Agricultural operation planning

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system for planning an operation in an agricultural environment comprises; receiving working region data indicative of the environment’s characteristics; receiving da

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable. FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to methods and systems for planning an agricultural operation. BACKGROUND

[0003] It is generally always the aim to carry out arable agricultural operations in the shortest time with the lowest cost. However, such an optimization can be complex, especially when considering larger operations across multiple fields, different environmental conditions, and different crop and operation requirements associated with each field. Important considerations may include machine utilization labor use and cost, timing (e.g. due to legislation or plant cycle) and administrative costs. However, some considerations are also affected by dynamic environmental conditions, e.g. past, prevailing or expected weather conditions, or temporary or permanent machinery faults / downtime, for example.

[0004] Typically, an operator or farm manager may create an initial plan where the fields, available workers and estimated start and end dates are considered. An agricultural operation plan e.g. a tillage plan, will then be created specifying which fields to work, on which days, and what machinery and workers should work those fields. The plan may be improved manually with an aim to reduce travel time between the fields and between the fields and a central operating location - e.g. the farm. However, such planning cannot account for dynamically changing conditions.

[0005] It is an aim of an embodiment or embodiments of the present disclosure to address one or more problems associated with the known methods described herein. BRIEF SUMMARY

[0006] An aspect of the disclosure provides a computer implemented method for planning an agricultural operation associated with an agricultural working environment, the method comprising: receiving working region data indicative of one or more characteristics of one or more working regions of the working environment; receiving operational data indicative of one or more operational parameters associated with available machinery and / or workers for performing one or more tasks of the agricultural operation; receiving weather data indicative of a weather condition associated with the working environment and / or one or more of the working regions thereof; retrieving or determining an operational task to be performed in one or more of the working regions; and, in dependence on each of the working region data, the operational data, the weather data and the retrieved or determined operation(s), determining an operational plan for the agricultural operation.

[0007] Advantageously, the presently disclosed solution provides a method for planning an agricultural operation utilising, amongst other inputs, weather data associated with the working environment and / or one or more working regions specifically. This may provide an operational plan which can account for dynamic conditions, such as weather, in generating the operational plan.

[0008] The working region data may comprise data indicative of the location of one or more of the working region(s) of the working environment. This may comprise a relative location to one or more further working regions within the environment, or the location with respect to a control location, e.g. a farm, control location, storage location, etc. The location of each of the working region(s) may ultimately be indicative of a travel time between the regions and / or between the regions and the control location, for example.

[0009] The working region data may comprise data indicative of a size of the working region(s). This may include an area for each of the one or more working regions, The area of a given working region may ultimately be indicative of a time required to work that region, e.g. to perform a given operational task in that region.

[0010] The operational data may comprise machinery data. The machinery data may be indicative of an availability of a given machine for performing an operational task. This may be indicative of an availability of a given machine to perform a task at a given time or location, for example. The machinery data may relate to a capacity of a machine. The capacity may be a processing capacity for a given machine, e.g. a rate at which a given machine can perform a given task. This may include a crop throughput for crop processing equipment, or a working travel speed, for example, for tillage equipment or the like.

[0011] The machinery data may be indicative of the location of a given machine. This may be relative position with respect to the working environment, one or more working regions thereof, or a control location for the working environment, for example.

[0012] The operational data may comprise operator data. This may relate to an availability of one or more workers or operators for performing the operational task(s). This may be indicative of an absolute number of available workers or operators. The operator data may account for a competency for any given worker or operator for performing a given operational task, or for operating a given machine, for example. The operator data may be indicative of a working time for one or more workers or operators.

[0013] The operational data may comprise or be indicative of a time bound for the performance of the one or more operational tasks. This may comprise a timing window for performance of the task(s). The operational data may comprise or be indicative of a start date or start time indicating from when a given operational task can be performed. The operational data may comprise or be indicative of an end date or end time indicating by when performance of a given operational task must be completed.

[0014] The weather data is indicative of a weather condition associated with the working environment and / or one or more of the working regions thereof. The weather condition may comprise a prevailing weather condition. The weather condition may comprise a forecasted weather condition. The weather condition may comprise a past weather condition

[0015] The weather condition may comprise a precipitation level. The weather condition may relate to a wind speed and / or wind direction. The weather condition may correspond to a measured or predicted evaporation rate. The weather condition may correspond to a measure of a temperature associated with the working environment, and optionally one or more working regions thereof. The weather condition may comprise a measure of a humidity.

