SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN AGRICULTURAL APPLICATOR

An agricultural system can include a product application system including one or more nozzle assemblies. A sensing system can include at least one flow sensor operably coupled with the product application system and configured to capture data indicative of a flow condition within the product application system. A computing system is communicatively coupled to the product application system and the sensing system. The computing system can be configured to calculate a spray quality index based on data from the sensing system, detect a pressure drop within the product application system based on the data indicative of a flow condition within the product application system, and generate an output based on the spray quality index and/or the detection of one or more pressure drops in the product application system.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to agricultural implements and, more particularly, to systems and methods for monitoring a spray operation, such as by monitoring and/or altering a flow condition of an agricultural product during the spray operation.

BACKGROUND

Various types of work vehicles utilize applicators (e.g., sprayers, floaters, etc.) to deliver an agricultural product to a ground surface of a field. The agricultural product may be in the form of a solution or mixture, with a carrier (such as water) being mixed with one or more active ingredients (such as an herbicide, agricultural product, fungicide, a pesticide, or another product).

The applicators may be pulled as an implement or self-propelled and can include a tank, a pump, a boom assembly, and a plurality of nozzles carried by the boom assembly at spaced locations. The boom assembly can include a pair of boom arms, with each boom arm extending to either side of the applicator when in an unfolded state. Each boom arm may include multiple boom sections, each with a number of spray nozzles (also sometimes referred to as spray tips).

The spray nozzles on the boom assembly disperse the agricultural product carried by the applicator onto a field. During a spray operation, however, various factors may affect a quality of application of the agricultural product to the field. Accordingly, an improved system and method for monitoring the quality of application of the agricultural product to the field would be welcomed in the technology.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In some aspects, the present subject matter is directed to an agricultural system that includes a product application system including one or more nozzle assemblies. A sensing system includes at least one flow sensor operably coupled with the product application system and is configured to capture data indicative of a flow condition within the product application system. A computing system is communicatively coupled to the product application system and the sensing system. The computing system is configured to calculate a spray quality index based on data from the sensing system, detect a pressure drop within the product application system based on the data indicative of a flow condition within the product application system, and generate an output based on at least one of the spray quality index and a detection of one or more pressure drops in the product application system.

In some aspects, the present subject matter is directed to a method for an agricultural application operation. The method includes exhausting an agricultural product through nozzle assembly of a product application system. The method also includes calculating, with a computing system, a spray quality index. In addition, the method includes receiving, through a sensing system, data indicative of a flow condition within the product application system. The method further includes detecting, with the computing system, a presence of one or more pressure drops within the product application system. Lastly, the method includes generating, with the computing system, an output based at least in part on the spray quality index and the presence of one or more pressure drops within the product application system.

In some aspects, the present subject matter is directed to an agricultural system that includes a product application system including one or more nozzle assemblies. A flow sensor is operably coupled with the product application system and is configured to capture data indicative of a flow condition within the product application system. A computing system is communicatively coupled to the product application system and the flow sensor. The computing system is configured to detect a pressure drop within the product application system based on the data indicative of a flow condition within the product application system and generate an output based on the detection of any pressure drops in the product application system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify a location or importance of the individual components. The terms “coupled,” “fixed,” “attached to,” and the like refer to both direct coupling, fixing, or attaching, as well as indirect coupling, fixing, or attaching through one or more intermediate components or features, unless otherwise specified herein. The terms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative direction with respect to an agricultural product within a fluid circuit. For example, “upstream” refers to the direction from which an agricultural product flows, and “downstream” refers to the direction to which the agricultural product moves. The term “selectively” refers to a component’s ability to operate in various states (e.g., an ON state and an OFF state) based on manual and/or automatic control of the component.

Furthermore, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected” or “operably coupled” to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “operably couplable” to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Some examples of operably couplable include, but are not limited to, physically mateable, physically interacting components, wirelessly interactable, wirelessly interacting components, logically interacting, and/or logically interactable components.

Moreover, the technology of the present application will be described in relation to exemplary embodiments. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Additionally, unless specifically identified otherwise, all embodiments described herein should be considered exemplary.

