AGCO Corporation

A system and method for preparing a sample area of a bale in order to more accurately evaluate the plant material incorporated into the bale. A baler receives, compresses, shapes, and secures material into the bale. A cutter mechanism cuts a portion of the material in the bale into similarly-sized particles. A mixer mechanism mixes the particles into a homogenous aggregate. A compression mechanism compresses the homogenous aggregate into the bale. An NIR testing system receives and analyzes near-infrared radiation reflected by the homogenous aggregate, and generates evaluation data reflecting properties of the material. The cutter may include knives mounted in a compression chamber of the baler. The mixer may be a relief feature on a center rail, the compressor may be a projecting feature on the center rail, and an NIR sensor may be mounted to the center rail so as to press against the surface of the bale.

A system and method for monitoring bale growth rate and mat thickness and controlling baler operations according to the monitoring of bale growth rate and mat thickness. A baler includes sensors and a control system that uses sensor output as input for its processes. The controller is configured to determine a value of a physical attribute in an operation of a baler based on data received from a sensor. Also, the controller is configured to estimate a mat thickness or a bale growth rate based on the determined value of the physical attribute. The controller is also configured to control an operation of the baler or an operation of a tow vehicle, configured to tow the baler, based on the estimated mat thickness or bale growth rate.

A method of operating an implement carrying tillage elements in an agricultural field includes traversing the field with the implement while the tillage elements engage soil of the field, detecting a tillage event based on an operating parameter, recording a location of the tillage event with at least one computer, stopping the implement within the field in response to the tillage event, and generating a first representation of the tillage elements engaged with the soil. The first representation is generated with information from at least one sensor. The tillage elements are lifted to disengage the tillage elements from the soil, and a second representation of the tillage elements disengaged from the soil is generated. The implement is backed rearward through the field with the tillage elements disengaged from the soil, and a third representation of a portion of the soil worked by the tillage elements is generated.

A knotter assembly includes a twine holder and a twine disc assembly having parallel discs for holding twine during a knotting cycle. The knotter assembly further includes a mis-tie detection device configured to monitor the twine being held with the twine holder in a notch of the twine disc. The mis-tie detection device has a movable position indicator positioned adjacent the twine disc. The position indicator has a twine-receiving groove that aligns with the notch in the twine disc such that the twine is simultaneously held in the notch and groove. Tension in the twine during a knotting cycle causes the position indicator to move from a first condition to a second condition. The mis-tie detection device also has a sensing mechanism configured to determine the position of the position indicator.

An agricultural implement includes a main frame having a support bar oriented in a direction generally transverse to a direction of travel when the implement is used to work a field, a plurality of rotating ground-engaging elements aligned along a length of the support bar, and a plugging detection system configured to alert an operator if one or more of the ground-engaging elements have an acceleration different from an acceleration of remaining ground-engaging elements by at least a threshold amount. The plugging detection system has an accelerometer for each of the plurality of ground-engaging elements and a control module that compares accelerometer data of each ground-engaging element to accelerometer data of the remaining ground-engaging elements. Related methods are also disclosed.

A mechanism for generating guidance information for a supply vehicle to an agricultural vehicle. An orientation of the agricultural vehicle is determined and used to produce guidance information. The guidance information is then passed to the supply vehicle.

Imaging systems and related computing systems and methods for processing images and determining equipment trajectories are disclosed. A computing system is configured to display, on an electronic display, an image taken from a boom perspective that is remote from an operator of the agricultural machine, a boom trajectory corresponding to a path predicted to be traveled across the image for a point along the boom responsive to a steering signal and display a trajectory line superimposed over the image. An imaging system includes an image capture device mounted to a boom and a processor. The processor is configured to identify an object in an image captured by the image capture device, determine whether the identified object is an obstacle to movement of the boom, and generate a warning signal responsive to a determination that the identified object is an obstacle to movement of the boom.

Computer vision control of spray nozzles and related systems, circuitry, and methods are disclosed. A circuitry of a computer vision sprayer control system receives an image signal captured by a computer vision system disposed at a distal end of a boom arm of a boom carried by a crop sprayer. The circuitry provides a spray nozzle control signal to a spray nozzle controller configured to control operation of a spray nozzle at the distal end of the boom arm. The spray nozzle is electrically controllable with at least one degree of freedom. The circuitry includes a processor to determine adjustments to make to the spray nozzle based, at least in part, on the image signal and generate the spray nozzle control signal responsive to the determined adjustments. A method includes retrieving a spray maneuver and determining adjustments to make to the spray nozzle to execute the spray maneuver.

A mechanism for controlling crop processing arrangements of a combine harvester. One or more flow rate measures are produced for a crop processing arrangement, which are processed to identify whether the flow rate of crop through the crop processing arrangement has been affected. If the flow rate has been affected, any upstream crop processing arrangements are slowed or stopped and any downstream crop processing arrangements are slowed or maintained (without reducing to zero).

A system includes a tractor comprising a lifting hitch, and an implement comprising an implement frame carried by the lifting hitch. The implement frame has an integrated elongate toolbar carrying at least one row unit. A sensor is configured to sense a position of the at least one row unit relative to the ground. A control system is configured to receive a signal related to the sensed position of the at least one row unit relative to the ground and cause the lifting hitch to raise or lower a portion of the implement frame connected to the lifting hitch relative to the tractor based at least in part on the signal. Control systems and related methods are also disclosed.