Patent Description:
A harvester is an agricultural machine used to harvest and process crops. For example, a combine harvester may be used to harvest grain crops, such as wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn, soybeans, and flax or linseed. In general, the objective is to complete several processes, which traditionally were distinct, in one pass of the machine over a particular part of the field. In this regard, most harvesters are equipped with a harvesting implement, such as a header, which cuts and collects the crop from the field and feeds it to the base harvester for further processing. The harvester also includes a crop processing system, which performs various processing operations (e.g., threshing, separating, cleaning, etc.) of the harvested crop received from the harvesting implement.

Modern harvesters are generally able to accurately monitor various parameters associated with the crops being harvested. For example, modern harvesters can determine the yield of the field per unit area (e.g., per acre or hectare). However, such harvesters are unable to quantify the crop population or the number of crop plants within the field. The crop population at the time of harvest would be helpful in determining the effectiveness of the previous planting operation.

<CIT> describes an agricultural work machine, such as a self-propelled harvester. The agricultural work machine includes a sensor system for recording a crop flow in a crop gathering machine. The sensor system is coupled to an image processing system for transferring images. The image processing system processes a selection of available images, such as by pre-processing the images to be transferred in a first step, in a further step determining an optical flow and corresponding vector fields from the preprocessed images, and in a subsequent step deriving and assessing speed trends of the crop flow from the corresponding vector fields.

<CIT> describes a data processor configured to identify the component pixels of a harvestable plant component within an obtained image data of plant pixels of the one or more target plants. An edge, boundary or outline of the component pixels is determined. The data processor is configured to detect a size of the harvestable plant component based on the determined edge, boundary or outline of the identified component pixels, along with an adjustment based on analysis of any exposed portions of the harvestable plant component. A user interface is configured to provide a yield indicator based on the detected size of the harvestable plant component.

<CIT> describes a grain loss sensor array system provided for an agricultural harvester. At least one thermal sensing device is attached to a header of the agricultural harvester and captures infrared images or video of the ground. A controller detects pre-harvest loss and harvest loss using the infrared images or video by recognizing a temperature difference or a characteristic thermal difference between the pre-harvest loss, the harvest loss, and the ground.

Accordingly, a system and method for determining crop population within a field during a harvesting operation being performed by an agricultural harvester would be welcomed in the technology.

In one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to an agricultural harvester. The agricultural harvester includes a frame, a threshing and separating assembly supported on the frame, and a feeder adjustably coupled to the frame, with the feeder configured to convey harvested material from a harvesting implement to the threshing and separating assembly. Furthermore, the agricultural harvester includes an imaging device positioned within feeder, with the imaging device configured to generate image data depicting the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder during the harvesting operation. Additionally, the agricultural harvester includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the imaging device. In this respect, the computing system is configured to analyze the generated image data to identify crop ears present within the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder. Moreover, the computing system is configured to determine the crop population within at least a portion of the field based on the identified crop ears present within the harvested material. Additionally, the computing system is configured to access planting data indicative of a number of seeds planted within the at least the portion of the field, and to compare the crop population determined and the number of seeds planted to determine the difference therebetween.

In another aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a system for determining crop population within a field during a harvesting operation being performed by an agricultural harvester. The system includes a feeder configured to convey harvested material from a harvesting implement of the agricultural harvester to a threshing and separating assembly of the agricultural harvester. In addition, the system includes an imaging device configured to generate image data depicting the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder during the harvesting operation. Furthermore, the system includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the imaging device. As such, the computing system is configured to analyze the generated image data to identify crop ears present within the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder. Additionally, the computing system is configured to determine the crop population within at least a portion of the field based on the identified crop ears present within the harvested material. Additionally, the computing system is configured to access planting data indicative of a number of seeds planted within the at least the portion of the field, and to compare the crop population determined and the number of seeds planted to determine the difference therebetween.

In a further aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a method for determining crop population within a field during a harvesting operation being performed by an agricultural harvester. The agricultural harvester, in turn, includes a feeder configured to convey harvested material from a harvesting implement of the agricultural harvester to a threshing and separating assembly of the agricultural harvester. The method includes receiving, with a computing system, image data depicting the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder during the harvesting operation. Moreover, the method includes analyzing, with the computing system, the received image data to identify crop ears present within the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder. In addition, the method includes determining, with computing system, the crop population within at least a portion of the field based on the identified crop ears present within the harvested material. Additionally, the computing system is configured to access planting data indicative of a number of seeds planted within the at least the portion of the field, and to compare the crop population determined and the number of seeds planted to determine the difference therebetween. Furthermore, the method may include controlling, with computing system, a ground speed of the agricultural harvester based on the determined crop population.