In general, the present subject matter is directed to a system for various agricultural operations. In some instances, an agricultural system can include a product application system having one or more nozzle assemblies positioned along a boom assembly and configured to selectively dispense an agricultural product therefrom.

A sensing system can be operably coupled with the product application system. The sensing system may include one or more sensors, a weather station, and/or any other assembly, which may be installed on the vehicle and/or the boom assembly. In general, the sensing system may be configured to capture data indicative of one or more spray quality parameters that may affect a spray quality of application of the agricultural product to the field. The spray quality can be defined as a predefined application rate/range that estimates whether a spray operation has led to appropriate coverage of a field, or a portion of the field, by the agricultural product.

The one or more sensors may include a flow sensor configured to capture data indicative of a flow condition, such as a pressure and/or a velocity, of the agricultural product being supplied to the nozzle assemblies and/or within the nozzle assemblies.

A computing system can be communicatively coupled to the product application system and the sensing system. The computing system may be configured to calculate a spray quality index based on data from the sensing system. The spray quality index represents a metric indicative of a spray operation coverage of a portion of a field. In some instances, the spray quality index may be used to determine whether the agricultural product was applied to various portions of the field within a defined range and/or misapplied to various portions of the field by deviating from the defined range.

The computing system may additionally or alternatively be configured to detect a pressure drop within the product application system based on the data indicative of a flow condition within the product application system. In addition, the computing system may be configured to generate an output based on the spray quality index and/or the detection of any pressure drops in the product application system.

Referring now toFIGS.1and2, a work vehicle10is generally illustrated as a self-propelled agricultural applicator. However, in alternate embodiments, the work vehicle10may be configured as any other suitable type of work vehicle10configured to perform agricultural application operations, such as a tractor or other vehicle configured to haul or tow an application implement.

In various embodiments, the work vehicle10may include a chassis12configured to support or couple to a plurality of components. For example, front and rear wheels14,16may be coupled to the chassis12. The wheels14,16may be configured to support the work vehicle10relative to a field20and move the work vehicle10in a direction of travel (e.g., as indicated by arrow18inFIG.1) across the field20. In this regard, the work vehicle10may include a powertrain control system22that includes a power plant24, such as an engine, a motor, or a hybrid engine-motor combination, a hydraulic propel or transmission system26configured to transmit power from the engine to the wheels14,16, and/or a brake system28.

The chassis12may also support a cab30, or any other form of user’s station, for permitting the user to control the operation of the work vehicle10. For instance, as shown inFIG.1, the work vehicle10may include a user interface32having a display34for providing messages and/or alerts to the user and/or for allowing the user to interface with the vehicle’s controller through one or more user input devices36(e.g., levers, pedals, control panels, buttons, and/or the like).

The chassis12may also support a boom assembly42mounted to the chassis12. In addition, the chassis12may support a product application system44that includes one or more tanks46, such as a rinse tank and/or a product tank. The product tank is generally configured to store or hold an agricultural product38, such as a pesticide, a fungicide, a rodenticide, a nutrient, and/or the like. The agricultural product38is conveyed from the product tank through plumbing components, such as interconnected pieces of tubing, for release onto the underlying field20(e.g., plants and/or soil) through one or more nozzle assemblies48mounted on the boom assembly42.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the boom assembly42can include a frame50that supports first and second boom arms52,54, which may be orientated in a cantilevered nature. The first and second boom arms52,54are generally movable between an operative or unfolded position (FIG.1) and an inoperative or folded position (FIG.2). When distributing the product, the first and/or second boom arm52,54extends laterally outward from the work vehicle10to cover swaths of the underlying field20, as illustrated inFIG.1. However, to facilitate transport, each boom arm52,54of the boom assembly42may be independently folded forwardly or rearwardly into the inoperative position, thereby reducing the overall width of the vehicle10, or in some examples, the overall width of a towable implement when the applicator is configured to be towed behind the work vehicle10.