[0016] The method comprises retrieving or determining an operational task to be performed in one or more of the working regions. Information relating to an operational task to be performed may stored in a data store and the method may comprise retrieving that information from said data store. The method may comprise determining the operational task to be performed on the basis of a base operational plan for the working environment, and / or on the basis of a user input for example of a list of operational tasks to be performed.

[0017] The method may comprise receiving one or more of the working region data, the operational data, and / or the weather data, in the form of a user input specifying relevant parameters for said data. Additionally or alternatively, the method may comprise retrieving one or more of the working region data, the operational data, and / or the weather data from a data store, which may be preprogrammed, a real-time database (e.g. a weather forecast) and / or be updated through user interaction with the data store.

[0018] Determination of the operational plan may comprise determination of a time schedule for performance of the associated operational task(s). This may comprise a time window based on the received or retrieved data.

[0019] The method may comprise receiving or retrieving weather data for the determined time schedule. This may additionally include a buffer time period to account for timewise changes in the prevailing and / or forecasted weather conditions for the determined time schedule. The method may comprise utilising the weather data to update or adjust the time schedule. The method may comprise utilising weather data indicative of past weather condition(s) to update and / or adjust the time schedule.

[0020] Determination of the operational plan may comprise calculating an operational capacity. The operational capacity may be determined in dependence on the working region data, the operational data; and / or the weather data. The operational capacity may be calculated for a given timescale, e.g. a daily capacity, and / or for a given operational task, e.g. an operational capacity for performance of a tillage or spraying task. The operational capacity may comprise a measure of an area or distance able to be covered for a given operational task within the given timescale, which may comprise an absolute value, or may comprise a number of working regions, for example, which may be worked on any given day or other timescale.

[0021] The method may comprise grouping working regions. The grouping of the working regions may be performed in dependence on one or more characteristics for those regions. This may be determined in dependence on the working region data, for example, and / or in dependence on the weather data, the operational data and / or the operational task(s) to be performed for each working region. For example, grouping of the working regions may be performed based on the determined operational capacity for the working region(s). The grouping of the working regions may be dependent on one or more of a distance between working regions, machinery or operator availability for those regions and a weather condition for those working regions.

[0022] Grouping of the working regions may comprise application of a clustering process for the working region(s). This may include a k-means, multi-weber, or fuzzy clustering process, for example.

[0023] One grouped, the method may comprise determining, for each group, an operational route between the one or more working regions of a given group. This may comprise application of a routing algorithm. The routing algorithm may utilise one or more optimization parameters, for example, minimizing the travel distance or travel time between working regions within a group.

[0024] The operational plan may comprise a schedule for performance of the one or more operational tasks associated with the working region(s). This may include a recommendation for the performance of one or more tasks associated with a given working region and / or multiple working regions within a determined group. The schedule may comprise, timewise, a breakdown of suggested operational tasks to be performed.

[0025] The operational plan may comprise one or a set of operational instructions for the task(s) to be performed. This may include, for example, a set of recommended operational settings for a working machine performing a given operational task. This may include a recommended operational speed, or application rate, for example.

[0026] The method may comprise controlling operation of one or more operable components associated with the agricultural operation. This may include a working machine, such as a harvesting machine, a sprayer, a tractor or the like, a support machine, such as a grain truck, application reservoir, etc. and / or operational systems at a control location of the agricultural working environment in dependence on the operational plan.

[0027] This may include controlling operation of a user interface, or the like, for providing a graphical representation of the operational plan. The user interface may comprise a display terminal of a working machine, and / or of a support machine, for example. The user interface may comprise part of a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet computer carried by an operator in connection with the agricultural operation. This user interface may comprise a display of a user terminal at the control location.

[0028] The method may comprise receiving a user input relating to the operational plan. This may include receiving a user input for, for example, accepting the determined operational plan, or for inputting one or more changes thereto. The method may comprise utilising a user interface for receiving the user input.

[0029] The method may comprise updating (e.g. periodically) the operational plan. The operational plan may, for example, be updated at the end of each day to reflect the actual performance of scheduled operational tasks as per or in contrast to the operational plan.

[0030] A further aspect of the invention comprises computer software which, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of the method of the preceding aspect of the invention.

[0031] An aspect of the invention provides a computer readable storage medium comprising the computer software of the preceding aspect of the invention.