For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment.

In general, the present subject matter is directed to a system and a method for determining crop population within a field during a harvesting operation being performed by an agricultural harvester. As will be described below, the agricultural harvester includes a feeder configured to convey harvested material from a harvesting implement of the harvester to a threshing and separating assembly of the harvester. Furthermore, the agricultural harvester includes an imaging device (e.g., a camera) configured to generate image data depicting the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder during the harvesting operation.

In several embodiments, a computing system of the disclosed system is configured to determine the crop population based on the image data generated by the imaging device. Specifically, the computing system is configured to analyze the image data to identify crop ears (e.g., corn ears) present within the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder. Moreover, the computing system is configured to determine the number of the identified crop ears, with this number corresponding to the crop population in some embodiments. Thereafter, in some embodiments, the computing system may control the ground speed of the agricultural harvester based on the determined crop population, e.g., to maintain harvesting efficiency.

Using the number of crop ears identified in image data depicting the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder provides an accurate determination the crop population of a field at the time of harvest without consuming significant computing resources. More specifically, determining the number of crop plants within a field based on counting the stalks entering the harvesting implement can be difficult. For example, it can be computationally difficult and expensive to identify individual stalks due to movement of the harvesting implement and the presence of leaves and debris. However, it is much less computationally intensive to identify the crop ears within the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder due to differences in the appearance of the crop ears and the remaining harvested material. Moreover, most individual crop plants (e.g., corn) produce only a single ear. Thus, by identifying and determining the number crop ears entering or being conveyed through the feeder, the crop population of the field can be accurately determined without consuming significant computing resources.

Referring now to the drawings, <FIG> illustrates a partial sectional side view of the agricultural harvester <NUM>. In general, the harvester <NUM> is configured to travel across a field in a forward direction of travel (indicated by arrow <NUM>) to harvest a standing crop <NUM> present within the field. While traversing the field, the harvester <NUM> is configured to process the harvested material and store the grain, seed, or the like within a crop tank <NUM> of the harvester <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the harvester <NUM> is configured as an axial-flow type combine in which the harvested crop material is threshed and separated while being advanced by and along a rotor <NUM> extending in an axial direction <NUM>. However, in alternative embodiments, the harvester <NUM> may have any other suitable harvester configuration, such as a traverse-flow type configuration in which the rotor extends in a lateral direction.

The harvester <NUM> may include a chassis or main frame <NUM> configured to support and/or couple to various components of the harvester <NUM>. For example, in several embodiments, the harvester <NUM> may include a pair of driven, front wheels <NUM> and a pair of steerable, rear wheels <NUM> coupled to the chassis <NUM>. As such, the wheels <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured to support the harvester <NUM> relative to the ground and move the harvester <NUM> in the forward direction of travel <NUM>. Furthermore, the harvester <NUM> may include an operator's platform <NUM> having an operator's cab <NUM>, a crop processing system <NUM>, the crop tank <NUM>, and a crop unloading tube <NUM> supported by the chassis <NUM>. As will be described below, the crop processing system <NUM> may be configured to perform various processing operations on the harvested material as the crop processing system <NUM> transfers the harvested material from a harvesting implement <NUM> (e.g., a header) of the harvester <NUM> and through the harvester <NUM>. Moreover, the harvester <NUM> may include an engine <NUM> and a transmission <NUM> mounted on the chassis <NUM>. The transmission <NUM> may be operably coupled to the engine <NUM> and may provide variably adjusted gear ratios for transferring engine power to the wheels <NUM> via a drive axle assembly (or via axles if multiple drive axles are employed).

Additionally, as shown in <FIG>, the harvester <NUM> includes a feeder <NUM> that couples to and supports the harvesting implement <NUM>. More specifically, the feeder <NUM> may include a feeder housing <NUM> extending from a forward end <NUM> to an aft end <NUM>. The forward end <NUM> of the feeder housing <NUM> may, in turn, be coupled to harvesting implement <NUM>. Moreover, the aft end <NUM> of the feeder housing <NUM> may be pivotably coupled to the chassis <NUM> adjacent to a threshing and separating assembly <NUM> of the crop processing system <NUM>. Such a pivotable coupling may permit movement of the harvesting implement <NUM> relative to the field surface in the vertical direction.