Referring toFIG.3, the boom assembly42may be configured to support a plurality of nozzle assemblies48. Each nozzle assembly48may be configured to dispense an agricultural product38(FIG.4) stored within the tank46(FIG.1) onto the underlying field20. In several embodiments, the nozzle assemblies48may be mounted on and/or operably coupled to the first boom arm52, the second boom arm54, and/or the frame50of the boom assembly42, with the nozzle assemblies48being spaced apart from each other along a lateral direction56. Furthermore, fluid conduits58may fluidly couple the nozzle assemblies48to the tank46. In this respect, as the work vehicle10travels across the field20in the direction of travel18to perform a spray operation thereon, the agricultural product38(FIG.4) moves from the tank46through the fluid conduit58to each of the nozzle assemblies48. The nozzle assemblies48may, in turn, dispense or otherwise spray a fan of the agricultural product38(FIG.4) onto the underlying field20. For example, the nozzle assemblies48may include flat fan nozzles configured to dispense a flat fan of the agricultural product38(FIG.4). However, in alternative embodiments, the nozzle assemblies48may include any other suitable types of nozzles, such as dual pattern nozzles and/or hollow cone nozzles.

With further reference toFIG.3, during a spray operation, various spray quality parameters may affect a spray quality of application of the agricultural product38(FIG.4), which can be computed into a spray quality index in which the spray quality index represents a metric indicative of a spray operation coverage of a portion of a field20. In some instances, the spray quality index may be used to determine whether the agricultural product38(FIG.4) was applied to various portions of the field20within a defined range and/or misapplied to various portions of the field20by deviating from the defined range. In several embodiments, the one or more spray quality parameters that may affect the spray quality can include at least one of an airflow at each nozzle assembly48, a nozzle tip size and style, which agricultural product38(FIG.4) is being applied, an incorrect agricultural product application rate, inclement weather as determined by meeting one or more criteria, an agricultural product application rate or pressure deviating from a predefined range, boom assembly movement (e.g., jounce) deviating from a movement range, a vehicle speed deviating from a predefined speed, a vehicle acceleration/deceleration deviating from a predefined range, a turning radius deviating from predefined criteria, and/or any other variable.

In accordance with aspects of the present subject matter, a sensing system60may include one or more sensors62, a weather station64, and/or any other assembly, which may be installed on the vehicle10and/or the boom assembly42. In general, the sensing system60may be configured to capture data indicative of one or more spray quality parameters associated with the fans of the agricultural product38(FIG.4) being dispensed by the nozzle assemblies48. The spray quality parameter(s) may, in turn, be indicative of the quality of the spray operation, such as whether a target application rate of the agricultural product38(FIG.4) is within a defined range. The sensors62may include position sensors, flow sensors, motion sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc.), image sensors (e.g., cameras, LIDAR devices, etc.), radar sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and/or the like, depending on the operating conditions/parameters being monitored. In addition, the weather station64may be configured to capture data indicative of a wind speed and direction at a defined position on the work vehicle10. The mobile weather station64can contain any sensor that may be found on a stationary weather station64that monitors one or more weather criteria, such as temperature, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity, barometric pressure, cloud cover, and trends thereof.

In several examples, the sensing system60may include one or more flow sensors66. In general, the flow sensors66may be configured to capture data indicative of a flow condition, such as a pressure and/or a velocity, of the agricultural product38(FIG.4) being supplied to the nozzle assemblies48and/or within the nozzle assemblies48. In various examples, the one or more flow sensors66may be within the fluid conduits58operably coupling the nozzle assemblies48with the tank46and/or within the one or more nozzle assemblies48. The data captured by the flow sensors66may be used to detect a pressure drop within the product application system44. In several examples, the one or more flow sensors66may correspond to a diaphragm pressure sensor, a piston flow sensor, a strain gauge-based pressure sensor, an electromagnetic pressure sensor, a flow meter, and/or any other practicable sensor.

