Equipment architecture for high definition data

Sensor information is received from a set of sensors. First and second sets of machine monitoring data are generated from the sensor information. The first set of machine monitoring data is sent to a control system with a display in an operator compartment of a mobile machine. The second set of machine monitoring data is sent to a processing system that is separate from the control system.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to equipment. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to obtaining high resolution sensor data indicative of sensed parameters.

BACKGROUND

There are many different types of equipment. Some such equipment includes agricultural equipment, such as planters, sprayers, combines, tractors, among many others. Other equipment includes construction equipment, forestry equipment, turf equipment, power system equipment, among others. Many such pieces of equipment have sensors that sense parameters and provide an output indicative of the sensed parameters. The output from the signals is often provided over a controller area network (CAN) communication bus. The sensor signals are often provided, over the communication bus, to a main control system that performs certain actions based upon the sensor signals.

For instance, the main control system can generate a user interface output (e.g., a display) such as in the operator compartment of an agricultural or other mobile machine that displays visual indicia representative of the sensor signals. It can also generate map displays that indicate how the sensor signals varied over the site (such as a field, construction site, stand of trees, etc.) that the equipment is traveling over. It can also, for example, allow the user to adjust control inputs, or other operator inputs, based upon the displayed information.

SUMMARY

Sensor information is received from a set of sensors. First and second sets of machine data are generated from the sensor information. The first set of machine data is sent to a control system with a display in an operator compartment of a mobile machine. The second set of machine data is sent to a processing system that is separate from the control system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a block diagram of one embodiment of a mobile machine signal processing architecture100. Architecture100is first described in the context of an agricultural mobile machine, but it will be appreciated that it can be used in other environments as well, such as on construction equipment, forestry and turf equipment, and on other equipment.

Architecture100illustratively includes a plurality of different agricultural sensors102-104that can sense any of a wide variety of different sensed parameters on the agricultural machine on which architecture100is deployed.FIG. 1also shows that architecture100illustratively includes a low resolution processing system106and a high resolution processing system108that, itself, is shown having access to a high resolution data store110.

In one embodiment discussed below with respect toFIGS. 3C and 3D, systems106and108can be integrated into a single system, or high resolution processing system108can be used without a low resolution processing system106. However for the sake of example,FIGS. 1-3Bwill first be described for an embodiment in which systems106and108are separate systems.

Low resolution processing system106, illustratively includes a processor112, cellular communication component (or other network communication component)115and it can also include one or more other components114. High resolution processing system108illustratively includes a cellular communication component (or other network communication component)116, which can be the same as component115or different. System108also includes a processor or server118, and it can include one or more other components120as well. Data store110includes high resolution data122and it can include other data124as well.

InFIG. 1, architecture100shows that low resolution processing system106is illustratively coupled to a main control system126and provides low resolution data180over a communication bus (such as a controller area network-CAN-bus)128. Main control system126illustratively generates a user interface display130for display and manipulation by user132. User132can also provide other inputs to main control system126, in order to control the agricultural machine or machines on which architecture100is deployed. This is indicated by arrow134.FIG. 1shows that, in one embodiment, cellular communication component115or main control system126(or another item) can provide low resolution data180to an on-line analysis system142or storage144in cloud146using a cellular network148or other network150.

FIG. 1also shows that high resolution processing system108is illustratively coupled to a high resolution display system136, over a high bandwidth transmission link138. System136generates a user interface display of high resolution data. System136can be part of system126, or separate therefrom. Systems126and136are shown as separate for the sake of example only.

High resolution display system136receives high resolution data from system108, over link138, and generates a user interface display140for displaying the high resolution data to user132. In one embodiment, high bandwidth transmission link138can be comprised of an Ethernet connection, another high bandwidth wired connection or a high bandwidth wireless connection, some examples of which are described in greater detail below.