As the harvester <NUM> is propelled in the forward direction of travel <NUM> over the field with the standing crop <NUM>, the material is severed from the stubble by a cutter bar (not shown) positioned at the front of the harvesting implement <NUM>. The harvested material is delivered by a header conveyance device <NUM> (e.g., an auger, belt, chain, etc.) to the forward end <NUM> of the feeder housing <NUM>, which supplies the harvested crop material to the threshing and separating assembly <NUM>. In general, the threshing and separating assembly <NUM> may include a cylindrical chamber <NUM> in which the rotor <NUM> is rotated to thresh and separate the harvested material received therein. That is, the harvested material is rubbed and beaten between the rotor <NUM> and the inner surfaces of the chamber <NUM> to loosen and separate the grain, seed, or the like from the straw.

The material separated by the threshing and separating assembly <NUM> may fall onto a cleaning assembly <NUM> of the crop processing system <NUM>. As will be described below, the cleaning assembly <NUM> may include a series of oscillating components, such as one or more pans <NUM>, pre-sieves <NUM>, and/or sieves <NUM>, that are configured to oscillate relative to the frame <NUM>. As such, the separated material may be spread out via the oscillation of such components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the grain, seeds, or the like may eventually fall through apertures defined by the sieve(s) <NUM>. Additionally, a cleaning fan <NUM> may be positioned adjacent to one or more of the pre-sieve(s) <NUM> and the sieve(s) <NUM> to provide an air flow through that removes chaff and other impurities from the material present thereon. The impurities may be discharged from the harvester <NUM> through the outlet of a straw hood <NUM> positioned at the aft end of the harvester <NUM>. The cleaned harvested crop passing through the sieve(s) <NUM> may then fall into a trough of an auger <NUM>, which may transfer the harvested crop to an elevator <NUM> for delivery to the crop tank <NUM>.

The configuration of the agricultural harvester <NUM> described above and shown in <FIG> is provided only to place the present subject matter in an exemplary field of use. Thus, the present subject matter may be readily adaptable to any manner of agricultural harvester configuration.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-section view of the feeder <NUM>. Specifically, in several embodiments, the feeder <NUM> includes a conveyor <NUM> positioned within the feeder housing <NUM>. In this respect, the feeder housing <NUM> and the conveyor <NUM> define a feeder passage <NUM> therebetween that extends from the first end <NUM> (<FIG>) of the feeder <NUM> to the second end <NUM> (<FIG>) of the feeder <NUM>. As such, the conveyor <NUM> is configured to convey harvested material <NUM> received from the harvesting implement <NUM> (<FIG>) through the feeder passage <NUM> to the threshing and separating assembly <NUM> (<FIG>) as indicated by arrow <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in several embodiments, an imaging device <NUM> is positioned within the feeder <NUM>. Specifically, as shown, the imaging device <NUM> has a field of view (e.g., as indicated by dashed lines <NUM>) directed at the harvested material <NUM> being conveying through the feeder <NUM>. In this respect, the imaging devices <NUM> is configured to capture images or other image data depicting harvested material <NUM> being conveying through the feeder <NUM> during harvesting operations. As will be described below, a computing system is configured to analyze the captured images to identify the crop ears (e.g., corn ears) present within the harvested material. Thereafter, the computing system determines the crop population within the field based on the identified crop ears.

In general, the imaging device <NUM> may correspond to any suitable device(s) configured to capture images or other image data depicting the harvested material <NUM> being conveying through the feeder <NUM>, such as a camera. For example, in one embodiment, the imaging device <NUM> may correspond to a camera, such as a stereographic camera configured to capture three-dimensional images of the harvested material on the conveyor <NUM>. In other embodiments, the imaging device(s) <NUM> may correspond to a monocular camera(s) configured to capture two-dimensional images of the harvested material within its field of view.