In operation, the one or more flow sensors66is configured to capture data indicative of a flow condition, such as a flow pressure or flow velocity, within the flow paths of the product application system44. By detecting the flow conditions at various locations within the product application system44, a pressure drop can be determined between two of the various locations (e.g., an upstream location and a downstream location). It should be noted, however, that velocities, instead of pressures, may be determined at similar locations to the pressures, and compared in a similar manner to determine whether the agricultural product38(FIG.4) is being delivered to and/or exhausted from the nozzle assemblies48at a defined flow condition or whether a pressure drop is present within various portions of the product application system44. In various examples, the product application system44may be manually or automatically operated to instruct a component of the product application system44to provide an increased pressure/velocity of the agricultural product38(FIG.4) when the detected pressure being delivered to and/or exhausted from the nozzle assemblies48deviates from a defined pressure range and/or a defined velocity range.

Referring now toFIG.4, a schematic view of a system100for operating the work vehicle10is illustrated in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter. In general, the system100will be described with reference to the work vehicle10described above with reference toFIGS.1-3. However, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the disclosed system100may generally be utilized with agricultural machines having any other suitable machine configuration. Additionally, it should be appreciated that, for purposes of illustration, communicative links, or electrical couplings of the system100shown inFIG.4are indicated by dashed lines.

As shown inFIG.4, the system100may include a computing system102operably coupled with the product application system44to dispense an agricultural product38from the product application system44to the field20(FIG.1) through one or more nozzle assemblies48that may be positioned at least partially along the boom assembly42(FIG.1).

The product application system44may include the one or more tanks46that are configured to retain an agricultural product38. A fluid conduit58is fluidly coupled with the tank46and a pump68. In several embodiments, the pump68may be a diaphragm, a piston, a scroll, or another pumping assembly. The product application system44may also include a flow control device70and a flow manifold72. The flow control device70receives the agricultural product38from the tank46and is configured to control (e.g., meter) the agricultural product38flow into the flow manifold72. The flow manifold72is configured to direct the agricultural product38into conduits58respectively coupled to the nozzle assemblies48.

The one or more flow sensors66of the sensing system60may be positioned within the product application system44. For example, one or more flow sensors66may be positioned between the tank46and the flow control device70, between the flow manifold72and the nozzle assemblies48, and/or within the nozzle assemblies48. As provided herein, the one or more flow sensors66are configured to capture data indicative of a flow condition within the product application system44. In various examples, the flow conditions can include at least one of a pressure and/or a velocity of the agricultural product38within the product application system44.

The computing system102may be electrically coupled to the pump68, the flow control device70, the flow manifold72, and/or the one or more flow sensors66of the product application system44. The computing system102may be configured to adjust the flow control device70based at least in part on feedback from the flow sensors66and a desired flow rate for the nozzle assemblies48. In some embodiments, a motor74is configured to adjust (e.g., open, close) the flow control device70to change the agricultural product38flow rate through the product application system44, and/or to direct the agricultural product38to certain nozzle assemblies48. One or more solenoids76may be configured to control the agricultural product38flow through the flow control device70and the flow manifold72. The solenoids76may be used to direct the agricultural product38to certain nozzle assemblies48. In addition, a position of a solenoid76may be altered to change a volume of the agricultural product38provided to a nozzle assembly48from a first volume to a second volume. In various examples, the first volume may be greater than or less than the second volume.

In several embodiments, the nozzle assemblies48may include a nozzle and a valve for activating the respective nozzle assembly48to perform a spray operation. The valves can include restrictive orifices, regulators, and/or the like to regulate the flow of agricultural product38from the product application system44that is emitted from each nozzle. In various embodiments, the valves may be configured as electronically controlled valves that are controlled by a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal for altering the application rate of the agricultural product38.