FIG. 1also shows that, in one embodiment, the high resolution data122(and other data) can be provided to on-line analysis system142where it can be stored in data store144, for further analysis. In architecture100, and as mentioned above, system142and data store144can be disposed in a cloud computing architecture, such as in cloud146. The cloud computing architecture is described in greater detail below. Thus, high resolution processing system108can provide the high resolution data to on-line analysis system142using cellular communication component116and cellular network148. This can also be done using another network150. Alternatively, or in addition, high resolution display system136can also provide the high resolution data to on-line analysis system142over cellular network148or over other network150.

Before providing a more detailed description of one implementation of architecture100, an overview of the operation of architecture100, shown inFIG. 1, will first be described. Agricultural sensors102-104can be any of a wide variety of different types of agricultural sensors that sense agricultural parameters on a piece of agricultural equipment. For instance, they can illustratively sense row-by-row seed placement and spacing, population, down force, skips, multiples, vacuum levels, etc. on a planter. Also, while sensors102-104are described as sensing items on, or characteristics of, a machine, they can sense other things as well, such as the performance or characteristics of plants, soil, pests, weeds, or a wide variety of other things that are not characteristics of the machine. They can also illustratively sense sectional ride quality, sectional down force and sectional hydraulic drives or seed meters, etc., on a planter. Additionally, they can sense such things as air temperature, soil temperature, soil moisture or other things. Of course, these are examples only, and a wide variety of other sensors can be used as well.

Low resolution processing system106illustratively samples the data on the sensor signals generated by sensors102-104at a first, relatively low resolution, sampling rate. High resolution processing system108, on the other hand, illustratively samples the data on the sensor signals at a relatively high sampling rate, that is high relative to the sampling rate of low resolution processing system106. By way of example only, it may be that low resolution processing system106samples the sensor data once per second. In that case, high resolution processing system108may sample the sensor data more than once per second, such as five times per second or more. In addition, low resolution processing system106may sample only a subset of the sensor signals. High resolution processing system108, on the other hand, may sample all of the sensor signals. By way of example, it may be that low resolution processing system106only samples signals generated by a section unit, while high resolution processing system108performs row-by-row sensor sampling. Therefore, in one embodiment, high resolution processing system108is not only capable of a higher sampling rate than low resolution processing system106, but it is also capable of sampling more sensor signals, more frequently, than low resolution processing system106. Both systems106and108can illustratively perform signal conditioning on the sampled signals. For instance, the signals can be filtered, linearized, compensated, or otherwise conditioned. This can be done, if desired, by other components or systems as well.

The data generated by low resolution processing system106, based upon the signals from sensors102-104, is a first set of machine monitoring data and is referred to hereafter as low resolution data. It is illustratively provided over CAN bus128to main control system126. The data generated by high resolution processing system108is a second set of machine monitoring data and is referred to hereafter as high resolution data. It is illustratively provided over high bandwidth link138. High bandwidth link138transmits data at a higher bandwidth than CAN bus128. In one embodiment, high resolution processing system108also stores the high resolution data122in high resolution data store110. Therefore, if the high bandwidth link138is ever disrupted, high resolution processing system108simply stops transmitting the high resolution data to high resolution display system136until link138is reestablished. At that point, system108illustratively retrieves the high resolution data122that it has stored in data store110since link138was disrupted, and again begins transmitting the high resolution data over link138. Also, if link138is sufficiently robust, then data store110can be a relatively small buffer memory or eliminated altogether.

Also, in one embodiment, high resolution processing system108illustratively includes the cellular communication component116that communicates over cellular network148(or another communication component that can communicate over network150). In that embodiment, system108intermittently transmits the high resolution data122to on-line analysis system142in cloud146. This can be done, for instance, every 30 seconds, every minute, or in longer or shorter intervals. These intervals are provided for the sake of example only.

Main control system126illustratively includes a computer processor that can be used to generate user interface display130that is indicative of the low resolution data, and that can be used to receive user inputs from user132in order to generate control data that is passed back through CAN bus128to control various controllable components113of the agricultural machine. System126can also send the low resolution data to on-line analysis system142in cloud146. Therefore, even if high bandwidth link138is disrupted, the data indicative of the low resolution sensor signals, and the control data, can still be transmitted back and forth using CAN bus128, and it can still be displayed to user132on user interface display130, so that user132can continue to operate the machine.

