Agricultural implement and implement operator monitoring apparatus, systems, and methods

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for monitoring one or more agricultural implements during agricultural operations and for monitoring operator performance criterion. In some embodiment, the operator performance criterion may be reported to a monitor on the agricultural implement as well as a remote fleet monitor.

1 . A method for monitoring operator performance during operation of a combine harvester, comprising:
 monitoring an operating characteristic of an agricultural implement during performance of an agricultural operation;   determining a productivity index related to a grain loss measurement based on said monitored operating characteristic;   determining that the productivity index fails to meet a stored threshold value and, in response, sending an alert to an operator computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining the grain loss measurement based on an amplitude of a grain loss sensor signal and one or more secondary grain loss measurement criteria. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more secondary grain loss measurement criteria comprise a frequency of the grain loss sensor signal and wherein determining the grain loss measurement comprises, using an empirical database to lookup a multiplier for the frequency of the grain loss sensor signal and applying the multiplier to the amplitude of the grain loss sensor signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more secondary grain loss measurement criteria comprise a crop type. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said operating characteristic is a separator component adjustment range. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said operating characteristic is a header component adjustment frequency. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said operating characteristic is an engine drag measurement. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said productivity index is further related to a rate at which harvesting operations have been completed. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 monitoring an operating characteristic of an agricultural implement during performance of an agricultural operation;   determining a grain loss measurement based on said monitored operating characteristic;   generating a grain loss map based, at least in part, on the grain loss measurement;   causing display, on the operator computing device, of the grain loss map.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining the grain loss measurement comprises determining the grain loss measurement based on an amplitude of a grain loss sensor signal and one or more secondary grain loss measurement criteria. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more secondary grain loss measurement criteria comprise a frequency of the grain loss sensor signal and wherein determining the grain loss measurement comprises, using an empirical database to lookup a multiplier for the frequency of the grain loss sensor signal and applying the multiplier to the amplitude of the grain loss sensor signal. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more secondary grain loss measurement criteria comprise a crop type.