In general, the computing system102may comprise any suitable processor-based device, such as a computing device or any suitable combination of computing devices. Thus, in several embodiments, the computing system102may include one or more processors104and associated memory106configured to perform a variety of computer-implemented functions. As used herein, the term “processor” refers not only to integrated circuits referred to in the art as being included in a computer, but also refers to a controller, a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), an application specific integrated circuit, and other programmable circuits. Additionally, the memory106of the computing system102may generally comprise memory elements including, but not limited to, a computer readable medium (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), a computer readable non-volatile medium (e.g., a flash memory), a floppy disk, a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), a magneto-optical disk (MOD), a digital versatile disc (DVD) and/or other suitable memory elements. Such memory106may generally be configured to store information accessible to the processor104, including data108that can be retrieved, manipulated, created, and/or stored by the processor104and instructions110that can be executed by the processor104, when implemented by the processor104, configure the computing system102to perform various computer-implemented functions, such as one or more aspects of the image processing algorithms and/or related methods described herein. In addition, the computing system102may also include various other suitable components, such as a communications circuit or module, one or more input/output channels, a data/control bus, and/or the like.

In various embodiments, the computing system102may correspond to an existing controller of the agricultural work vehicle10, or the computing system102may correspond to a separate processing device. For instance, in some embodiments, the computing system102may form all or part of a separate plug-in module or computing device that is installed relative to the work vehicle10or boom assembly42(FIG.1) to allow for the disclosed system100and method to be implemented without requiring additional software to be uploaded onto existing control devices of the work vehicle10or the boom assembly42(FIG.1). Further, the various functions of the computing system102may be performed by a single processor-based device or may be distributed across any number of processor-based devices, in which instance such devices may be considered to form part of the computing system102. For instance, the functions of the computing system102may be distributed across multiple application-specific controllers, such as a pump controller, individual nozzle controllers, and/or the like.

In several embodiments, the data108may be information received and/or generated by the computing system102that is stored in one or more databases. For instance, as shown inFIG.4, the memory106may include an application variable database112for storing application variable data that is received from the various components of the system100, such as the sensing system60. Moreover, in addition to initial or raw sensor data received from the various components, final or post-processing application variable data (as well as any intermediate application variable data created during data processing) may also be stored within the application variable database112.

In the example illustrated inFIG.4, at least a portion of the application variable data provided to the memory106may be received from the product application system44. For example, a flow condition within the product application system44and/or within one or more nozzle assemblies48of the product application system44may be stored within the application variable database112.

In various embodiments, the memory106may also include an agricultural product database114that stores product information. The product information may include various information regarding the conditions and rates of application for an individual product that is to be applied to the field20. In some instances, the product information may be preloaded or sent to the vehicle10via wired or wireless communication therewith. Additionally or alternatively, the product information may be manually inputted into the database. In some embodiments, based on the selected product information, a different spray quality index and/or acceptable range may be selected.

Additionally, in several embodiments, the memory106may also include a location database116storing location data of the work vehicle10and/or the boom assembly42(FIG.1). For example, in some embodiments, the positioning system126may be configured to determine the location of the work vehicle10and/or the boom assembly42(FIG.1) by using a satellite navigation positioning system126(e.g. a GPS system, a Galileo positioning system, the Global Navigation satellite system (GLONASS), the BeiDou Satellite Navigation and Positioning system, a dead reckoning device, and/or the like). In such embodiments, the location determined by the positioning system126may be transmitted to the computing system102(e.g., in the form location coordinates) and subsequently stored within the location database116for subsequent processing and/or analysis.

In several embodiments, the location data stored within the location database116may also be correlated to the application variable data stored within the application variable database112. For instance, in some embodiments, the location coordinates derived from the positioning system126and the application variable data captured by the sensing system60may both be time-stamped. In such embodiments, the time-stamped data may allow each individual set of data captured by the sensing system60to be matched or correlated to a corresponding set of location coordinates received from the positioning system126, thereby allowing the data to be associated with a location of the field20.

Additionally, in some embodiments, such as the one shown inFIG.4, the memory106may include a field database118for storing information related to the field20, such as application map data. In such embodiments, by matching each set of application variable data captured by the sensing system60to a corresponding set of location coordinates, the computing system102may be configured to generate or update a corresponding application map associated with the field20, which may then be stored within the field database118for subsequent processing and/or analysis. For example, the application variable data captured by the sensing system60and/or the positioning system126may be mapped or otherwise correlated to the corresponding locations within the application map. Alternatively, based on the location data and the associated sensing system60data, the computing system102may be configured to generate an application map that includes the geo-located application variable associated therewith.