High resolution display system136illustratively generates a high resolution display on user interface display140, for user132. The high resolution display may, for instance, include a much more fine grained display of the information indicative of the sensed parameters. This allows user132to obtain a more detailed view of the sensed operation of the agricultural machine. This can allow the user to make more efficient and finely tuned adjustments to the operation of the agricultural machine. Similarly, in one embodiment, high resolution display system136, itself, includes components for communicating either over cellular network148or other network150. Thus, where high resolution processing system108does not transmit the high resolution data to the on-line analysis system142, high resolution display system136can transmit the data to system142. It will be appreciated that both systems108and136can have the components for transmitting the high resolution data to system142, or those components can reside on either system108or system136. On-line analysis system142is illustratively accessible by user132, or other users (such as farm managers, or employees at other companies, such as seed companies, fertilizer companies, agronomists, etc.). On-line analysis system142can perform analysis on the high and low resolution data and store the results of that analysis in data store144, where it can be accessed by one or more of the other users. Some examples of this are described in greater detail below.

Architecture100can be used in a wide variety of different ways. In one example, the first set of data may be used for operating the machine or to assist the operator in operating the machine. The second set of data may be data that is not used for the operation of the machine, but may be of interest later (such as air temperature, soil temperature, etc.). In another example, the high resolution data (or a subset of it) may be used in operating the machine and may be sent to the user interface device (e.g., the display) in the operator's compartment, regardless of its resolution. These are only two examples and others can be used as well.

FIGS. 2A and 2B(collectivelyFIG. 2) show a more detailed block diagram in which the agricultural machine signal processing architecture100is deployed on an agricultural planting machine160, that is pulled by a tractor162. A number of the items shown inFIG. 2are similar to those shown inFIG. 1, and are similarly numbered. It will, of course, be appreciated that the specific embodiment described with respect toFIG. 2is exemplary only, and architecture100can be deployed on a wide variety of other agricultural machines as well.

FIG. 2shows that, in one embodiment, architecture100not only includes a first set of agricultural sensors102-104(which are comprised of row-level agricultural sensors on planter160), but they also include a second set of row-level agricultural sensors164-166. By way of example, planter160may have two separate sensing networks168and170disposed thereon. Network168may receive sensor signals from sensors102-104which reside on a first side of the planter, while network170receives sensor signals from sensors164-166, which reside on a second side of the planter. This architecture, of course, is exemplary only.

In any case, the sensor signals from the multiple networks168and170are illustratively provided to a data aggregator172that aggregates the sensor signals into an aggregated set of sensor signals that are provided to low and high resolution processing systems106and108, respectively. Data aggregator172can include a low resolution data aggregator component that aggregates data for system106and a high resolution data aggregator component that aggregates data for system108, or the two aggregators can be combined. High resolution processing system108illustratively processes the received sensor signals into high resolution data122, that comprises row-level data sampled at a high sampling rate. It can of course include other data124as well. It provides the high resolution data122over high bandwidth link138to high resolution display system136that is illustratively deployed on tractor162. Also, low resolution processing system106generates low resolution data180and provides low resolution data180(which can include control data183and low resolution sensor display data185) over CAN bus128to main control system126.

FIG. 2shows some additional details, as well. For instance,FIG. 2shows that high resolution display system136on tractor162illustratively includes a processor or server182, a cellular communication component184, a user interface component186that is used to generate user interface display140, and it can include other components188as well.FIG. 2also shows that one or more users190can illustratively access the high resolution data122through on-line analysis system142in cloud146, or in other ways.

FIGS. 3A and 3B(collectivelyFIG. 3) show a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of the overall operation of architecture100, deployed on planter160and tractor162.FIGS. 2 and 3will now be described in conjunction with one another. As the user operates tractor162and planter160, both the low resolution processing system106and high resolution processing system108receive the agricultural sensor signals from sensors102-104and164-166. This is indicated by block200inFIG. 3. Of course, this can be from the sensors directly, as indicated by block202, or from data aggregator172that aggregates the sensing signals from multiple networks168-170. This is indicated by block204inFIG. 3. It will also be noted that, in an alternate embodiment, high resolution processing system108does not use the already-existing agricultural sensors. Instead, it has its own, separate set of sensors for providing the high resolution sensor data. This is indicated by block206inFIG. 3. In another embodiment, only one set of sensors is used for both systems. Systems106and108can receive the sensor signals in other ways as well, and this is indicated by block208.