[0032] A further aspect of the invention provides a control system for planning an agricultural operation associated with an agricultural working environment, the control system comprising one or more controllers which are collectively configured to: receive working region data indicative of one or more characteristics of one or more working regions of the working environment; receive operational data indicative of one or more operational parameters associated with available machinery and / or workers for performing one or more tasks of the agricultural operation; receive weather data indicative of a weather condition associated with the working environment and / or one or more of the working regions thereof; retrieve or determine an operational task to be performed in one or more of the working regions; in dependence on each of the working region data, the operational data, the weather data and the retrieved or determined operation(s), determine an operational plan for the agricultural operation; and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling operation of one or more operable components of or otherwise associated with the agricultural operation in dependence on the determined operational plan.

[0033] The one or more controllers may be operably configured for performing any one or more of the operational steps of the preceding aspects of the invention.

[0034] The one or more controllers may be provided as part of a single control unit for performing the operational steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, the control system is provided as a distributed system across one or more locations, which may incorporate a cloud or otherwise remote based processing capability. The control system may comprise one or more controllers hosted by one or more of a working machine, a support machine and / or a local control unit provided at a control location, for example.

[0035] The one or more controllers may collectively comprise an input (e.g. an electronic input) for receiving one or more input signals. The one or more input signals may comprise the working region data, the operational data, the weather data, and / or data indicative of the operational task(s), for example. The one or more controllers may collectively comprise one or more processors (e.g. electronic processors) operable to execute computer readable instructions for controlling operational of the control system, for example, to determine the operational plan. The one or more processors may be operable to generate one or more control signals for controlling operation of one or more operational components, e.g. in accordance with the determined operational plan. The one or more controllers may collectively comprise an output (e.g. an electronic output) for outputting the one or more control signals.

[0036] Within the scope of this application it should be understood that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out herein, and individual features thereof may be taken independently or in any possible and compatible combination. Where features are described with reference to a single aspect or embodiment, it should be understood that such features are applicable to all aspects and embodiments unless otherwise stated or where such features are incompatible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] One or more embodiments of the invention / disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an operational setup embodying aspects of the present disclosure;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a further schematic illustration of an operational setup embodying aspects of the present disclosure; and

[0040] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a computer implemented method of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for planning an agricultural operation associated with an agricultural working environment. In the illustrated embodiments setout herein, this includes an agricultural operation for a working environment which includes multiple working regions in the form of fields 10a, 10b, 10c, and a control location in the form of a depot 12. The depot 12 may, for example, provide a location for storage of working or support machines 14a, 14b, 14c, 16a, 16b and a store or processing apparatus for, e.g. crop material harvested from the fields 10a, 10b, 10c. As detailed herein, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for determining an operational plan for the agricultural operation which utilises a number of inputs, including working region data indicative of one or more characteristics of the fields 10a, 10b, 10c operational data indicative of one or more operational parameters associated with available machinery 14a, 14b, 14c, 16a, 16b, and / or workers for performing one or more operational tasks of the operation, and weather data indicative of a weather condition associated with the working environment as a whole and / or one or more of the fields 10a, 10b, 10c. Together with information on the operational task or tasks to be performed in the fields 10a, 10b, 10c, the received data is used to determine the operational plan. In the embodiments described herein, the operational plan includes a schedule for performance of one or more tasks associated with the fields 10a, 10b, 10c, e.g. the timing of the harvesting of crop material therefrom, performing a tillage operation, performing a spraying operation, or the like. As discussed herein, the agricultural operational plan can be stored at a (e.g. remote) data store 104 for subsequent retrieval and / or presented to an operator via a user interface, e.g. a display terminal associated with the depot 12 or other control location, or on the machinery.

[0042] The present disclosure advantageously utilises known data, e.g. machine availability, number of tasks to be performed and the requirements of those tasks, to generate an operational plan. However, in addition, the systems and methods described herein utilise past, prevailing and / or forecasted weather conditions in the optimization process to account for dynamic conditions. For example, certain weather conditions may only affect some of the working regions within a working environment. On this basis, and in the event of a change in weather conditions at one location and not another, the operational plan can be reworked, and perhaps fields grouped differently in different orders to increase the overall operational efficiency compared with, for example, just ignoring the field that cannot be worked where the weather conditions are preventative. Operational Use

[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates an operational setup illustrating aspects of the present disclosure.

