A01B49/02

AUTONOMOUS AGRICULTURAL CARRIER VEHICLE
20210037691 · 2021-02-11 · ·

An autonomous agricultural carrier vehicle, for carrying an agricultural implement includes a chassis with steerable wheels or tracks attached to a frame, wherein the frame includes a mounting apparatus for connection to the agricultural implement. The vehicle further includes an environmental sensor system for determining obstacles or elements present in the vicinity of the carrier vehicle and a control device for controlling the carrier vehicle or the at least one implement, wherein the control device is connected to a position determination system that captures and issues a position to create an autonomous agricultural carrier vehicle with which the impact force is not reduced. No additional tractor vehicle is needed for the implement and no operator is necessary during field work, wherein it is provided that position-dependent working instructions for the carrier vehicle are preferably stored in the control device.

Seed trench closing sensors

A trench closing sensor adapted to mount to an agricultural implement to detect whether a seed trench is sufficiently closed with soil to ensure good seed to soil contact. The trench closing sensor may also detect the amount of compaction of the soil over the seed within the seed trench. The trench closing sensor may be in the form of a seed firmer from which a drag wire extends. As the open seed trench and drag wire are covered with soil, instrumentation measures or detects whether the seed trench is being adequately closed with soil by measuring the amount of force required to pull the wire through the soil or by measuring the amount of strain, pulling force or tension in the wire or by measuring the amount of soil pressure acting on the wire. The trench closing sensor may include other sensors for detecting soil characteristics.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING PLUGGING OF BASKET ASSEMBLIES OF AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT

A system for monitoring basket plugging for agricultural implements includes a basket assembly configured to be supported by an agricultural implement and a range sensor positioned relative to the basket assembly such that the range sensor is configured to transmit detection signals towards an interior of the basket assembly and receive return signals based on reflection of the detection signals off at least one surface. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the range sensor. The controller is configured to analyze data received from the range sensor as the basket assembly rotates relative to the range sensor to determine when the basket assembly is experiencing a plugged condition.

Implement weight transfer monitoring and wing control

A work machine with a first tire having a first tire pressure sensor configured to identify a first tire pressure, a load sensor coupled to the work machine and configured to measure an actual load weight, and a controller in communication with the first tire pressure sensor and the load sensor. Wherein, the controller identifies a tire pressure value with the first tire pressure sensor and the controller determines a current load weight threshold from a plurality of load weight thresholds with the tire pressure value.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A VISUAL INDICATOR OF FIELD SURFACE PROFILE
20210089027 · 2021-03-25 · ·

In one aspect, a system for providing a visual indication of field surface profile may include an imaging device having a field of view directed to a portion of a field. Furthermore, the system may include a profile sensor configured to capture profile data indicative of a surface profile of the portion of the field present within the field of view of the imaging device. Additionally, a controller may be configured to receive, from the imaging device, image data associated with an imaged portion of the field and determine the surface profile of the imaged portion of the field based on the profile data. Moreover, the controller may be configured to control a user interface to display a visual indicator in association with the image data, with the visual indicator providing a visual reference indicative of the determined surface profile of the imaged portion of the field.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE SPACING BETWEEN GROUND ENGAGING TOOLS OF AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT

A system for adjusting the spacing between ground engaging tools of an agricultural implement may include a plurality of ground engaging tools including a first end tool, a second end tool, and at least one intermediate tool positioned between the first and second end tools, with an adjustable ground engaging width being defined between the first and second end tools. The system may further include a biasing element positioned between each respective pair of adjacent engaging tools and configured to apply a biasing force against its respective pair of adjacent tools such that an inter-tool spacing between each respective pair of adjacent tools is maintained substantially uniform across the plurality of ground engaging tools as the ground engaging width is adjusted.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE SPACING BETWEEN GROUND ENGAGING TOOLS OF AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT

A system for adjusting the spacing between ground engaging tools of an agricultural implement may include a plurality of ground engaging tools including a first end tool, a second end tool, and at least one intermediate tool positioned between the first and second end tools, with an adjustable ground engaging width being defined between the first and second end tools. The system may further include a biasing element positioned between each respective pair of adjacent engaging tools and configured to apply a biasing force against its respective pair of adjacent tools such that an inter-tool spacing between each respective pair of adjacent tools is maintained substantially uniform across the plurality of ground engaging tools as the ground engaging width is adjusted.

System and method for regulating the flow of fluid supplied to actuators of an agricultural implement

In one aspect, a system for regulating the flow of fluid supplied to actuators of an agricultural implement may include a tool and a fluid-driven actuator configured to actuate the tool relative to a surface. The system may also include a pump configured to supply fluid to the fluid-driven actuator and a valve configured to control a flow of the fluid supplied to the fluid-driven actuator. Furthermore, the system may include a first sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a first pressure upstream of the valve and a second sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a second pressure downstream of the valve. Additionally, the system may include a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second sensors, with the controller configured to determine a pressure differential across the valve based on measurement signals received from the first and second sensors.

Tillage implement having hydraulic down-pressure

A tillage implement has a frame with a center section and first and second outer wing sections hingedly attached the center section such that the wing sections can be operably raised and lowered between a field-working position and a transport position. The sections each carry tillage tools for working the soil. Controlling a precharge in a secondary side of a hydraulic circuit enables the operator of the implement to adjust the downward pressure precharge provided by a plurality of hydraulic cylinders based on a desired stiffness of the implement. A pressure-reducing valve is configured such that flow from the hydraulic supply applies downward pressure precharge on the plurality of tillage tools. Once this desired precharge has been achieved, flow from the hydraulic supply is shut off and a check valve holds the pressure such that the plurality of hydraulic cylinders holds the tillage tools in position.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING SOIL COMPOSITION AT DIFFERENT DEPTHS WITHIN A FIELD
20210215595 · 2021-07-15 · ·

A system for monitoring soil composition within a field may have a ground-engaging tool configured to engage soil within a field as an implement moves across the field. The system may further have a sensor configured to generate data indicative of a soil composition within the field, where the sensor is movable relative to the ground-engaging tool while the implement moves across the field such that the sensor generates data indicative of the soil composition at different depths within the field. Additionally, the system may have a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, with the controller being configured to determine the soil composition at the different depths within the field based at least in part on the data received from the sensor.