Once the sensor signals are received by systems106and108, processing illustratively occurs along two parallel paths (although it can be sequential as well). The processing of the low resolution data is indicated on the left hand side ofFIG. 3, while the processing of the high resolution data is shown on the right hand side ofFIG. 3. The low resolution processing will be described first.

Low resolution processing system106illustratively performs low resolution processing on the received sensor signals. This is indicated by block210inFIG. 3. This can include, for instance, sampling at a first sampling rate as indicated by block212, performing conditioning (such as filtering) or other derivation operations to derive low resolution data from the sensor signals, as indicated by block214. It can also perform other low resolution processing, as indicated by block216. In any case, low resolution processing system106generates the low resolution data180. This is indicated by block218inFIG. 3.

The low resolution data can include a wide variety of different types of data. For instance, it can include control data183that is used by main control system126in order to control various controllable components13or operations of planter160or tractor162, or both. This is indicated by block220inFIG. 3. It can include the low resolution sensor display data185that is displayed by main control system126on user interface display130so that user132can provide user inputs to perform control operations to control planter160or tractor162, or both. This is indicated by block222inFIG. 3. The low resolution data can include other items of data as well, and this is indicated by block224.

Low resolution processing system106then transmits the low resolution data180to main control system126. This is indicated by block226inFIG. 3. As shown inFIG. 2, the main control system126can reside on a different machine (such as the tractor162) from where the low resolution data was generated (such as the planter160). This is indicated by block228inFIG. 3. It can be sent over a CAN bus as indicated by block230, or it can be sent in other ways, as indicated by block232.

Before continuing with the description of processing the low resolution data, the processing of high resolution data will first be described. After the sensor signal inputs are received at high resolution processing system108(either from the sensors themselves or from a data aggregator172or otherwise) system108performs high resolution processing on the received signals. This is indicated by block236inFIG. 3. This illustratively includes sampling the data in the signals at a relatively high rate (at a higher rate than the signals are sampled in the low resolution processing channel). Sampling is indicated by block238inFIG. 3.

The data is then illustratively conditioned, such as by performing filtering, linearization, compensation, or other operations. Deriving the high resolution data is indicated by block240inFIG. 3. High resolution processing system108can perform other processing steps as well, and this is indicated by block242.

After system108generates the high resolution data, system108stores the high resolution data in high resolution data store110. This is indicated by block244inFIG. 3.

Once the data is stored in high resolution data store110(or while it is being stored) high resolution processing system108illustratively determines whether high bandwidth link138is available for transmitting data. This is indicated by block246inFIG. 3. If not, system108simply continues to process the received sensor signals to obtain additional high resolution data, which is stored in data store110. However, if, at block246, it is determined that high bandwidth transmission link138is available, then system108sends the high resolution data to high resolution display system136on tractor162. This is indicated by block248inFIG. 3. Again, the high resolution data can be sent over substantially any high bandwidth transmission link138. This can include an Ethernet link as indicated by block250. It can include a high bandwidth wireless link as indicated by block252, a high bandwidth near field communication link, or it can include other high bandwidth links as indicated by block254inFIG. 3.

High resolution display system136can be substantially any system that can receive data over high bandwidth link138and display it on a user interface display. In one embodiment, for instance, high resolution display system136illustratively includes a processor or server182that receives and stores the high resolution data. High resolution display system136can illustratively be a tablet computer that is either mounted in the operator's compartment of tractor162, or otherwise carried and accessible by user132. In that case, the processor or server182is the processor in the tablet computer and controls user interface component186to generate user interface display140, including high resolution data122, on the display device of the tablet computer.