[0044] A working environment is shown which includes multiple working regions in the form of fields 10a, 10b, 10c. For illustrative purposes only, working machines in the form of a combine harvesters 16a, 16b (referred to interchangeably herein as a "harvester") are shown operating in respective fields 10a, 10b. In the illustration, the harvesters 16a, 16b are supported by support machines in the form of first, second and third grain carts 14a, 14b, 14c. As will be appreciated, the grain carts 14a, 14b, 14c support the harvesting operation by receiving harvested crop material, specifically grain therefrom during an unloading operation, and transporting the unloaded grain material to a control location - depot 12 - which may have a grain store or other storage, transport and processing components, e.g. a dryer and the like for further processing and storage of the harvested crop material. Once the harvested material is unloaded from the grain cart 14a, 14b, 14c the cart may return to the relevant field 10a, 10b, 10c for receiving a next unload from respective harvester 16a, 16b working therein.

[0045] FIG. 1 illustrates a single operational task- i.e. a harvesting operation - across multiple fields 10a, 10b, 10c in a working environment. However, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited in this sense and the shown embodiment is provided for illustrative purposes only. Multiple different operational tasks may be performed in the fields 10a, 10b, 10c, over time, as will be understood. For instance, the present disclosure may extend to a tillage operation, a planting operation, a spraying operation and the like, as is required, each with the same or different working machines and / or support machines as is required by the operational task(s) to be performed.

[0046] Turning to FIG. 2, which illustrates a system embodying aspects of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 2 illustrates a distributed system across one or more locations, physical or cloud based, and the communication link therebetween. The system employs a central control system 100 which incorporates one or more processors for performing the operational steps of the method 200 described hereinbelow. In the illustrated embodiment, the control system 100 is hosted on a remote server separate from the machines 14a, 14b, 14c, 16a, 16b and the depot 12 (or a local control unit thereof), however, it will be appreciated that the control system 100 could be hosted by one or more control units local to these components of the system, or distributed in some manner therebetween. For instance, the control system may be provided as part of the processing capability of the harvester(s) 16a, 16b, or a control unit at the depot 12.

[0047] The control system 100 is connected via a communications link to a data store 102 having working region data stored therein, including location data relating to the relative locations of the fields 10a, 10b, 10c and the depot 12, along with size data for the fields 10a, 10b, 10c. The data store 102 may therefore comprise or have stored thereon a mapping database, for example, accessible by the control system 100 for retrieving the working region data therefrom for use in the present application.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the data store 102 additionally provides operational data which is indicative of operational information for the agricultural operation, including details of the available machinery, e.g. harvesters 16a, 16b, support machinery 14a, 14b, 14c, machine capacity (e.g. throughput, operational rate, working speed, etc.) for each of the available machines. The operational data can include information indicative of the location of a given machine. Operational data can also include operator details including an availability of one or more workers or operators for performing the operational task(s), a competency for any given worker or operator for performing a given operational task, or for operating a given machine, and / or a working time for one or more workers or operators. As a further extension, the operational data can include a time bound or window for the performance of the one or more operational tasks which can include a start date or start time indicating from when a given operational task can be performed and / or an end date or end time indicating by when performance of a given operational task must be completed.

[0049] The data store 102 may be accessible by an operator, e.g. a farm manager, for inputting details relating to the field locations, field sizes, operational data and like information. This may be accessible through, for example, a user interface and over a wireless communications network.

[0050] Control system 100 is additionally connected via a suitable communications link to a data source 103 for providing weather data. The weather data retrieved, in use, is indicative of a weather condition associated with the working environment as a whole, or more particularly one or more of the fields 10a, 10b, 10c, and can include a past weather condition, a prevailing weather condition and / or a forecasted weather condition. Multiple different weather conditions may be accounted for in the weather data, including any one or more of: a precipitation level; a wind speed; a wind direction; and a measured or predicted evaporation rate. The data source 103 may be updated separately, e.g. it may be a publicly accessible weather database accessed, for example, over an internet connection or the like. In an extension, each working region, 10a, 10b, 10c may be associated with, for example, a local weather station, and the data source may comprise or be updated by those local weather stations for providing weather data for individual regions.

