FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for monitoring seedbed conditions within a field and, more particularly, to systems and methods for monitoring seedbed conditions within a field using a seedbed sensing assembly supported on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Agricultural implements, such as planters, seeders, tillage implements, and/or the like, are typically configured to perform an agricultural operation within a field, such as a planting/seeding operation, a tillage operation, and/or the like. When performing such agricultural operations, it is desirable to be able to adjust the operation of the implement to account for variations in the seedbed surface profile and/or seedbed floor profile of the field that could potentially impact the effectiveness and/or efficiency of the operation. In this regard, systems have been developed that allow the profiles of the seedbed surface and seedbed floor of the field to be determined as the implement is traveling across the field. However, further improvements to such systems are needed.

Accordingly, an improved system and method for monitoring seedbed conditions within a field would be welcomed in the technology.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the technology will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the technology.

In one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a system for monitoring seedbed conditions within a field. The system may include an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a body and a plurality of legs coupled to the body, with the plurality of legs configured to support the body relative to a field surface of the field when the UAV is in a landed position. Furthermore, the system may include a seedbed sensing assembly supported on the UAV. The seedbed sensing assembly may, in turn, include a plurality of pins configured to be extended relative to the body such that each pin penetrates a top surface of the field. Moreover, the seedbed sensing assembly may include a plurality of position sensors, with each position sensor configured to capture data indicative of a position of a given pin of the plurality of pins relative to the body of the UAV. Additionally, the seedbed sensing assembly may include a plurality of force sensors, with each force sensor configured to capture data indicative of a force being applied to a given pin of the plurality of pins. As such, the data captured by the plurality of position sensors and the data captured by the plurality of force sensors may be indicative of at least one of a seedbed surface profile of the field or a seedbed floor profile of the field.

In another aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a method for monitoring seedbed conditions within a field. The method may include controlling, with one or more computing devices, an operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) such that the UAV is flown over the field and landed at a data collection point within the field. The UAV may, in turn, include a body and a plurality of legs coupled to the body. Furthermore, the method may include initiating, with the one or more computing devices, extension of a plurality of pins relative to the body such that each pin penetrates a top surface of the field. Additionally, the method may include receiving, with the one or more computing devices, position sensor data indicative of a position of each pin of the plurality of pins relative to the body of the UAV. Moreover, the method may include receiving, with the one or more computing devices, force sensor data indicative a force being applied to each pin of the plurality of pins. In addition, the method may include determining, with the one or more computing devices, at least one of a seedbed surface profile of the field or a seedbed floor profile of the field based on the received position sensor data and the received force sensor data.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present technology will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the technology and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the technology.