In the illustrated embodiment, the imaging device <NUM> is mounted on an inner surface <NUM> of the feeder housing <NUM> such that the field of view <NUM> of the imaging device <NUM> is directed at a portion of the harvested material present on the conveyor <NUM>. However, in alternative embodiments, the imaging device <NUM> may be installed at any other suitable location that allows the imaging device <NUM> to capture image data depicting the harvested material being conveyed by the feeder <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in other embodiments, the imaging device <NUM> may be positioned on the harvesting implement <NUM>. More specifically, as shown, the harvesting implement <NUM> includes an implement frame <NUM> defining a feeder opening <NUM>. In this respect, the during harvesting operations, the material severed by the cutter bar (not shown) is gathered and conveyed to the feeder opening <NUM> by the header conveyance device <NUM>. The harvested material exits the harvesting implement <NUM> via the feeder opening and enters the first end <NUM> (<FIG>) of the feeder <NUM>. As such, in some embodiments, the imaging device <NUM> may be mounted on the implement frame <NUM> such that its field of view <NUM> is directed at the feeder opening <NUM>. Thus, the imaging devices <NUM> is configured to capture images or other image data depicting harvested material <NUM> entering the feeder <NUM> during harvesting operations.

However, in alternative embodiments, the imaging device <NUM> may be installed at any suitable location that allows the imaging device <NUM> to capture images depicting the harvested material <NUM> entering or being conveying through the feeder <NUM>.

Additionally, although the agricultural harvester <NUM> and the associated system and method disclosed herein are described in the context of a single imaging device <NUM>, any suitable number of imaging devices <NUM> may be installed on the harvester <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic view of one embodiment of a system <NUM> for determining crop population within a field during a harvesting operation being performed by an agricultural harvester is illustrated in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter. In general, the system <NUM> will be described herein with reference to the agricultural harvester <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. However, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the disclosed system <NUM> may generally be utilized with agricultural harvesters having any other suitable harvester configuration.

As shown in <FIG>, the system <NUM> includes a location sensor <NUM> may be provided in operative association with the agricultural harvester <NUM>. In general, the location sensor <NUM> may be configured to determine or otherwise capture location data indicative of the current location of the agricultural harvester <NUM> within the field using a satellite navigation positioning system (e.g., a GPS system, a Galileo positioning system, the Global Navigation satellite system (GLONASS), the BeiDou Satellite Navigation and Positioning system, and/or the like). In such an embodiment, the location determined by the location sensor <NUM> may be transmitted to a computing system of the agricultural harvester <NUM> (e.g., in the form coordinates) and stored within the computing system's memory for subsequent processing and/or analysis. For instance, the determined location from the location sensor <NUM> may be used to geo-locate the agricultural harvester <NUM> within the field.

In addition, the system <NUM> may include one or more braking actuators <NUM> of the agricultural harvester <NUM>. In general, when activated, the braking actuator(s) <NUM> may reduce the speed at which the agricultural harvester <NUM> moves across the field, such as by converting energy associated with the movement of the agricultural harvester <NUM> into heat. For example, in one embodiment, the braking actuator(s) <NUM> may correspond to a suitable hydraulic cylinder(s) configured to push a stationary frictional element(s) (not shown), such as a brake shoe(s) or a brake caliper(s), against a rotating element(s) (not shown), such as a brake drum(s) or a brake disc(s). However, in alternative embodiments, the agricultural harvester <NUM> may any other suitable hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, and/or electrical component(s) configured to convert the rotation of the rotating element(s) into heat.

Moreover, the system <NUM> includes a computing system <NUM> communicatively coupled to one or more components of the agricultural harvester <NUM> and/or the system <NUM> to allow the operation of such components to be electronically or automatically controlled by the computing system <NUM>. For instance, the computing system <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the imaging device <NUM> via a communicative link <NUM>. As such, the computing system <NUM> may be configured to receive image data from the imaging device <NUM> depicting the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder <NUM>. Furthermore, the computing system <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the location sensor <NUM> via the communicative link <NUM>. In this respect, the computing system <NUM> may be configured to receive location data from the imaging device <NUM> that is indicative of the current location of the agricultural harvester <NUM> within the field. Additionally, the computing system <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the engine <NUM>, the transmission <NUM>, and/or the braking actuator(s) <NUM> via the communicative link <NUM>. In this respect, the computing system <NUM> may be configured to control the operation of the engine <NUM>, the transmission <NUM>, and/or the braking actuator(s) <NUM> to adjust the ground speed of the agricultural harvester <NUM>. In addition, the computing system <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to any other suitable components of the agricultural harvester <NUM> and/or the system <NUM>.