[0051] Here, the control system 100 is additionally linked to a remote data store 104 for storing the determined operational plan for subsequent access by an operator associated with the operation. Again, this may be housed on a remote or cloud based server 104 which is accessibly by the control system and optionally one or more of the machines 14a, 14b, 14c, 16a, 16b and a control unit at the depot 12, for example, and / or one or more additional control units associated with the task, e.g. an operator device such as a computer, portable device, smartphone, tablet computer or the like for retrieving the determined operational plan. It will be appreciated that the generated operational plan may, in alternative embodiments, be stored local to the control system 100, e.g. as part of a memory means thereof, and be provided at or be accessible by the working machines 16a, 16b, support machines 14a, 14b, 14c and / or depot 12 directly therefrom.

[0052] In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, each of the machines 14a, 14b, 14c, 16a, 16b are operably coupled to the control system 100 over a data link, which may be any communications link, e.g. over an internet or cellular connection, for example. It will be appreciated that such an arrangement may not be necessary, and the operational plan may be accessed and determined at a control location, e.g. at the depot 12, and instructed to individual operators / workers and or the associated machinery separately. Method

[0053] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method 200 of the present disclosure, outlining how an operational plan for an agricultural operation may be determined on the basis of multiple data inputs as provided and detailed herein.

[0054] At step 212, working region data is received, here retrieved from data store 102, and includes data indicative of the location of the fields 10a, 10b, 10c within the working environment, along with the depot 12. In addition, the working region data includes an indication of the size - e.g. an area, of each field 10a, 10b, 10c, directly corresponding to a working time for performance of any given operational task in that field.

[0055] At step 214, operational data is received. Again, and as described herein, this is retrieved from the data store 102 and includes machinery data which is indicative of an availability of a given machine for performing an operational task. In the illustrated embodiment, this includes an availability of harvesters 16a, 16b for performance of a harvesting operation, along with the availability of support machines 14a, 14b, 14c to support that operation, e.g. by acting as a grain cart for receiving harvested crop material from the harvesters 16a, 16b and transporting that crop material back to the depot 12. The machinery data can additionally include an indication of a capacity of a given machine, here a crop processing rate and a working speed, providing an indication of i) a likely yield of crop material to be expected from a given field 10a, 10b, 10c and or a required working time for a harvester 16a, 16b to operate in a given field. The machinery data can include other operational information relating to the machines, e.g. a location of a given machine, or operating requirements for a given machine, for example.

[0056] The operational data additionally includes operator data, that is information relating to operators or workers for operating the machinery and / or otherwise supporting a given operational task in the field(S) 10a, 10b, 10c. The operator data may include an availability of one or more workers or operators for performing the operational task(s), an indication of an available number of available workers or operators, a competency for any given worker or operator for performing a given operational task, or for operating a given machine, and / or a working time for one or more workers or operators.

[0057] The operational data additionally includes information indicative of a time bound for the performance of the one or more operational tasks, which can include a start date or start time indicating from when a given operational task can be performed; and / or an end date or end time indicating by when performance of a given operational task must be completed. This may be particularly important, for instance, to ensure the correct environmental conditions for a given operation, e.g. for an appropriate moisture level or temperature on a given day, or the correct timing in the season cycle (date-wise) for performing the given operation - i.e. to maximize output (i.e. yield) of the entire agricultural operation.

[0058] At step 216, weather data is received, here retrieved from the data source 103 indicative of a weather condition associated with the working environment and / or the fields 10a, 10b, 10c individually. The weather condition can include a past weather condition, a prevailing weather condition and / or a forecasted weather condition. The weather condition can include any one or more of: a precipitation level; a wind speed; a wind direction; and / or a measured or predicted evaporation rate. The weather condition can include any one or more of: a temperature and / or a humidity. The method 200 may, as described, utilise the weather data to determine which of any number of operational tasks may be performable on a given day or at a given time base don local weather conditions at each of the working regions - i.e. fields 10a, 10b, 10c - within the working environment.

[0059] At step 218, information is retrieved, e.g. from data store 102, or is determined directly, e.g. through receipt of a user input, of a set of one or more operational tasks to be performed in the working environment. The data received, retrieved and / or determined in steps 212 - 219 are utilised in step 220 to determine the operational plan for the agricultural operation.

[0060] Specifically, at step 220 the method 200 comprises analysing the received data to perform an optimization task to determine which of the retrieved or determined operational tasks to perform, and when, in what order, utilising which pieces of equipment and the required number of workers or operators to support that task.