Also, while high resolution display system136is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2as being a separate system from main control system126and user interface display130, that need not be the case. Instead, the high and low resolution displays can be integrated so they are shown on the same display device. Also, the two different displays can be generated for two different displays devices, but they can be generated by the same system. Systems126and136can be integrated in other ways as well.

In another embodiment, high resolution display system136can include a separate processor or server that is mounted within tractor162. It can have its own user interface display device for displaying user interface display140. Alternatively, or in addition, system136can include not only the separate processor or server mounted within tractor162, but it can include a data link connection (such as a USB connection) that user132can use to plug in a mobile device (such as a tablet computer or smart phone). It will thus be appreciated that high resolution display system136can take a wide variety of different forms. It can be a self-contained unit within the operator compartment of tractor162, it can be integrated with system126and display130, it can be a processor or server in the operator compartment of tractor162that can be connected to a user's mobile device, it can have its own display device for displaying the user interface displays, or it can generate information to support those displays on the display screen of the user's mobile device, or it can be configured in other ways as well. In any case, displaying the high resolution data for user viewing is indicated by block256in the flow diagram ofFIG. 3.

At some point in the processing of the data, it is determined whether the data (either the high or low resolution data, or both) is to be transmitted to a remote system (such as the cloud-based on-line analysis system142in cloud146). This is indicated by block258inFIG. 3. If it is to be transmitted to system142, then the data is transmitted to the remote system142, as indicated by block260. As briefly described above with respect toFIG. 1, the data can illustratively be transmitted from high resolution processing system108or low resolution processing system106(or both) on planter160, as indicated by block262inFIG. 3. It can also illustratively be transmitted to the remote system142by high resolution display system136or main control system126on tractor162, or both. This is indicated by block264inFIG. 3. It can be transmitted from other locations within architecture100, or in other ways as well, and this is indicated by block266.

By way of one example, it may be that the data is stored on a user's mobile device from system136in tractor162. The user can then take the data to another location (such as to the user's home or office computer) and download the data onto a desktop or transmit it to a remote server.

In any case, and in one embodiment, regardless of whether it is transmitted to a remote system, analysis is illustratively performed on the data. This is indicated by block268inFIG. 3. For instance, it can be performed locally on any of the embodiments of main control system126or high resolution display system136, or it can be performed using low resolution processing system106or high resolution processing system108. Alternatively, it can be performed by a remote system such as on-line analysis system142or another remote system. Performing local or remote analysis on the data is indicated by block270in the flow diagram ofFIG. 3.

The analysis can also take a wide variety of different forms. For instance, the analysis can include generating high resolution maps using geographical information that is received by another system in architecture100. Architecture100may, by way of example, include a global positioning system (GPS) that geographically tags the high resolution data to indicate the geographic location where it was obtained by the agricultural sensors. Generating high resolution maps using the high resolution data and corresponding geographical information is indicated by block272inFIG. 3. Of course, the analysis can include a wide variety of other analysis steps as well, and this is indicated by block274.

Once the high resolution data is analyzed, it can be saved or output for later use. This is indicated by block276inFIG. 3. For instance, it can be output to other processing systems that use the information to perform further analysis (such as to correlate it to yield data, weather conditions, planting data such as fertilizer rates, hybrid data, soil type data, or other information). These are only examples of additional processing systems. Outputting the information to other processing systems is indicated by block278inFIG. 3.

It can also be used to generate a wide variety of different types of reports. This is indicated by block280. It can be stored and output for later display by one or more users, as indicated by block282, or it can be output for other reasons as well, as indicated by block284.

Processing then proceeds to block285where low resolution processing system106processes any data received back from main control system126. For instance, where user132provides control inputs to main control system126, system126may provide control signals back through CAN bus128to low resolution processing system106where they are used to control various functions or mechanisms on planter160. The control signals can be automatically generated by system126as well.

