Agricultural machine and operator performance information systems and related methods

• US 9,152,938 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FarmLink LLC
• Original Assignee: FarmLink LLC
• Inventors: Lang, Jay, Mayes, William C., Morris, Landon
• Primary Examiner(s): Boswell, Beth V
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEACHER, LORENA R
• Application Number:
  US12/539,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,247 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.36, 705/7.37, 705/7.39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method comprising:

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

providing a network device in data communication with the data processing mechanism and a network;

receiving via the network crop production data in real time after planting and during crop harvesting of present crops from a statistically significant population of data gathering mechanisms of agricultural machines harvesting the present crops throughout multiple harvest fields;

receiving via the network crop market data comprising information about current crop market conditions after the planting and during the crop harvesting;

receiving via the network an operational data set from a first agricultural machine of the agricultural machines;

generating by the data processing mechanism a combined data set in the database in real time as the crop production data and the crop market data are received;

generating by the data processing mechanism an aggregated data set based on the crop production data from the combined data set,

the aggregated data set comprising a present yield parameter and a geographical location parameter,

the geographical location parameter defining a geographical area comprising a plurality of the multiple harvest fields, the present yield parameter based on a macro aggregation of present harvest yields for the present crops of the multiple harvest fields as they are harvested by the statistically significant population of the data gathering mechanisms of the agricultural machines for the geographical area;

generating by the data processing mechanism reports in real time via the processor, the one or more reports comprising an agricultural machine monitoring report, an estimated performance report, and an estimated market effect report,

generating the reports comprises;

generating an agricultural machine monitoring report for the first agricultural machine, comprising;

parsing the operational data set to generate an agricultural machine parameter set, the agricultural machine parameter set comprising at least one of grain loss, tailings return, blower fan speed, concave settings, chaffer settings, sieve settings, ground speed, turbo boost pressure, or reverser operation; and

providing summary information from the agricultural machine parameter set;

generating the estimated performance report based on the aggregated data set generated from the combined data set, the estimated performance report comprising;

comparing the present yield parameter from the present harvest yields for the present crops of the multiple harvest fields and the geographical location parameter of the multiple harvest fields of the aggregated data set against reference information derived from at least one of a historical yield report, a target yield report, or historical data from the combined data set to generate first comparison data;

determining an estimated area yield for the geographical area predicted throughout completion of a harvest timeframe for the present crops based on the first comparison data; and

providing the estimated performance report with the estimated area yield for the geographical area predicted throughout completion of the harvest timeframe for the present crops;

and

generating the estimated market effect report based on the aggregated data set generated from the combined data set, the estimated market effect report comprising;

comparing the information of the crop market data about the current crop market conditions for the present crops during the crop harvesting against the estimated area yield for the geographical area to generate second comparison data;

determining a predicted market effect summary for an estimated effect that the estimated area yield will have on a crop market price as an output, the predicted market effect summary based the second comparison data; and

providing the estimated market effect report with the predicted market effect summary for the estimated effect that the estimated area yield will have on the crop market price as an output;

generating by the data processing mechanism one or more operating recommendations for the first agricultural machine based on a comparison of the agricultural machine parameter set with at least one of one or more benchmarks, one or more maintenance parameters, one or more mechanical parameters, one or more operating parameters, one or more equipment parameters, or one or more production parameters;

providing the one or more operating recommendations from the data processing mechanism to the first agricultural machine via the network to automatically adjust the first agricultural machine;

and

providing the reports from the data processing mechanism to one or more users via the network,

wherein;

a first portion of the data gathering mechanisms is operated by a first entity comprising a first farmer or a first organization for a first portion of the multiple harvest fields; and

a second portion of the data gathering mechanisms is operated by a second entity different than the first entity comprising a second farmer or a second organization for a second portion of the multiple harvest fields.

2. A system for processing information from first and second data gathering mechanism sets,

the first data gathering mechanism set configured to transmit to a network a first operational data set gathered from and during operation of a first agricultural machine set,

the second data gathering mechanism set configured to transmit to the network a second operational data set gathered from and during operation of a second agricultural machine set,

the system comprising:

a data processing mechanism;

and

a network device in data communication with the data processing mechanism and the network,

wherein;

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

receive via the network the first and second operational data sets;

receive via the network an operational data set from a first agricultural machine;

update a combined data set in real time as the first and second operational data sets are received from the network,

the combined data set comprising crop production data received after planting and during crop harvesting of present crops from a plurality of data gathering mechanisms of agricultural machines harvesting the present crops throughout a plurality of harvest fields during the crop harvesting;

generate an aggregated data set based on the crop production data from the combined data set, the aggregated data set comprising;

a geographical location parameter defining a first geographical area comprising first harvest fields of the plurality of harvest fields; and

a present yield parameter based on a macro aggregation of present harvest yields from the crop production data for the present crops of the plurality of harvest fields harvested by the plurality of agricultural machines for the first geographical area;

parse the operational data set to generate an agricultural machine parameter set, the agricultural machine parameter set comprising at least one of grain loss, tailings return, blower fan speed, concave settings, chaffer settings, sieve settings, ground speed, turbo boost pressure, or reverser operation;

generate one or more operating recommendations for the first agricultural machine based on a comparison of the agricultural machine parameter set with at least one of one or more benchmarks, one or more maintenance parameters, one or more mechanical parameters, one or more operating parameters, one or more equipment parameters, or one or more production parameters;

provide the one or more operating recommendations to the first agricultural machine via the network to automatically adjust the first agricultural machine;

generate reports based on the aggregated data set;

and

provide the reports to one or more users via the network device;