[0061] Specifically, the method comprises utilising the received or retrieved data to determine an operational capacity for the entire agricultural operation, e.g. based on the available machinery, workers, machinery capacity, weather conditions, etc. and the required use of that capacity to perform a given operational task in each of the fields 10a, 10b, 10c. The operational capacity may comprise a measure of an area or distance able to be covered for a given operational task within the given timescale, which may comprise an absolute value, or may comprise a number of working regions, for example, which may be worked on any given day or other timescale.

[0062] Following this, the fields 10a, 10b, 10c are grouped based on one or more characteristics for those regions, specifically in dependence on the working region data, the weather data, the operational data and / or the operational task(s) to be performed for each working region, and / or an operational capacity determined therefrom to maximize the efficiency of the use of the available operational capacity. Specific factors including a distance between the fields 10a, 10b, 10c and / or the depot 12, machinery or operator availability / competency or suitability for those fields 10a, 10b, 10c and local weather condition(s). Grouping of the plurality of fields 10a, 10b, 10c here comprises performance of a clustering process, which can include for instance, a k-means, multi-weber or fuzzy clustering process.

[0063] Once grouped, and in an extension to the disclosure, an operational route can determined between the fields 10a, 10b, 10c within each group, and optionally the depot 12 location. This can include application of a routing algorithm, which is optimized on one or more parameters, for instance by minimizing the travel distance or travel time between fields 10a, 10b, 10c within a group and optionally the depot 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the operational route may additionally be provided for the support machines (grain carts 14a, 14b, 14c) travelling therebetween. In this variant, the operational plan can then generated on the basis of the group(s) and the operational route(s) associated therewith.

[0064] In this way, the operational plan includes at least a schedule for performance of one or more tasks associated with one or more of the fields 10a, 10b, 10c, or sub-groups thereof, as determined through the clustering process described herein. The operational plan can include a recommendation for the performance of one or more tasks associated with a given field 10a, 10b, 10c and / or multiple fields. The schedule can include, timewise, a breakdown of suggested operational tasks to be performed. This may include the timingof different tasks to be performed, it may include an ordering of working of different groups of fields 10a, 10b, 10c. The schedule can include, for instance, a calendar with suggested or recommended activities to be performed on any given day, which may additionally include a recommended number of support vehicles -e.g. grain carts 14a, 14b, 14c to support that operation. The schedule may recommend working of multiple fields within a group of fields 10a, 10b, 10c, and the plan may include a recommendation of a number of support vehicles - e.g. grain carts 14a, 14b, 14c to support that combined operation which maintains an overall efficiency in both operations / tasks. The operational plan can include operational settings or recommendations therefore for the operation, e.g. providing a recommendation for a forward or operational speed for the harvester 16a, 16b for a given number of support machines being available at any given time.

[0065] In a yet further variant, generation of the operational plan may be recursive. That is, it may run continually and update based on, for example, changes in weather conditions as indicated by the received weather data, and / or upon performance and completion of given operational tasks. For example, the operational plan may be updated after performance of a task, such that the future plan can be adjusted accordingly, e.g. where fewer or more tasks were performed compared with the previous iteration of the plan. This may advantageously also account for instances where a planned task is not performed, e.g. due to machinery faults, operator issues (e.g. illness, absence). Completion of an operational task may be manually input, or may be determined or detected automatically, for example.

[0066] Again, and as mentioned herein, the illustrated embodiments show a single example of an operational task to be performed - i.e. a harvesting operation - across multiple fields 10a, 10b, 10c in a working environment. However, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited in this sense and the shown embodiment is provided for illustrative purposes only. Multiple different operational tasks may be performed in the fields 10a, 10b, 10c, over time, as will be understood. For instance, the present disclosure may extend to a tillage operation, a planting operation, a spraying operation and the like, as is required, each with the same or different working machines and / or support machines as is required by the operational task(s) to be performed. The operational plan may extend to multiple different tasks, and the required ordering of those tasks for the overall agricultural operation. General

[0067] Any process descriptions or blocks in flow diagrams should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process, and alternate implementations are included within the scope of the embodiments in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure.