It can thus be seen that, in one embodiment, the various sensor signals or other information that may be used by user132in order to perform control operations for controlling tractor162and planter160can illustratively be provided over bus128. The high resolution data122, on the other hand, may not be needed by user132in order to perform control operations. It can illustratively be provided over a high bandwidth link138to high resolution display system136, a remote analysis system142, or to both. In this way, even if the high bandwidth link138is interrupted, operator132still has access to (and can input) the various low resolution data that is used to perform control operations for tractor162and planter160. However, because the high resolution data is not lost when link138is interrupted (that is, it is stored in high resolution data store110on planter160) it can be transmitted later to display system136or remote analysis system142, or both. Therefore, the operator132is not interrupted in operating tractor162and planter160, even if the high resolution data is temporarily unavailable (such as because link138is interrupted or otherwise).

FIG. 3Cshows another embodiment of an architecture300on agricultural planting machine160. Some items are similar to those shown in architecture100described above with respect toFIGS. 1-3B, and similar items are similarly numbered. Also, as with architecture100, architecture300can be implemented on any agricultural machine, and the planting machine160is described for the sake of example only.FIG. 3Cshows that, in one embodiment, high resolution processing system108can also be coupled to controllable elements113. Therefore, high resolution data122can include high resolution sensor display data302for generating a high resolution display and for high resolution mapping and the other things mentioned above. High resolution data304can also include control data304. Control data304can be generated by main control system126on tractor162, or by high resolution processing system108, itself, or by another system, based on the sensor signals. It can be transmitted between tractor162and planter160over high bandwidth transmission link138.

Control data304can be used to control controllable components113on planting machine160, or items on tractor162, or other items. It can be high resolution control data that provides control signals to control items more quickly or at a higher frequency than low resolution control data183. For instance, it can respond to changes in the sensor signals more quickly and spawn more fine grained control signals than the low resolution control data183.

In another embodiment, high resolution control data304can generate more control signals for controlling controllable components113in smaller units than low resolution control data183. It may be, for instance, that high resolution control data304can be used to control the controllable components113individually, instead of in groups. By way of example, it can control individual row units on planter160, independently of one another, instead of section units.

In another embodiment, control data304can include both high and low resolution components. The low resolution control data can be used to perform some, more gross, control operations while the high resolution control data can be used to perform other, finer, operations. In yet another embodiment, control data304can include only low resolution control data. In that case, the low resolution control data can be transmitted using the high bandwidth transmission link138.

FIG. 3Dshows yet another embodiment of an architecture310disposed on agricultural machine160. Some items are similar to those shown in architecture100described above with respect toFIGS. 1-3B, and similar items are similarly numbered. Also, as with architecture100, architecture300can be implemented on any agricultural machine, and the machine160is described for the sake of example only.

FIG. 3Dshows that, instead of having two separate high and low resolution processing systems106and108, there may be only a single data processing system312. In one embodiment, system312combines both the high and low resolution data processing performed by systems106and108, as described above, into a single, integrated system. Thus, data314(control data316and sensor display data318) can include all of the high and low resolution data described above, but it is generated and transmitted using the single, integrated processing system312. In such an embodiment, transmission link320can be the high bandwidth transmission link138and CAN bus128, or only high bandwidth transmission link138, that is used to transmit both the high and low resolution components of data314.

In another embodiment, data processing system312is only a high resolution processing system that combines both the display and control functionality. For instance, the sensor display data and the control data can all be high resolution data.

In yet another embodiment, system312can be a variable resolution processing system. In such an embodiment, system312processes data at a high resolution, where the data is available at that resolution. It processes data at a lower resolution, where the data is only available at the lower resolution.

Also, with a relatively robust high bandwidth transmission link138, the data store110on planter160can be eliminated or reduced in size to a relatively small buffer memory. All of these architectures are contemplated herein.

It will also be appreciated that architectures100,300and310can be deployed on other systems. For instance, where the agricultural machine is a sprayer, agricultural sensors102-104(or additional sensors) may sense or otherwise measure the nozzle-specific delivery rate (e.g., spray pressure and flow rate) of a sprayed chemical. They can sense operation performance of liquid hydraulic pumps. They may measure other things as well, such as the height of the individual nozzles above the crop or terrain, such as height or change in position of a boom that supports the spray nozzles or other parameters. When high resolution processing system108is provided, the sensors can provide relatively high resolution data for individual nozzles, at a relatively high sampling rate, in order to obtain discrete nozzle-level control and data collection. Further, plant size and location can be sensed, such as by using cameras, and nozzle spray uniformity can be sensed and controlled. Also, weather conditions can be sensed using an on-board weather station with appropriate sensors. This is but one example of another implementation of architecture100. Others can be used as well.