the data processing mechanism is configured to generate;

an estimated area yield for the first geographical area predicted throughout completion of a harvest timeframe for the present crops and based on the present yield parameter and the geographical location parameter;

the reports comprise an estimated performance report and an estimated market effect report;

the estimated performance report comprises;

the estimated area yield for the first geographical area predicted throughout completion of the harvest timeframe for the present crops based on first comparison data, the first comparison data being generated by comparing the present yield parameter from the present harvest yields for the present crops of the plurality of harvest fields and the geographical location parameter of the plurality of harvest fields of the aggregated data set against reference information derived from at least one of a historical yield report, a target yield report, or historical data from the combined data set; and

the estimated market effect report comprises;

a predicted market effect summary for an estimated effect that the estimated area yield will have on a crop market price as an output, the predicted market effect summary based on a comparison during the crop harvesting between;

crop market data received by the data processing mechanism about crop market conditions for the present crops; and

the estimated area yield for the first geographical area.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the first operational data set is associated with a single agricultural machine of the first agricultural machine set and a single data gathering mechanism of the first data gathering mechanism set.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the first operational data set is transmitted to the network in real time.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

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

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

6. The system of claim 2, wherein

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

7. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

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

control access to the reports based on a user profile.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one of the first or second data gathering mechanism sets.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the data processing mechanism comprises;

a database to store the combined data set; and

a processor coupled to the database to generate the reports based on the combined data set;

and

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

receive via the network a first operational data related to a first agricultural machine of the first agricultural machine set;

the first operational data comprising a portion of the first operational data set;

the first operational data comprising;

a geographical location of the first agricultural machine; and

a first operation monitor 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.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

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

11. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the first operational data is transmitted 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.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein:

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

13. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the estimated area yield is generated by the data processing mechanism based on a comparison between the present yield parameter and the geographical location parameter from 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 first geographical area.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the reports comprise an estimated performance report presenting the estimated area yield for the first geographical area.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the crop market data comprises at least one of;

current market crop prices;

current market crop sizes;

historical market crop prices;

or historical market crop sizes.

16. A method for processing a first operational data set gathered by a first data gathering mechanism set during operation of a first agricultural machine set and transmitted to a network by the first data gathering mechanism set, the method comprising:

providing a data processing mechanism;

providing a network device in data communication with the data processing mechanism and the network;

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

receiving an operational data set from a first agricultural machine at the data processing mechanism via the network;

updating a combined data set in the data processing mechanism in real time as the first operational data set is received,

the combined data set comprising crop production data received after planting and during crop harvesting of present crops from a plurality of data gathering mechanisms of agricultural machines harvesting the present crops throughout a plurality of harvest fields;

generating by the data processing mechanism an aggregated data set based on the crop production data from the combined data set, the aggregated data set comprising;

a geographical location parameter defining a first geographical area comprising first harvest fields of the plurality of harvest fields; and

a present yield parameter based on a macro aggregation of present harvest yields from the crop production data for the present crops of the plurality of harvest fields harvested by the agricultural machines for the first geographical area;

parsing by the data processing mechanism the operational data set to generate an agricultural machine parameter set, the agricultural machine parameter set comprising at least one of grain loss, tailings return, blower fan speed, concave settings, chaffer settings, sieve settings, ground speed, turbo boost pressure, or reverser operation;

generating by the data processing mechanism one or more operating recommendations for the first agricultural machine based on a comparison of the agricultural machine parameter set with at least one of one or more benchmarks, one or more maintenance parameters, one or more mechanical parameters, one or more operating parameters, one or more equipment parameters, or one or more production parameters;

providing the one or more operating recommendations from the data processing mechanism to the first agricultural machine via the network to automatically adjust the first agricultural machine;

generating by the data processing mechanism reports with the data processing mechanism based on the aggregated data set;

and

providing the reports from the data processing mechanism to one or more users via the network device,

wherein;

the data processing mechanism is configured to generate;

an estimated area yield for the present crops based on a comparison of the present yield parameter and the geographical location parameter against yield information derived from 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 first geographical area;

the reports comprise an estimated performance report and an estimated market effect report;

the estimated performance report comprises;

the estimated area yield for the present crops; and

the estimated market effect report comprises;

a predicted market effect summary for an estimated effect that the estimated area yield will have on a crop market price as an output, the predicted market effect summary based on a comparison during the crop harvesting between;

crop market data received by the data processing mechanism about crop market conditions for the present crops; and

the estimated area yield for the first geographical area.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

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

wherein;

the first operational data set is transmitted to the network in real time during the operation of the first agricultural machine set; and

the combined data set and the aggregated data set are updated in real time by the data processing mechanism as the first operational data set is received in real time.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the data processing mechanism is configured to;

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

update the first report at the screen automatically in real time.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein:

providing the data processing mechanism comprises;

providing a database to store the combined data set;

providing a processor coupled to the database to generate the reports; and

configuring the data processing mechanism to;

receive via the network a first operational data related to a first agricultural machine of the first agricultural machine set,

the first operational data comprising a portion of the first operational data set; and

the first operational data comprising;

 

a geographical location of the first agricultural machine; and

 

a first operation monitor 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.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the first operational data is at least one of;

transmitted to the network continuously during the operation of the first agricultural machine;

or

transmitted to the network upon completion of a task during the operation of the first agricultural machine.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein:

generating the reports comprises;

generating an estimated performance report;

generating the estimated performance report comprises;

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

and

the crop market data comprises information about at least one of;

current market crop prices;

current market crop sizes;

historical market crop prices;

or historical market crop sizes.