Patent classifications
A01M7/00
Agricultural plant detection and control system
A computing system includes image receiving logic configured to receive image data indicative of an image of a field, ground identification logic configured to identify a first image portion of the image representing ground in the field, image segmentation logic configured to identify a remaining image portion that omits the first image portion from the image, and crop classification logic configured to apply a crop classifier to the remaining image portion and identify a second image portion of the image that represents locations of crop plants in the field. The computing system also includes weed identification logic configured to identify locations of weed plants in the field based on the identification of the first and second image portions and control signal generation logic configured to generate a machine control signal based on the identified locations of the weed plants.
Apparatus for applying a liquid and method of use
An apparatus for applying a liquid to a plant growing in soil includes a handheld assembly having a spray configuration for applying a liquid to a plant as a spray at a location above the surface of the soil in which the plant is growing, and a probe configuration for applying a liquid below the surface of the soil proximate to the roots of the plant. The assembly is selectively reconfigurable by a user between the first spray configuration and the second probe configuration.
CARBON FIBER STRUCTURE, AND A METHOD FOR FORMING THE CARBON FIBER STRUCTURE
A carbon fiber boom structure for an agricultural sprayer boom, the boom structure including an elongated upper carbon fiber tube, at least one elongated lower carbon fiber and a carbon fiber/resin matrix uniting structure bonded to each of the carbon fiber tubes to hold the tubes in a spaced apart position. The uniting structure being formed in a winding operation by applying windings of a carbon fiber string with a liquid resin around portions of the tubes, the windings and resin matrix defining an inner primary layer and an outer primary layer, wherein the inner primary layer is bonded to a surface portion of each tube while the outer primary layer is bonded to a remaining surface portion of each tube to completely, or essentially completely, envelope each tube by the portions of the two primary layers.
PLANT TREATMENT SYSTEM
A system for treating plants, in particular in agriculture, comprising a spray boom (RP) provided with a plurality of spray nozzles (BPi) supplied by a spray control device, and comprising a set of cameras (CAk) capable of capturing images of an area to be treated, a digital processing device capable of analyzing the images captured by the camera, identifying plants to be treated and applying commands to the spray control device with a view to selectively spraying a product on plants to be treated, each camera (CAk) being capable of capturing images of the crop area.
According to the invention, the system comprises a memory in which mapping data relating to mapping between a camera reference system and a spraying reference system are stored, and the digital processing circuit is capable, on the basis of said mapping data, of applying, to the images captured by each camera (CAk), subdivision data (Gk) for subdividing the image into cells corresponding to spray areas on the ground that are to be sprayed by respective spray nozzles, in order to thereby directly determine, from said subdivision data, at least one nozzle to be activated and its activation time when a plant to be treated is identified in a given cell of the image.
Automated Driving System for Work Vehicle
This automatic travel system for a work vehicle is provided with: a position information obtaining unit; and an automatic travel control unit that causes a work vehicle to automatically travel along a target path. The automatic travel control unit sets a control target position on the target path including a plurality of work paths arranged in parallel with each other and a plurality of turning paths that connect the work paths in an order of travel of the work vehicle, to enable automatic travel of the work vehicle along the target path. The automatic travel control unit, when the work vehicle is positioned on a work path in the vicinity of a boundary with a turning path, sets the control target position on an extension of the work path. The automatic travel control unit, when the work vehicle is positioned on a turning path in the vicinity of a boundary with a work path, sets the control target position on the work path.
HOLDING MEMBER, UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE, AND SPRAYING METHOD
There is provided a holding member including: a holding unit configured to hold a package with a variable volume; and a connection unit configured to connect the holding unit and an unmanned aerial vehicle. The holding member may include a posture change unit configured to change a posture of the holding member, and a posture fixing unit for the holding unit. The holding member may include a package fixing unit configured to fix the package to the holding unit. There is provided a spraying method in which in a state in which the holding member holds the package, and the holding member holding the package is mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle, a content of the package is sprayed from the unmanned aerial vehicle.
VALVE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Nozzle control systems and methods for applying an agricultural product using an agricultural vehicle and plurality of valves separated into subgroups are disclosed. An example method includes actuating the valves to dispense the agricultural product, wherein the actuating includes (a) actuating a first subgroup of valves and a second subgroup of valves in succession using a phase delay; and (b) actuating successive valves in the first subgroup and successive valves in the second subgroup using at least one subgroup time delay. The subgroup time delay can be determined based on one or more vehicle speed values and a total number of the plurality of valves.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING BOOM ASSEMBLY POSITION OF AN AGRICULTURAL SPRAYER
An agricultural sprayer includes a boom assembly having first and second wing boom sections. Additionally, the sprayer includes an actuator configured to adjust a fore/aft tilt angle of the boom assembly, with the fore/aft tilt angle defined between a central axis of the boom assembly and a vertical direction. Moreover, the sprayer includes a sensor configured to capture data associated with a position of the second boom section relative to the first boom section. In this respect, a computing system is configured to determine an angle defined between the first and second boom sections or a height of a tip of the second boom section based on the data captured by the sensor. In addition, the computing system is configured to control an operation of the actuator to adjust the fore/aft tilt angle of the boom assembly based on the determined angle or the determined height.
Apparatus for dispensing flowable media and a method for operating an apparatus for dispensing flowable media
An apparatus for spraying flowable media and in particular plant protection agents onto plants, has at least a first spray unit and a second spray unit wherein each of the spray units has a tubular conduit unit that extends in a predetermined longitudinal direction and is suitable and intended for conducting a flowable plant protection agent, and wherein each of the spray units has at least one spray head that is in flow communication with the conduit unit associated therewith. The spray units are provided in a pivotable manner in relation to a predetermined pivot axis on a carrier, and the apparatus has an adjustment unit that allows both the first spray unit and the second spray unit to be pivoted between a working position and an idle position.
Traveling vehicle
A traveling vehicle includes a controller to control a posture of a work machine via a connector. The controller observes whether a farm field surface on which the traveling vehicle travels and the work machine maintain a predetermined positional relationship therebetween, and controls the posture of the work machine when a positional relationship between the farm field surface and the work machine changes from the predetermined positional relationship, so that the positional relationship thus changed is reset to the predetermined positional relationship.