In general, the computing system <NUM> may comprise one or more processor-based devices, such as a given controller or computing device or any suitable combination of controllers or computing devices. Thus, in several embodiments, the computing system <NUM> may include one or more processor(s) <NUM> and associated memory device(s) <NUM> configured 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 circuit (PLC), an application specific integrated circuit, and other programmable circuits. Additionally, the memory device(s) <NUM> of the computing system <NUM> may generally comprise memory element(s) 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 disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), a magneto-optical disk (MOD), a digital versatile disk (DVD) and/or other suitable memory elements. Such memory device(s) <NUM> may generally be configured to store suitable computer-readable instructions that, when implemented by the processor(s) <NUM>, configure the computing system <NUM> to perform various computer-implemented functions, such as one or more aspects of the methods and algorithms that will be described herein. In addition, the computing system <NUM> may 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.

The various functions of the computing system <NUM> may 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 system <NUM>. For instance, the functions of the computing system <NUM> may be distributed across multiple application-specific controllers or computing devices, such as a navigation controller, an engine controller, a transmission controller, a harvesting implement controller, and/or the like.

In addition, the system <NUM> may also include a user interface <NUM>. More specifically, the user interface <NUM> may be configured to provide feedback from the computing system <NUM> (e.g., feedback associated with the determined crop population) to the operator. As such, the user interface <NUM> may include one or more feedback devices (not shown), such as display screens, speakers, warning lights, and/or the like, which are configured to provide feedback from the computing system <NUM> to the operator. As such, the user interface <NUM> may, in turn, be communicatively coupled to the computing system <NUM> via the communicative link <NUM> to permit the feedback to be transmitted from the computing system <NUM> to the user interface <NUM>. Furthermore, some embodiments of the user interface <NUM> may include one or more input devices, such as touchscreens, keypads, touchpads, knobs, buttons, sliders, switches, mice, microphones, and/or the like, which are configured to receive inputs from the operator. In one embodiment, the user interface <NUM> may be mounted or otherwise positioned within the operator's cab <NUM> of the agricultural harvester <NUM>. However, in alternative embodiments, the user interface <NUM> may mounted at any other suitable location.

Referring now to <FIG>, a flow diagram of one embodiment of example control logic <NUM> that may be executed by the computing system <NUM> (or any other suitable computing system) for determining crop population within a field during a harvesting operation being performed by an agricultural harvester is illustrated in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter. Specifically, the control logic <NUM> shown in <FIG> is representative of steps of one embodiment of an algorithm that can be executed to determine the crop population within a field during a harvesting operation in a manner that is accurate and does not require substantial computing resources. However, in other embodiments, the control logic <NUM> may be used in association with any other suitable system, application, and/or the like for determining crop population within a field during a harvesting operation being performed by an agricultural harvester.

As shown in <FIG>, at (<NUM>), the control logic <NUM> includes receiving image data depicting harvested material entering or being conveyed through a feeder of an agricultural harvester during a harvesting operation. Specifically, as mentioned above, in several embodiments, the computing system <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the imaging device <NUM> via the communicative link <NUM>. In this respect, as the agricultural harvester <NUM> travels across the field to perform a harvesting operation thereon, the computing system <NUM> may receive data from the imaging device <NUM>. Such data may, in turn, depict the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder <NUM> of the agricultural harvester <NUM>.

Furthermore, at (<NUM>), the control logic <NUM> includes analyzing the received image data to identify crop ears present within the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder. Specifically, in several embodiments, the computing system <NUM> is configured to analyze the image data received at (<NUM>) to identify crop ears present within the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder <NUM> of the harvester <NUM>. In this respect, the computing system <NUM> may use any suitable image processing techniques to identify the crop ears within the harvested material. For example, in one embodiment, the computing system <NUM> may use a gradient-based image segmentation or edge detection technique, such as a Canny edge detector, a Sobel filter, and/or the like.

As used herein, the term "crop ear" refers to the grain-bearing tip portion of the stem of a crop. For example, the grain-bearing tip portions of corn (e.g., the corn ears), wheat, maize, barley, rye, and the like constitute crop ears. Moreover, a bean pod constitutes a crop ear.