With further reference toFIG.4, in several embodiments, the instructions110stored within the memory106of the computing system102may be executed by the processor104to implement a data analysis module120and/or a control module122to analyze the data108. The modules may utilize any data processing techniques or algorithms, such as by applying corrections or adjustments to the data, filtering the data to remove outliers, implementing sub-routines or intermediate calculations, and/or by performing any other desired data processing-related techniques or algorithms.

In general, the data analysis module120may be configured to analyze the data to determine a spray quality index for various sections of the field20and/or whether the spray quality index is within predefined ranges. In various examples, the application variables may be used to calculate an overall spray quality index. Additionally or alternatively, the data analysis module120may be configured to detect a pressure drop within the product application system44based on the data indicative of a flow condition within the product application system44.

The active control module122may provide instructions110for various components communicatively coupled with the computing system102based on the results of data analysis module120. For example, the active control module122may be capable of altering a system or component of the vehicle10in response to the spray quality index varying from a defined range and/or the detection of a pressure drop within the product application system44. For instance, the system100may adjust the product application system44by altering a flow rate/flow pressure of the agricultural product38through one or more nozzle assemblies48based at least in part on the detected pressure at the nozzle assemblies48and/or within product application system44.

In some instances, various pressure drops may occur due to the varying lengths of fluid conduits58operably coupling the nozzle assemblies48to the tank46, boom movement, changes within the product application system44, and/or for any other reason during a spray operation. In addition, the pressure drops may be different for each product application system44(including systems that use some common components from a previous spray operation but with a changed component - such as a different nozzle) and varies based on the application pressure and the application rate during a respective spray operation. As such, the system100may define a closed-loop monitoring system that allows for monitoring of the pressure of the agricultural product38at various locations within the product application system44. In such instances, the data analysis module120may be configured to identify any pressure drops in the product application system44based on the data108. In response, the control module122may generate an output based on at least one of the spray quality index and a detection of one or more pressure drops in the product application system44. For example, the control module122may adjust a pressure of each nozzle independently and/or with any other nozzle assembly48based on the detected pressure drop across a nozzle assembly48and/or within the product application system44. In some instances, the pressure generated by the pump68may be adjusted based on the following equation:

where Pais an adjusted pressure of the agricultural product38outputted by the pump68, Pois the output pressure of the agricultural product38outputted by the pump68while the pressure drop occurs, and Pdis the detected pressure drop within the product application system44. For example, if a detected pressure drop across a nozzle assembly is twelve (12) psi and the desired pressure output from the nozzle is fifty (50) pounds per square inch (psi), the system100may adjust the pressure to be sixty-two (62) psi at the manifold to provide the appropriate pressure at each nozzle. In various embodiments, when multiple pressure drops are detected, the detected pressure drop Pdmay be the largest detected pressure drop and/or an average pressure drop for each detected pressure drop within the product application system44.

Additionally, or alternatively, in some examples, the active control module122may alter the operation of the product application system44to pause or otherwise change the application of the agricultural product38in response to determining that the application has deviated from the spray quality index by a defined amount, the pump68cannot supplement the pressure to obtain a desired flow rate, and/or for any other reason.

In some instances, the control module122may alter the operation of the pump68, the flow control device70, the flow manifold72, and/or the nozzle assemblies48of the product application system44based on the calculated spray quality index is within a predefined range. For example, in some instances, the system100may first determine whether the spray quality index is within a defined range. If the spray quality index is within the defined range and a pressure drop is identified, the system100may monitor the pressure drop and continue the spray operation with the current operating parameters. However, if the spray quality index deviates from the defined range and a pressure drop is identified, the system100may alter the product application system44and/or any other operating parameter. In various examples, the component may be a pump68, a flow control device70, a flow manifold72, a nozzle assembly48, and/or any other component within the product application system44. In various examples, if the spray quality index deviates from the defined range and a pressure drop is not identified, the system100may still alter the product application system44if such alteration may return the spray quality index to the defined range.

