SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING BALE DROP LOCATIONS WITHIN A FIELD

摘要

A baler for forming crop bales and releasing or dropping the bales at targeted drop locations in a field includes a bale-forming chamber, a bale carrier rearward of the bale forming chamber, a geographic location sensor, and a control system. The bale-forming chamber forms the bales and the bale carrier supports at least one crop bale thereon and releases the bale therefrom when actuated. The geographic location sensor outputs signals corresponding with a geographic location of the baler. The control system has a plurality of targeted bale drop locations stored therein, and is configured to calculate a distance from the current baler position to a first targeted drop position and calculate a distance from the current baler position to a second targeted drop position and compare the distances to determine a desired drop location to generate a signal to command the bale carrier to release the crop bale therefrom.

主权项

1. A method of determining bale drop locations within a field for crop bales formed with an agricultural baler, the method comprising:
moving the baler along a route of travel through the field; flagging at least a first targeted bale drop position and a second targeted bale drop position in the field; forming bales within a bale-forming chamber as the baler moves along the route and transferring each formed bale to a bale carrier of the baler, the bale carrier operable to release the crop bale therefrom when actuated; calculating a current position of the baler with a geographic location sensor configured to output signals representative of a geographic location of the baler when the bale carrier contains a formed bale; calculating with a control system communicably coupled with at least one of the bale-forming chamber, the bale carrier, and the geographic location sensor a distance from the current baler position to the first targeted drop position; calculating with the control system a distance from the current baler position to the second targeted drop position; comparing with the control system the distances to determine a desired drop location; and generating a signal to release the bale from the bale carrier.