Additionally, at (<NUM>), the control logic <NUM> includes determining the crop population within at least a portion of the field based on the identified crop ears present within the harvested material. Specifically, in several embodiments, the computing system is configured to determine the crop population within at least a portion of the field based on the crop ears that were identified within the harvested material at (<NUM>). For example, the computing system <NUM> may determine count or otherwise determine the number of crop ears entering or being conveyed through the feeder <NUM> that were identified at (<NUM>). In many instances, crop plants include a single crop ear (e.g., each corn plant generally includes one corn ear). In such instances, the number of identified crop ears entering or being conveyed through the feeder <NUM> for a given portion of the field that is determined at (<NUM>) corresponds to the crop population for the given portion of the field. In other instances, crop plants, such as beans, may include multiple ears or pods. Thus, in such instances, the crop population for a given portion of the field may correspond to the number of identified crop ears entering or being conveyed through the feeder <NUM> for the given portion of the field that is determined at (<NUM>) divided by the typical number of ears or pods present on such plants.

Moreover, at (<NUM>), the control logic <NUM> includes accessing planting data indicative of the number of seeds planted within the at least the portion of the field. Specifically, in several embodiments, the computing system <NUM> is configured to access planting data, such as from its memory device(s) <NUM> or a remote computing device(s) (e.g., a remote database server). The accessed planted data is, in turn, indicative of the number of seeds planted the field (or a portion thereof).

In addition, at (<NUM>), the control logic <NUM> includes determining the difference between the determined crop population within the at least the portion of the field and the number of seeds planted within the at least the portion of the field. Specifically, the computing system <NUM> is configured to compare the crop population determined at (<NUM>) and the number of seeds planted accessed at (<NUM>) to determine the difference therebetween. This difference, in turn, provides an indication of how many or what portion of the seeds that were planted within the field (or a portion thereof) resulted in plants that produced harvestable crop (e.g., the crop ears). For example, if <NUM>,<NUM> seeds are planted in a given <NUM>,<NUM><NUM> (acre) of the field and only <NUM>,<NUM> corn plants are identified in the given <NUM>,<NUM><NUM> (acre) of the field, the difference determined at (<NUM>) would be <NUM>,<NUM>. This difference may, in turn, provide an indication of the effectiveness of the previous planting operation (e.g., the suitability of the seed type planted within the field).

As shown in <FIG>, at (<NUM>), the control logic <NUM> includes determining a yield parameter for the at least the portion of the field based on the determined difference. Specifically, in several embodiments, the computing system <NUM> may be configured to determine one or more yield parameters for the field (or a portion thereof) based on the difference determined at (<NUM>). For example, such yield parameter(s) may include the average yield per plant, the estimated profit per one thousand plants per <NUM>,<NUM><NUM> (acre), and/or the like.

Furthermore, at (<NUM>), the control logic <NUM> includes generating a field map depicting the determined crop population at one or more locations within the at least the portion of the field based on the location data. Specifically, as mentioned above, in several embodiments, the computing system <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the location sensor <NUM> via the communicative link <NUM>. In this respect, as the agricultural harvester <NUM> travels across the field to perform the harvesting operation, the computing system <NUM> may receive location data from the location sensor <NUM>. Such data may, in turn, provide an indication of the location of the harvester <NUM> within the field. As such, the computing system <NUM> may correlate each determination of crop population for a portion of the field to a location within the within (e.g., based on time stamps associated with the crop population determination and the location data). Thereafter, the computing system <NUM> may generate a field map depicting the determined crop population at one or more locations within the field (or a portion thereof).

Additionally, at (<NUM>), the control logic <NUM> includes initiating notification of the determined crop population to an operator of the agricultural harvester. Specifically, in several embodiments, the computing system <NUM> may be configured to initiate notification of the crop population determined at (<NUM>) to an operator of the agricultural harvester. In addition, at (<NUM>), the computing system <NUM> may be configured to initiate notification of the number of seed planted as accessed at (<NUM>), the difference between the crop population and the number seeds planted determined at (<NUM>), the yield-based parameter(s) determined at (<NUM>), and/or the field map generated at (<NUM>). For example, the computing system <NUM> may transmit feedback signals to the user interface <NUM> via the communicative link <NUM>. Such feedback signals, in turn, instruct the user interface <NUM> to provide a visual and/or audible notification associated the crop population, the number of seed planted, the difference between the crop population and the number seeds planted, the yield-based parameter(s), and/or the field map.