In various examples, the system100may implement machine learning engine methods and algorithms that utilize one or several machine learning techniques including, for example, decision tree learning, including, for example, random forest or conditional inference trees methods, neural networks, support vector machines, clustering, and Bayesian networks. These algorithms can include computer-executable code that can be retrieved by the computing system102and may be used to generate a predictive evaluation of the alterations to the product application system44. For instance, the control module122may alter the product application system44. In turn, the system100may monitor any changes to a pressure drop and/or the spray quality index. Each change may be fed back into the data analysis module120and the control module122for further alterations to the product application system44.

In addition, various other components may be adjusted by the active control module122in response to one or more application variables deviating from a defined range or threshold. For example, the computing system102may also adjust or alter the powertrain control system22, a steering system124, and/or the vehicle suspension when the spray quality index deviates from a defined range.

In some embodiments, the active control module122may further provide notifications and/or instructions to the user interface32, a vehicle notification system128, and/or a remote electronic device130. In some examples, the display34of the user interface32may be capable of displaying information related to the spray quality index and/or a pressure at one or more nozzle assemblies48. The vehicle notification system128may prompt visual, auditory, and tactile notifications and/or warnings when one or more flow conditions of the product application system44deviate from a defined range and/or one or more functions of the vehicle10or the boom assembly42(FIG.1) is altered by the computing system102. For instance, vehicle brake lights and/or vehicle emergency flashers may provide a visual alert. A vehicle horn and/or speaker may provide an audible alert. A haptic device integrated into the cab30and/or any other location may provide a tactile alert. Additionally, the computing system102and/or the vehicle notification system128may communicate with the user interface32of the vehicle10. In addition to providing the notification to the user, the computing system102may additionally store the location of the vehicle10at the time of the notification.

Further, the computing system102may communicate via wired and/or wireless communication with one or more remote electronic devices130through a transceiver132. The network may be one or more of various wired or wireless communication mechanisms, including any combination of wired (e.g., cable and fiber) and/or wireless (e.g., cellular, wireless, satellite, microwave, and radio frequency) communication mechanisms and any desired network topology (or topologies when multiple communication mechanisms are utilized). Exemplary wireless communication networks include a wireless transceiver (e.g., a BLUETOOTH module, a ZIGBEE transceiver, a Wi-Fi transceiver, an IrDA transceiver, an RFID transceiver, etc.), local area networks (LAN), and/or wide area networks (WAN), including the Internet, providing data communication services.

The electronic device130may also include a display for displaying information to a user. For instance, the electronic device130may display one or more user interfaces and may be capable of receiving remote user inputs to set a predefined threshold for any of the application variables and/or to input any other information, such as the agricultural product38to be used in a spray operation. In addition, the electronic device130may provide feedback information, such as visual, audible, and tactile alerts, and/or allow the user to alter or adjust one or more components of the vehicle10or the boom assembly42(FIG.1) through the usage of the remote electronic device130. It will be appreciated that the electronic device130may be any one of a variety of computing devices and may include a processor and memory. For example, the electronic device130may be a cell phone, mobile communication device, key fob, wearable device (e.g., fitness band, watch, glasses, jewelry, wallet), apparel (e.g., a tee shirt, gloves, shoes, or other accessories), personal digital assistant, headphones and/or other devices that include capabilities for wireless communications and/or any wired communications protocols.

Although the various control functions and/or actions are generally described herein as being executed by the computing system102, one or more of such control functions/actions (or portions thereof) may be executed by a separate computing system102or may be distributed across two or more computing systems (including, for example, the computing system102and a separate computing system). For instance, in some embodiments, the computing system102may be configured to acquire data from the sensing system60for subsequent processing and/or analysis by a separate computing system (e.g., a computing system associated with a remote server). In other embodiments, the computing system102may be configured to execute the data analysis module120, while a separate computing system (e.g., a vehicle computing system associated with the agricultural work vehicle10) may be configured to execute the control module122to control the operation of the agricultural work vehicle10based on data and/or instructions transmitted from the computing system102that are associated with the monitored objects and/or field conditions. Likewise, in some embodiments, the computing system102may be configured to acquire data from the sensing system60for subsequent processing and/or analysis by a separate computing system (e.g., a computing system associated with a remote server). In other embodiments, the computing system102may be configured to execute the data analysis module120to determine a pressure drop within the product application system44, while a separate computing system (e.g., a vehicle computing system associated with the agricultural work vehicle10) may be configured to execute the control module122to control the operation of the agricultural work vehicle10based on data and/or instructions transmitted from the computing system102that are associated with the detection of the pressure drops within the product application system44.

