Automated loading for an agricultural machine

Abstract

An intelligent, automated system for loading agricultural product application equipment is provided in which a control system can determine a necessary amount of product for completing a field operation and can automatically couple with a tendering system to receive such product at an optimal time and location. The control system can determine a current amount of product, a projected amount of product necessary to complete a field operation and a refill amount of product from the current amount and the projected amount, then transmit the refill amount to the tender. The control system can further determine whether a position of the equipment relative to the tender is within a threshold, and whether an intake coupler of the equipment is connected to a supply coupler of the tender, and can control valve(s) to open and close channel(s) for loading fluid into the storage tank.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An automated loading system for an agricultural machine, the system comprising:
 a tender including a first container for holding a first fluid and a second container for holding a second fluid separately from the first fluid;   a wireless communications system; and   a control system in communication with the wireless communications system, the control system executing a program stored in a non-transient medium operable to:
 receive a refill amount; and 
 generate a volume of an agricultural product from the first fluid and the second fluid within the tender based on the refill amount prior to a sprayer contacting a refill system of the tender. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first fluid is a chemical and the second fluid is a carrier that, in combination, form the agricultural product to be exhausted from the sprayer. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a third container storing a third fluid separately from the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein the agricultural product is formed from the first fluid and the second fluid, and the third fluid is a rinse fluid.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a third container storing a third fluid separately from the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein the agricultural product is formed from the first fluid and the second fluid, and the third fluid is a fuel.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a third container storing a third fluid separately from the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein the agricultural product is formed from the first fluid and the second fluid, and the third fluid is a DEF fluid.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the control system is further configured to:
 determine a current amount of the agricultural product in a storage tank;   determine a projected amount of the agricultural product necessary to complete an agricultural field operation; and   determine the refill amount of the agricultural product from the current amount and the projected amount.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the control system determines the current amount by monitoring application rate of the agricultural product and speed of the agricultural machine. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the control system determines the projected amount by monitoring progress of the agricultural field operation relative to a prescription map. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the volume of the agricultural product is less than a tank volume of the sprayer. 
     
     
         28 . A method for automated loading an agricultural machine, comprising:
 determining a current amount of agricultural product in a storage tank;   determining a projected amount of the agricultural product to complete an agricultural field operation;   determining a refill amount of the agricultural product from the current amount and the projected amount;   using a wireless communications system to communicate the refill amount to a tender configured to supply the agricultural product; and   preparing the refill amount within the tender prior to coupling the storage tank with the tender.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein communicating the refill amount comprises communicating an amount of chemical concentration and an amount of carrier fluid for the tender to prepare. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 coupling the storage tank with the tender with at least some agricultural product remaining in the storage tank at a refill location.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the refill amount is determined when a sprayer exits a prescribed travel route, the prescribed travel route determined by a prescription map. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the refill amount is an amount of the agricultural product to complete the agricultural field operation plus a nominal guard band amount. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 determining the refill amount at a location for deviating from the prescription map to the tender.   
     
     
         34 . An automated loading system for an agricultural machine, the system comprising:
 a storage tank for holding agricultural product;   a wireless communications system; and   a control system in communication with the wireless communications system, the control system executing a program stored in a non-transient medium operable to:
 determine a current amount of the agricultural product in the storage tank; 
 determine a projected amount of the agricultural product to complete an agricultural field operation; 
 monitor application variable changes; and 
 when one or more application variable changes are detected, update the projected amount of the agricultural product to complete the agricultural field operation. 
   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the control system is further configured to:
 use the wireless communications system to communicate a refill amount to a tender configured to supply the agricultural product.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the control system is further configured to:
 generate a volume of the agricultural product from a first fluid and a second fluid within the tender based on the refill amount prior to a sprayer contacting a refill system of the tender.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the control system is further configured to:
 determine the refill amount of the agricultural product from the current amount and the projected amount.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the refill amount is determined based at least partially on an exit location of a sprayer from a prescribed travel route to the tender.