Moreover, at (<NUM>), the control logic <NUM> includes controlling the ground speed of the agricultural harvester based on the determined crop population. Specifically, in several embodiments, the computing system <NUM> is configured to control the ground speed of the agricultural harvester <NUM> based on the crop population determined at (<NUM>) and other parameters, such as grain loss, driveline loads, engine load, etc. Thus, in general, the ground speed of the agricultural harvester <NUM> determined at (<NUM>) may be one of many parameters that are used to collectively control the ground speed of the agricultural harvester <NUM>. For example, when the crop population is high (e.g., exceeds a predetermined maximum threshold) and other parameters are outside of specified ranges, the computing system <NUM> may initiate a reduction in the ground speed of the agricultural harvester <NUM> to allow the harvester <NUM> to process the increased number of crop plants present within the field. Conversely, when the crop population is low (e.g., exceeds a predetermined minimum threshold) and other parameters are outside of specified ranges, the computing system <NUM> may initiate an increase in the ground speed of the agricultural harvester <NUM> to increase harvest efficiency. Thus, the computing system <NUM> may transmit control signals to the engine <NUM>, the transmission <NUM>, and/or the braking actuator(s) <NUM> via the communicative link <NUM>. The control signals, in turn, instruct the engine <NUM>, the transmission <NUM>, and/or the braking actuator(s) <NUM> to operate in a manner that adjusts the speed of the harvester <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method <NUM> for determining crop population within a field during a harvesting operation being performed by an agricultural harvester is illustrated in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter. In general, the method <NUM> will be described herein with reference to the agricultural harvester <NUM> and the system <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. However, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the disclosed method <NUM> may generally be implemented with any agricultural harvester having any suitable harvester configuration and/or within any system having any suitable system configuration. In addition, although <FIG> depicts 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 in <FIG>, at (<NUM>), the method <NUM> includes receiving, with a computing system, image data depicting harvested material entering or being conveyed through a feeder of an agricultural harvester during a harvesting operation. For instance, as described above, the computing system <NUM> may be configured to receive image data from the imaging device <NUM>. Such image data, in turn, depicts the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder <NUM> of the during a harvesting operation.

Furthermore, at (<NUM>), the method <NUM> includes analyzing, with the computing system, the received image data to identify crop ears present within the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder. For instance, as described above, the computing system <NUM> may be configured to analyze the received image data to identify crop ears present within the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder <NUM>.

Additionally, at (<NUM>), the method <NUM> includes determining, with computing system, a crop population within at least a portion of the field based on the identified crop ears present within the harvested material. For instance, as described above, the computing system <NUM> may be configured to determine the crop population within at least a portion of the field based on the identified crop ears present within the harvested material.

Moreover, at (<NUM>), the method <NUM> includes controlling, with computing system, the ground speed of the agricultural harvester based on the determined crop population. For instance, as described above, the computing system <NUM> may be configured to control the ground speed of the agricultural harvester based on the determined crop population (e.g., by controlling the operation of the engine <NUM>, the transmission <NUM>, and/or the braking actuator(s) <NUM>).

Claim 1:
A system (<NUM>) for determining crop population within a field during a harvesting operation being performed by an agricultural harvester (<NUM>), the system (<NUM>) comprising:
a feeder (<NUM>) configured to convey harvested material from a harvesting implement (<NUM>) of the agricultural harvester (<NUM>) to a threshing and separating assembly (<NUM>) of the agricultural harvester (<NUM>),
an imaging device (<NUM>) configured to generate image data depicting the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder (<NUM>) during the harvesting operation; and
a computing system (<NUM>) communicatively coupled to the imaging device (<NUM>), the computing system (<NUM>) configured to:
analyze the generated image data to identify crop ears present within the harvested material entering or being conveyed through the feeder (<NUM>);
determine a crop population within at least a portion of the field based on the identified crop ears present within the harvested material;
and characterized in that the computing system (<NUM>) is configured to:
access planting data indicative of a number of seeds planted within the at least the portion of the field; and
determine a difference between the determined crop population within the at least the portion of the field and the number of seeds planted within the at least the portion of the field.