Patent ID: 7089117
Filing Date: 2006-08-08
Classification: A01B,A01D

Abstract:
1. A method of estimating the instantaneous crop yield ŷ 2 (t) at time t in a field, during harvesting with a harvesting machine that operates by cutting and/or collecting the crop and has a crop mass flow sensor that measures the mass flow rate {dot over (m)} out (t) of crop processed by the machine at a location remote from that at which the harvesting machine cuts the crop and generates a signal {dot over ({circumflex over (m)} out (t) indicative thereof, the method comprising the steps of: (i) generating a said mass flow rare signal {dot over ({circumflex over (m)} (ii) generating an area rate signal ŝ(t) indicative of time domain variations in the area of the field harvested per time unit; characterized in that it comprises the further steps of: (iii) filtering said area rate signal ŝ(t) using a function P(s) representative of the dynamics of the harvesting machine to generate a filtered area rate signal ŝ (iv) using said filtered area rate signal ŝ