[0068] It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be realized in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. Any such software may be stored in the form of volatile or non-volatile storage such as, for example, a storage device like a ROM, whether erasable or rewritable or not, or in the form of memory such as, for example, RAM, memory chips, device or integrated circuits or on an optically or magnetically readable 16 medium such as, for example, a CD, DVD, magnetic disk or magnetic tape. It will be appreciated that the storage devices and storage media are embodiments of machine-readable storage that are suitable for storing a program or programs that, when executed, implement embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, embodiments provide a program comprising code for implementing a system or method as set out herein and a machine readable storage storing such a program. Still further, embodiments of the present invention may be conveyed electronically via any medium such as a communication signal carried over a wired or wireless connection and embodiments suitably encompass the same.

[0069] All references cited herein are incorporated herein in their entireties. If there is a conflict between definitions herein and in an incorporated reference, the definition herein shall control.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A computer implemented method for planning an agricultural operation associated with an agricultural working environment, the method comprising:receiving working region data indicative of one or more characteristics of one or more working regions of the working environment;receiving operational data indicative of one or more operational parameters associated with available machinery and / or workers for performing one or more tasks of the agricultural operation;receiving weather data indicative of a weather condition associated with the working environment and / or one or more of the working regions thereof;retrieving or determining an operational task to be performed in one or more of the working regions; and,in dependence on each of the working region data, the operational data, the weather data and the retrieved or determined operation(s), determining an operational plan for the agricultural operation.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the working region data comprises:data indicative of the location of one or more of the working region(s) of the working environment; and / ordata indicative of a size of the working region(s).

3. A method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the operational data comprises:machinery data indicative of an availability of a given machine for performing an operational task;machinery data indicative of a capacity of a working machine;machinery data indicative of the location of a given machine.

4. A method of any preceding claim, wherein the operational data comprises operator data relating to:an availability of one or more workers or operators for performing the operational task(s);a competency for any given worker or operator for performing a given operational task, or for operating a given machine; and / ora working time for one or more workers or operators.

5. A method of any preceding claim, wherein the operational data comprises or is indicative of a time bound for the performance of the one or more operational tasks.

6. A method of any preceding claim, wherein the weather data is indicative of a weather condition associated with the working environment and / or one or more of the working regions thereof.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein the weather condition comprises one or more of:a precipitation level;a wind speed;a wind direction;a measured or predicted evaporation rate;a temperature; ora humidity.

8. A method of any preceding claim, wherein determination of the operational plan comprises determination of a time schedule for performance of the associated operational task(s).

9. A method of any preceding claim, wherein determination of the operational plan comprises calculating an operational capacity in dependence on the working region data, the operational data; and / or the weather data.

10. A method of any preceding claim, comprising grouping working regions in dependence on one or more characteristics for those regions.

11. A method of claim 10, wherein grouping of the working regions is determined in dependence on one or more of: the working region data; the weather data; the operational data; the operational task(s) to be performed for each working region; a distance between working regions; machinery or operator availability for those regions; and / or a weather condition for those working regions.

12. A method of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein grouping of the working regions comprises application of a clustering process for the working regions.

13. A method of any of claims 10 to 12, comprising determining, for each group of working regions, an operational route between the one or more working regions of a given group.

14. A method of claim 13, comprising application of a routing algorithm utilising one or more optimization parameters for minimizing the travel distance or travel time between working regions within a group.

15. A method of any preceding claim, wherein the operational plan comprises a schedule for performance of the one or more operational tasks associated with the working region(s), comprising, timewise, a breakdown of operational tasks to be performed.

16. A method of any preceding claim, wherein the operational plan comprises one or a set of operational instructions for the task(s) to be performed, including a set of recommended operational settings for a working machine performing a given operational task.

17. A method of any preceding claim, comprising controlling operation of one or more operable components associated with the agricultural operation, including controlling operation of a user interface, or the like, for providing a graphical representation of the operational plan.

18. A control system for planning an agricultural operation associated with an agricultural working environment, the control system comprising one or more controllers which are collectively configured to:receive working region data indicative of one or more characteristics of one or more working regions of the working environment;receive operational data indicative of one or more operational parameters associated with available machinery and / or workers for performing one or more tasks of the agricultural operation;receive weather data indicative of a weather condition associated with the working environment and / or one or more of the working regions thereof;retrieve or determine an operational task to be performed in one or more of the working regions;in dependence on each of the working region data, the operational data, the weather data and the retrieved or determined operation(s), determine an operational plan for the agricultural operation; andgenerate and output one or more control signals for controlling operation of one or more operable components of or otherwise associated with the agricultural operation in dependence on the determined operational plan.

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