A multi-sensor device includes a housing having multiple cavities and one or more sensor modules. Each sensor module is configured to occupy one of the cavities, and each sensor module is configured to sense at least one plant-related parameter when the multi-sensor device is positioned proximate to a plant. The multi-sensor device also includes a control unit configured to control operation of the one or more sensor modules and a location tracking system configured to track a location of the multi-sensor device. The multi-sensor device further includes a communications interface configured to transmit information including data from the one or more sensor modules. In addition, the multi-sensor device includes an electrical power connector configured to connect the multi-sensor device to a power source.

A mobile sensory platform includes a propulsion system configured to move the mobile sensory platform along a surface of a growing area. The mobile sensory platform also includes multiple sensors configured to capture measurement data associated with multiple plants in the growing area. The mobile sensory platform further includes a communication interface configured to support two-way communication over a wireless network. In addition, the mobile sensory platform also includes a power supply and a control system configured to control movement of the mobile sensory platform and operation of the sensors. The multiple sensors include one or more microclimate sensors configured to generate microclimate sensor data based on changes in a microclimate around individual ones of the multiple plants.

Described herein are high intensity illumination systems including lighting arrays of lights, such as light emitting diodes, configured to illuminate a surface. The lighting arrays are configured to illuminate the surface with illumination comparable to or multiple times brighter than the ambient illumination, such as sunlight. Also described herein are methods of using a high intensity illumination system to illuminate a surface for applications including imaging, object detection, and object localization. The systems and methods described herein may be applied to a range of industries including farming, agriculture, construction, and autonomous vehicles.

The present disclosure includes systems and methods for managing, cultivating, producing, preparing and distributing agricultural products. Apparatus designed to improve agricultural yield and crop performance are also disclosed. According to one embodiment, the apparatus are individually coded or tagged for remotely configuring, monitoring and modifying one or more parameters associated with each apparatus.

An apparatus for weed control includes a processing unit that receives at least one image of an environment. The processing unit analyses the at least one image to determine at least one vegetation control technology from a plurality of vegetation control technologies to be used for weed control for at least a first part of the environment. An output unit outputs information that is useable to activate the at least one vegetation control technology.

The present invention relates to a system and method for operating a treatment device applying a treatment product to an agricultural area, the method comprising: obtaining (S210) at least one dataset relating to an area of interest within the agricultural area (110) to a control system (12.10); determining (S220), by the control system (12.10), from the at least one dataset a vegetative indicator relating to real-time conditions on the agricultural area (110), wherein a basic threshold for triggering application of the treatment product is dynamically adjustable in relation to the vegetative indicator; and providing (S230) a control signal, by the control system (12.10), to control the treatment device (120) based on the determined vegetative indicator and the threshold for triggering application of the treatment product.

The present invention provides probiotic compositions for promoting plant growth. The compositions include bacterial cultures of phyllobacteria and rhizobacteria isolated from media supplemented with rare earth elements. Applicants have found that such bacteria act synergistically with rare earth elements to enhance plant growth. Inoculums of the plant growth promoting bacteria for application to plants, plant seeds, or plant growth media are provided. Also provided are methods for stimulating plant growth by applying the bacterial cultures and inoculums.

Various embodiments relate generally to computer vision and automation to autonomously identify and deliver for application a treatment to an object among other objects, data science and data analysis, including machine learning, deep learning, and other disciplines of computer-based artificial intelligence to facilitate identification and treatment of objects, and robotics and mobility technologies to navigate a delivery system, more specifically, to an agricultural delivery system configured to identify and apply, for example, an agricultural treatment to an identified agricultural object. In some examples, a method may include, receiving data representing a policy specifying a type of action for an agricultural object, selecting an emitter with which to perform a type of action for the agricultural object as one of one or more classified subsets, and configuring the agricultural projectile delivery system to activate an emitter to propel an agricultural projectile to intercept the agricultural object.

A farming machine includes one or more image sensors for capturing an image as the farming machine moves through the field. A control system accesses an image captured by the one or more sensors and identifies a distance value associated with each pixel of the image. The distance value corresponds to a distance between a point and an object that the pixel represents. The control system classifies pixels in the image as crop, plant, ground, etc. based on depth information in in the pixels. The control system generates a labelled point cloud using the labels and depth information, and identifies features about the crops, plants, ground, etc. in the point cloud. The control system generates treatment actions based on any of the depth information, visual information, point cloud, and feature values. The control system actuates a treatment mechanism based on the classified pixels.

An agricultural machine includes a source of a substance to be applied to an agricultural field and a substance outlet through which the substance is configured to pass to be applied to the field. The agricultural machine further includes a controllable piezo-actuated valve and a control signal generator configured to generate a valve control signal. The piezo-actuated valve includes a valve inlet configured to be in fluidic communication with the source of substance to be applied to the field and a valve outlet through which the substance to be applied to the field passes to move through the piezo-actuated valve. The piezo-actuated valve further includes a piezo element configured to move in response to the valve control signal and a flexure, coupled to the piezo element, and configured to amplify the movement of the piezo element to provide a valve driving movement.