A method for monitoring the mechanical automated removal of weeds comprising emitting ultrasonic waves in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the soil by means of at least one ultrasonic distance sensor, determining the distance to the soil, emitting electromagnetic radiation in the direction of the soil by means of at least one radiation source, registering the intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected or scattered there by at least one optical detector arranged on the hoeing machine, using the registered intensity to determine whether the tillage has been sufficient to lead to a removal of weeds and/or whether too much dust has been whirled up, detecting shear and/or bending stresses at individual tools using strain gauges and comparing these stresses with calibration values, detecting airborne sound waves using at least one microphone, and comparing the registered airborne sound spectra with airborne sound spectra registered in advance in the case of a faultless weed removal.

A method for weeding between rows of crops and between individual plants in each row whereby a weeding rod is suspended at a proximal portion thereof and left un-suspended at a distal portion thereof whereby the suspension keeps the distal portion and proximal portion in the same horizontal plane. The method further comprises the step of ensuring that the weeding rod has a rounded cross section in a transverse plane with respect to a length axis thereof between the proximal portion and the distal portion and the further step of advancing the weeding rod below ground level in a direction along a ground plane.

An apparatus for clearing trash from a soil surface, the apparatus being configured to be mounted on a towable frame support and driven across the soil surface in a direction of travel (“D”), the apparatus comprising: a bearing housing; and a soil-engaging member rotatably mounted to the support, wherein the soil-engaging member is oriented to rotate about an axis (“A”) tilted from a perpendicular to the soil surface (“B”) by an acute angle (Φ1) towards one lateral side relative to the direction of travel (“D”), whereby contact between the soil-engaging member and the soil surface induces rotation of the soil-engaging member around the axis (“A”).

In at least some implementations, a method of directing use of a handheld device including a tool which is used to perform work on a property, includes analyzing the property to determine at least one area in which work is to be performed, determining a starting point for the work, determining an ending point for the work, determining a work path to be taken by a user between the starting point and the ending point, and communicating the work path to a user of the handheld device. The communication may occur via a screen of a portable electronic device, like a phone, tablet or a dedicated display for the device.

A soil cultivator for mechanical weed control between rows of cultivated plants includes a frame attachable to a tractor for movement along a traveling direction, and at least one soil processing unit attached to the frame. The at least one soil control unit includes a deformable sub-frame made of an elastic material. The soil cultivator further comprises a first adjusting means connected to the deformable sub-frame via at least one first connecting element, and a second adjusting means connected to the deformable sub-frame via at least one second connecting element. At least one adjusting unit is provided for carrying out a movement of the first and the second adjusting means, such that the deformable sub-frame is elastically deformable by the movement of the first and the second adjusting means such that the extent of the deformable sub-frame changes transversely to the traveling direction.

A soil cultivator for mechanical weed control between rows of cultivated plants includes a frame attachable to a tractor for movement along a traveling direction, and at least one soil processing unit attached to the frame. The at least one soil control unit includes a deformable sub-frame made of an elastic material. The soil cultivator further comprises a first adjusting means connected to the deformable sub-frame via at least one first connecting element, and a second adjusting means connected to the deformable sub-frame via at least one second connecting element. At least one adjusting unit is provided for carrying out a movement of the first and the second adjusting means, such that the deformable sub-frame is elastically deformable by the movement of the first and the second adjusting means such that the extent of the deformable sub-frame changes transversely to the traveling direction.

A method for operating an agricultural machine having working tools configured for mechanical weeding including receiving in a control unit first weed condition data indicative of a first weed condition of weed to be mechanically weeded by the working tools; providing first control signals in response to receiving the first weed condition data, the first control signals assigned to the first weed condition according to operation control data stored in a memory device; operating the working tools according to the first control signals; receiving second weed condition data indicative of a second weed condition of the weed to be mechanically weeded; providing second control signals in the control unit in response to receiving the second weed condition data, the second control signals assigned to the second weed condition according to the operation control data; and operating the working tools according to the second control signals for mechanical weeding.

An apparatus and method for control of undesired vegetation. A renewable power source, tractor, and high intensity light source are provided and moved over an area of land. Exposure of unwanted vegetation to the high intensity light kills the unwanted vegetation.

An apparatus and method for control of undesired vegetation. A renewable power source, tractor, and high intensity light source are provided and moved over an area of land. Exposure of unwanted vegetation to the high intensity light kills the unwanted vegetation.

The invention relates to a method for maintaining agricultural land (110), comprising: preparing, by means of a computing device (160) comprising a processor (161) and a computer memory (162), a map of the agricultural land from previously acquired images of the agricultural land, a plurality of growing areas (120), each comprising a plurality of parallel growing rows (130), being defined in the map prepared; assigning a list of growing areas to be treated to a stand-alone vehicle (140) depending on an initial position and a final position of the stand-alone vehicle and the position of the growing areas to be treated; determining a travel plan for the stand-alone vehicle from the list of growing areas assigned to the vehicle with due regard to the orientation of the rows in the growing areas to be treated; and moving the stand-alone vehicle according to the previously established travel plan.