Referring now toFIG.5, a flow diagram of some embodiments of a method200for an agricultural application operation is illustrated in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter. In general, the method200will be described herein with reference to the work vehicle10and the system100described above with reference toFIGS.1-4. However, the disclosed method200may generally be utilized with any suitable agricultural work vehicle10and/or may be utilized in connection with a system having any other suitable system configuration. In addition, althoughFIG.5depicts steps performed in a particular order for purposes of illustration and discussion, the methods discussed herein are not limited to any particular order or arrangement. One skilled in the art, using the disclosures provided herein, will appreciate that various steps of the methods disclosed herein can be omitted, rearranged, combined, and/or adapted in various ways without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG.5, at (202), the method200can include exhausting an agricultural product through nozzle assembly of a product application system onto an underlying field (e.g., plants and/or soil).

At (204), the method200can include calculating a spray quality index with a computing system. During a spray operation, various spray quality parameters may affect a spray quality of application of the agricultural product to the field, which can be computed into a spray quality index in which the spray quality index represents a metric indicative of a spray operation coverage of a portion of a field. In some instances, the spray quality index may be used to determine whether the agricultural product was applied to various portions of the field within a defined range and/or misapplied to various portions of the field by deviating from the defined range. At (206), the method200can include comparing the calculated spray quality index to a defined range with the computing system.

At (208), the method200can include receiving data indicative of a flow condition within the product application system through a sensing system. In various examples, the flow conditions can include at least one of a pressure and/or a velocity of the agricultural product within the product application system. At (210), the method200can include detecting a presence of one or more pressure drops within the product application system with the computing system.

At (212), the method200can include generating an output based at least in part on the spray quality index and the presence of one or more pressure drops within the product application system with the computing system. In some examples, generating the output can include altering a component of the product application system when the spray quality index deviates from the defined range and one or more pressure drops are detected. In various examples, the component may be a pump, a control valve, a control manifold, and/or any other component within the product application system. In some instances, altering a component of the product application system can include increasing an outlet pressure of the agricultural product from a pump of the product application system. Additionally or alternatively, generating the output can include displaying a notification on a display when the spray quality index is within the defined range and one or more pressure drops are detected.

At step (214), the method200can include receiving location data associated with the spray quality index and the presence of one or more pressure drops within the product application system. At step (216), the method200can include receiving location data associated with the boom assembly correlating the location data to the one or more application variables to generate or update a field map associated with the field.

In various examples, the method200may implement machine learning methods and algorithms that utilize one or several vehicle learning techniques including, for example, decision tree learning, including, for example, random forest or conditional inference trees methods, neural networks, support vector machines, clustering, and Bayesian networks. These algorithms can include computer-executable code that can be retrieved by the computing system and/or through a network/cloud and may be used to evaluate and update the boom deflection model. In some instances, the vehicle learning engine may allow for changes to the boom deflection model to be performed without human intervention.

It is to be understood that the steps of any method disclosed herein may be performed by a computing system upon loading and executing software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer-readable medium, such as on a magnetic medium, e.g., a computer hard drive, an optical medium, e.g., an optical disc, solid-state memory, e.g., flash memory, or other storage media known in the art. Thus, any of the functionality performed by the computing system described herein, such as any of the disclosed methods, may be implemented in software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer-readable medium. The computing system loads the software code or instructions via a direct interface with the computer-readable medium or via a wired and/or wireless network. Upon loading and executing such software code or instructions by the controller, the computing system may perform any of the functionality of the computing system described herein, including any steps of the disclosed methods.