930
• US Class Current: 702/5
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for analyzing statistical data for a region of a farming field defined by a boundary on a set of georeferenced agricultural maps of the field. Input data includes digital maps of the field which represent spatially-variable characteristics. The characteristics may represent soil properties, crop properties and farming inputs applied to the field. The characteristic data is georeferenced to specific field locations by longitude and latitude coordinates. An electronic display is used to display a visual map of the field together with a visual representation of a first characteristic of the field. An input device is used to draw a boundary around an area of the display, thereby defining a geographic area of the field. Analysis of a second characteristic of the field which correlates to the defined geographic area is then performed. Typically, a farmer draws a polygon on the display based upon similar characteristic values and calculates crop yield and moisture content within the geographic area defined by the polygon.

Claims

1. A method of analyzing statistical data for at least one given region of a farming field, comprising the steps of:

storing a first georeferenced digital map of the farming field including data representative of a first spatially-variable characteristic of the farming field in a digital memory;

displaying a visual map of the farming field on an electronic display which includes a visual representation of the first characteristic data;

generating a visually perceivable boundary around an area of the visual map on the electronic display;

storing a second georeferenced digital map of the farming field including data representative of a second spatially-variable characteristic of the farming field in the digital memory;

analyzing the data representative of the second characteristic of the farming field which is georeferenced to the area defined by the boundary; and

displaying at least one result of the analysis on the electronic display, wherein the result is associated with the bounded area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second georeferenced digital maps include longitude and latitude coordinates associated with the respective first and second characteristic data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of storing the second georeferenced digital map includes harvesting crop from the farming field using a combine, sensing the flow of crop harvested at a plurality of positions, receiving position signals associated with the plurality of positions as the field is harvested, and storing data representative of the crop flow and the associated positions in the memory.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of storing the second georeferenced digital map includes harvesting crop from the farming field using a combine, sensing the moisture content of crop harvested at a plurality of positions, receiving position signals associated with the plurality of positions as the field is harvested, and storing data representative of the crop moisture content and the associated positions in the memory.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of detecting soil type in the field to generate the first characteristic data, wherein the first spatially-variable characteristic is soil type.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of monitoring a signal from a fertility analyzer to generate the first characteristic data, wherein the first spatially-variable characteristic is soil fertility.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of monitoring a signal from a soil moisture analyzer to generate the first characteristic data, wherein the first spatially-variable characteristic is soil moisture.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of monitoring a signal from a soil compaction analyzer to generate the first characteristic data, wherein the first spatially-variable characteristic is soil compaction.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of monitoring a signal from a pH analyzer to generate the first characteristic data, wherein the first spatially-variable characteristic is pH.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of monitoring a signal from a variable-rate fertilizer spreader to generate the first characteristic data, wherein the first spatially-variable characteristic is fertilizer applied to the field.

11. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of monitoring a signal from a variable-rate herbicide spreader to generate the first characteristic data, wherein the first spatially-variable characteristic is herbicide applied to the field.

12. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of monitoring a signal from a variable-rate insecticide spreader to generate the first characteristic data, wherein the first spatially-variable characteristic is insecticide applied to the field.

13. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of monitoring a signal from a variable-rate seed planter to generate the first characteristic data, wherein the first spatially-variable characteristic is seed applied to the field.

14. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of monitoring the cultural practices applied to the field to generate the first characteristic data, wherein the first spatially-variable characteristic is cultural practices applied to the field.

15. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of detecting insect infestation in the field to generate the first characteristic data, wherein the first spatially-variable characteristic is insect infestation.

16. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of detecting weed infestation in the field to generate the first characteristic data, wherein the first spatially-variable characteristic is weed infestation.

17. The method of claim 3, wherein the first characteristic of the farming field is landmarks.

18. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of monitoring a signal representative of altitude to generate the first characteristic data, wherein the first spatially-variable characteristic is altitude.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual representation of the first characteristic data includes a plurality of colors with different colors representing different magnitudes of the first characteristic.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual representation of the first characteristic data includes a plurality of light intensity levels with different levels representing different magnitudes of the first characteristic.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the boundary includes marking a plurality of points surrounding the boundary area and connecting consecutive points.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, after a last point is marked, the last point marked is automatically connected to a first point marked, thereby closing the boundary.

23. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of performing an analysis includes calculating an average yield for the defined boundary area.

24. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of performing an analysis includes calculating an average moisture content for the defined boundary area.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the display of the result on the electronic display includes alpha-numeric characters.

26. An apparatus for analyzing statistical data for at least one given region of a farming field, comprising:

means for providing a first georeferenced digital map of the farming field including data representative of a first spatially-variable characteristic of the farming field;

means for displaying a visual map of the farming field on an electronic display which includes a visual representation of the first characteristic data;

means for defining a boundary of a geographic area of the farming field and displaying the boundary on the electronic display;

means for providing a second georeferenced digital map of the farming field including data representative of a second spatially-variable characteristic of the farming field;

means for analyzing the data representative of the second characteristic of the farming field which is georeferenced to the geographic area defined by the boundary; and

means for displaying at least one result of the analysis on the electronic display wherein the result is associated with the defined geographic area.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first and second georeferenced digital maps include longitude and latitude coordinates associated with the respective first and second characteristic data.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the data representative of the second characteristic of the farming field includes yield data.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the data representative of the second characteristic of the farming field includes moisture content data.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the first characteristic of the farming field is a soil property selected from the group consisting of soil type, soil fertility, soil moisture content, soil compaction and pH.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the first characteristic of the farming field is a farming input applied to the field selected from the group consisting of fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide, seed and cultural practices.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the visual representation of the first characteristic data includes a plurality of colors with different colors representing different magnitudes of the first characteristic.

33. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the means for defining a boundary of a geographic area includes an input device actuatable to mark a plurality of points surrounding the area on the electronic display corresponding to the geographic area, wherein consecutive marked points are connected.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein, after a last point is marked, the last point marked is automatically connected to a first point marked.

35. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the means for analyzing includes means for calculating an average yield for the defined geographic area.

36. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for analyzing includes means for calculating an average moisture content for the defined geographic area.

37. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the display of the result on the electronic display includes alpha-numeric characters.

38. An apparatus for analyzing relationships between at least one spatially-variable characteristic of a farming field other than yield with a yield map of the farming field, the apparatus comprising:

a digital data memory which stores georeferenced digital maps of the farming field including data representative of the characteristic of the farming field and of yield;

an electronic display;

a control circuit coupled to the memory and the electronic display, the control circuit configured to read the digital maps from the memory and to generate a display signal therefrom which, when applied to the electronic display, generates visible indicia of the farming field and the characteristic data at corresponding locations of the farming field; and

an input device coupled to the control circuit to apply a display location signal to the control circuit, wherein the display location signal causes the control circuit to generate the display signal to draw a polygon around an area of the display, thereby defining a geographic area of the farming field;

wherein the control circuit is configured to analyze the yield data which is georeferenced to the defined geographic area, and to generate the display signal to cause at least one result of the analysis to be displayed in association with the defined geographic area.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the digital maps include longitude and latitude data associated with the characteristic data and the yield data.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the memory circuit includes a removable memory device.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the control circuit is configured to calculate average yield for the defined geographic area, and the result of the analysis which is displayed includes average yield.