Where the agricultural machine is a harvester (such as a combine or other harvester), the system can monitor or sense plant spacing, header impacts with the ground or rocks (e.g., using vibration or acoustic sensors and flexible draper header angle) and performance parameters. For instance, control system response time can be sensed. Further, power consumption and efficiency data can be sensed. Also, operational characteristics of the head, and individual components of the head, can be sensed or controlled.

Where the agricultural machine is a tillage or fertilizer machine, a variety of other things can be sensed as well. For instance, residue distribution before and after tillage can be sensed. Tillage depth can be sensed and correlated to the farmer's ability to follow land contour. Soil distribution after tillage can be sensed. Tillage implement actuator (e.g., cylinder) pressures can be sensed or controlled. Also, performance and health information can be sensed, such as hydraulic pump or electric drive power consumed or output to drive various members, such as stalk choppers, rotary tillers, etc.

Where the mobile machine is a grader, various things can be sensed to obtain high resolution grade control. Where the mobile machine is a tree harvester, the sensors can sense tree stem characteristics in cut-to-length forestry operations.

These are examples only. The present discussion applies to other environments and mobile machines as well.

The present discussion has also mentioned remote server (or cloud) computing. Remote server computing provides computation, software, data access, and storage services that do not require end-user knowledge of the physical location or configuration of the system that delivers the services. In various embodiments, remote server computing delivers the services over a wide area network, such as the internet, using appropriate protocols. For instance, remote server computing providers deliver applications over a wide area network and they can be accessed through a web browser or any other computing component. Software or components of architecture100as well as the corresponding data, can be stored on servers at a remote location. The computing resources in a remote server computing environment can be consolidated at a remote data center location or they can be dispersed. Remote server computing infrastructures can deliver services through shared data centers, even though they appear as a single point of access for the user. Thus, the components and functions described herein can be provided from a service provider at a remote location using a remote server computing architecture. Alternatively, they can be provided from a conventional server, or they can be installed on client devices directly, or in other ways.

The description is intended to include both public remote server computing and private remote server computing. Remote server computing (both public and private) provides substantially seamless pooling of resources, as well as a reduced need to manage and configure underlying hardware infrastructure.

A public remote server environment is managed by a vendor and may support multiple consumers using the same infrastructure. A private remote server may be managed by the organization itself and the infrastructure is typically not shared with other organizations. The organization still maintains the hardware to some extent, such as installations and repairs, etc.

It will also be noted that architecture100, or portions of it, can be disposed on a wide variety of different devices. Some of those devices include servers, desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, or other mobile devices, handheld such as computers, cell phones, smart phones, multimedia players, personal digital assistants, etc.

FIG. 4is a simplified block diagram of one illustrative embodiment of a handheld or mobile computing device that can be used as a user's or client's hand held device16, in which the present system (or parts of it) can be deployed.FIGS. 5-8are examples of handheld or mobile devices. These devices can be embedded on the agricultural machine, or separate therefrom. They can also be disconnectably coupled thereto by the operator, or they can be separated and coupled to communicate with systems on the agricultural machine. Architecture100can also include security mechanisms, such as encryption algorithms, secure authentication systems, etc.

FIG. 4provides a general block diagram of the components of a client device16that can run components of architecture100or that interacts with architecture100, or both. In the device16, a communications link13is provided that allows the handheld device to communicate with other computing devices and under some embodiments provides a channel for receiving information automatically, such as by scanning Examples of communications link13include an infrared port, a serial/USB port, a cable network port such as an Ethernet port, and a wireless network port allowing communication though one or more communication protocols including General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), LTE, HSPA, HSPA+ and other 3G and 4G radio protocols, 1Xrtt, and Short Message Service, which are wireless services used to provide cellular access to a network, as well as 802.11 and 802.11 a/b/g/n (Wi-Fi) protocols and other variations, as well as, Bluetooth and similar protocols, which provide local wireless connections to networks.

