A01C21/002

Modular Precision Agriculture System

A modular system includes a hub and a set of modules removably coupled to the hub. The modules are physically coupled to the frame relative to each other so that each module can operate with respect to a different row of a field. An individual module includes a sensor for capturing field measurement data of individual plants along a row as the modular system moves through the geographic region. An individual module further includes a treatment mechanism for applying a treatment to the individual plants of the row based on the field measurement data before the modular system passes by the individual plants. An individual module further includes a computing device that determines the treatment based on the field measurement data and communicates data to the hub. The hub is communicatively coupled to the modules, so that it may exchange data between the modules and with a remote computing system.

AIR DRILL AND METHOD OF USE FOR CRUSHING GRANULAR PRODUCT TO BE DELIVERED INTO THE GROUND
20200154631 · 2020-05-21 ·

An agricultural implement comprises a container mounted on a frame arranged for movement across an agricultural field, which container is suited for storing a granular product to be deposited across the field. The agricultural implement additionally including a metering system arranged for metering the granular product in movement from a product exit of the container to a product discharge, typically in operative communication with a pneumatic conveying system, for eventual delivery to the agricultural field. The agricultural implement features a crushing system arranged for reducing a size of the granular product that is disposed in series with the metering system so as to be located between the product exit and the product discharge, such that metered quantities of the crushed granular product can be deposited into the ground as the agricultural implement is displaced in the forward working direction across the field.

Spray system for a self-propelled agricultural machine having adjustable tread width and rear wheel nozzles

A self-propelled agricultural sprayer can be configured with a spray boom, adjustable width wheels and rear wheel spray nozzles arranged over rear wheels of the adjustable width wheels, so that the rear wheel nozzles ensure proper coverage of an agricultural field behind the rear wheels according to location. A control system can determine front wheel nozzles disposed on the spray boom that are counterpart spray nozzles to the rear wheel nozzles based on a width of the wheels, and implement activation/deactivation states of the rear wheel nozzles based on the counterpart front spray nozzles. The activation/deactivation states of the spray nozzles can be determined by geographic location of the machine using a UPS location. The rear wheel nozzles can be arranged with respect to fenders of the rear wheels, so that the rear wheel nozzles move laterally with the rear wheels.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT

An agricultural product control system for an agricultural implement includes an actuator configured to control a penetration depth of an agricultural product application system within soil, a sensor positioned above a surface of the soil and configured to output a sensor signal indicative of agricultural product above the surface of the soil, and a controller including a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to receive the sensor signal indicative of the agricultural product above the surface of the soil, and output a control signal to the actuator indicative of instructions to adjust the penetration depth of the agricultural product application system based on the sensor signal indicative of the agricultural product above the surface of the soil.

SOWING DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND PLANT PROTECTION UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE
20200137946 · 2020-05-07 ·

A sowing apparatus controlling method includes obtaining a target opening size of a discharge port and a target rotational speed of a turntable, obtaining a safe rotational speed of the turntable according to the target opening, and controlling a next-instance rotational speed of the turntable and a next-instance opening size of the discharge port according to the target rotational speed and the safe rotational speed.

ROBOTIC PLATFORM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS IN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
20200125098 · 2020-04-23 ·

An autonomous vehicle platform and system for selectively performing an in-season management task in an agricultural field while self-navigating between rows of planted crops, the autonomous vehicle platform having a vehicle base with a width so dimensioned as to be insertable through the space between two rows of planted crops, the vehicle base having an in-season task management structure configured to perform various tasks, including selectively applying fertilizer, mapping growth zones and seeding cover crop within an agricultural field.

Modular precision agriculture system

A modular system includes a hub and a set of modules removably coupled to the hub. The modules are physically coupled to the frame relative to each other so that each module can operate with respect to a different row of a field. An individual module includes a sensor for capturing field measurement data of individual plants along a row as the modular system moves through the geographic region. An individual module further includes a treatment mechanism for applying a treatment to the individual plants of the row based on the field measurement data before the modular system passes by the individual plants. An individual module further includes a computing device that determines the treatment based on the field measurement data and communicates data to the hub. The hub is communicatively coupled to the modules, so that it may exchange data between the modules and with a remote computing system.

AUTONOMOUS OR REMOTE-CONTROLLED VEHICLE PLATFORM FOR PLANTING

In one embodiment, a vehicle platform comprises a central body that can support one or more implement configurations, such as sprayer booms, or planting row units. A plurality of adjustable legs extends downward from the central body. Each adjustable leg has a corresponding leg actuator to adjust a respective vertical height of each adjustable leg. Each adjustable leg supports the central body. Planting row units are supported by or suspended from the central body

Air Cart Automatic Fan Control Calibration
20200077573 · 2020-03-12 ·

The present inventors have recognized that a pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, such as seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed (velocity) in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material may become susceptible to falling out of the air flow to potentially cause a blockage in the system. Accordingly, a control system can implement a process for efficiently determining an optimum operating velocity for an air flow that is above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation. In one aspect, the optimum operating velocity can be stored as a value corresponding, for example, to the type of particulate material and/or rate at which the particulate material is metered for subsequent use.

Air Cart Automatic Fan Control
20200077572 · 2020-03-12 ·

The present inventors have recognized that a pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, such as seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed (velocity) in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material may become susceptible to falling out of the air flow and potentially causing a blockage in the system. Accordingly, a control system can retrieve from a data structure a predetermined air flow setting indicating an optimum operating velocity above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation. In one aspect, the predetermined air flow setting can be retrieved based on the type of particulate material and/or rate at which the particulate material is metered.