Under other embodiments, applications or systems are received on a removable Secure Digital (SD) card that is connected to a SD card interface15or on other removable media. SD card interface15and communication links13communicate with a processor17(which can also embody one or more of the processors fromFIGS. 1 and 2) along a bus19that is also connected to memory21and input/output (I/O) components23, as well as clock25and location system27.

I/O components23, in one embodiment, are provided to facilitate input and output operations. I/O components23for various embodiments of the device16can include input components such as buttons, touch sensors, multi-touch sensors, optical or video sensors, (such as a camera or other image capturing mechanism, a bar code scanner, etc.) voice sensors, touch screens, proximity sensors, microphones, tilt sensors, and accelerometers and output components such as a display device, a speaker, and or a printer port. Device16can use near field communication or other communication to connect to other I/O devices (such as a keyboard, mouse, etc.) Other I/O components23can be used as well.

Location system27illustratively includes a component that outputs a current geographical location of device16. This can include, for instance, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) (such as a global positioning system (GPS) or GLONASS) receiver, a LORAN system, a dead reckoning system, a compass, a cellular triangulation system, or other positioning system. It can also include, for example, mapping software or navigation software that generates desired maps, navigation routes and other geographic functions.

FIGS. 6 and 7provide additional examples of devices16that can be used, although others can be used as well. InFIG. 6, a feature phone, smart phone or mobile phone45is provided as the device16. Phone45includes a set of keypads47for dialing phone numbers and data entry, a display49capable of displaying images including application images, icons, web pages, photographs, and video, and control buttons51for selecting items shown on the display. The phone includes an antenna53for receiving cellular phone signals such as General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and 1Xrtt, and Short Message Service (SMS) signals. In some embodiments, phone45also includes a Secure Digital (SD) card slot55that accepts a SD card57.

The mobile device ofFIG. 7is a personal digital assistant (PDA)59or a multimedia player or a tablet computing device, etc. (hereinafter referred to as PDA59). PDA59includes an inductive (or resistive or capacitive) screen61that senses the position of a stylus63(or other pointers, such as a user's finger) when the stylus is positioned over the screen. This allows the user to select, highlight, and move items on the screen as well as draw and write. PDA59also includes a number of user input keys or buttons (such as button65) which allow the user to scroll through menu options or other display options which are displayed on display61, and allow the user to change applications or select user input functions, without contacting display61. Although not shown, PDA59can include an internal antenna and an infrared transmitter/receiver that allow for wireless communication with other computers as well as connection ports that allow for hardware connections to other computing devices. Such hardware connections are typically made through a cradle that connects to the other computer through a serial or USB port. As such, these connections are non-network connections. In one embodiment, mobile device59also includes a SD card slot67that accepts a SD card69.FIG. 8is similar toFIG. 6except that the phone is a smart phone71. Smart phone71has a touch sensitive display73that displays icons or tiles or other user input mechanisms75. Mechanisms75can be used by a user to run applications, make calls, perform data transfer operations, etc. In general, smart phone71is built on a mobile operating system and offers more advanced computing capability and connectivity than a feature phone.

Note that other forms of the devices16are possible.

FIG. 9is one embodiment of a computing environment in which architecture100, or parts of it, (for example) can be deployed. With reference toFIG. 9, an exemplary system for implementing some embodiments includes a general-purpose computing device in the form of a computer810. Components of computer810may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit820(which can comprise one or more processors shown inFIGS. 1 and 2), a system memory830, and a system bus821that couples various system components including the system memory to the processing unit820. The system bus821may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. Memory and programs described with respect toFIG. 1can be deployed in corresponding portions ofFIG. 9.

The computer810is operated in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer880. The remote computer880may be a personal computer, a hand-held device, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer810. The logical connections depicted inFIG. 9include a local area network (LAN)871and a wide area network (WAN)873, but may also include other networks.