Apparatus and methods for detecting and remediating clogged gauge wheels, closing wheels, and seed tubes of an agricultural planter.

A method for automating an agricultural work task includes specifying one or more site-specific target values or weighting factors with respect to process-related or agronomic quality criteria via an interface module according to which the work task is to be executed by the soil cultivation implement. The method includes converting the target values or weighting factors in an optimization module into process control variables representing working or operating parameters of the soil cultivation implement, and adjusting the process control variables in a stabilization module by activating positioning or operating units of the soil cultivation implement or the agricultural tractor. In the converting step, feedback data is included with respect to a status of a field surface before or after the cultivation by the implement and with respect to an operating status of the implement or the tractor in order to modify the process control variables.

A method for the evaluation of signals of a rangefinder having at least one sensor point involves carrying out measurements cyclically, wherein the rangefinder emits a plurality of measurement points that indicate a distance from the sensor point. The rangefinder measures distances in a plurality of directions, and a horizontal angle is associated with each measurement point. The measurement points are differentiated into useful signals and interfering signals based on the distance. Measurement points with a distance below a first limiting value are identified as interfering signals, and measurement points above the first limiting value are identified as useful signals. Useful signals are associated with a first measurement area when they satisfy a predetermined condition for distance and horizontal angle. The quantity of useful signals in the first measurement area is determined, and a warning signal is emitted when the quantity of useful signals lies below a first threshold value.

A method for the evaluation of signals of a rangefinder having at least one sensor point involves carrying out measurements cyclically, wherein the rangefinder emits a plurality of measurement points that indicate a distance from the sensor point. The rangefinder measures distances in a plurality of directions, and a horizontal angle is associated with each measurement point. The measurement points are differentiated into useful signals and interfering signals based on the distance. Measurement points with a distance below a first limiting value are identified as interfering signals, and measurement points above the first limiting value are identified as useful signals. Useful signals are associated with a first measurement area when they satisfy a predetermined condition for distance and horizontal angle. The quantity of useful signals in the first measurement area is determined, and a warning signal is emitted when the quantity of useful signals lies below a first threshold value.

A system for assessing the performance of an agricultural implement may include a ground engaging tool configured to engage soil within a field as the agricultural implement is moved across the field such that the ground engaging tool creates a field material cloud aft of the ground engaging tool in a direction of travel of the agricultural implement. The system may further include a sensor configured to detect a cloud characteristic of the field material cloud and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The controller may be configured to monitor data received from the sensor and assess the agricultural operation being performed based at least in part on the cloud characteristic.

A system for de-plugging ground engaging tools of an agricultural implement includes a ground engaging tool. A fluid nozzle is in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source such that pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source is flowable to the fluid nozzle. The fluid nozzle is oriented towards the ground engaging tool. Thus, pressurized fluid from the fluid nozzle is flowable towards, next to and/or against the ground engaging tool.

A meter roller for an agricultural metering system includes multiple flutes and corresponding recesses. The flutes and the corresponding recesses are configured to meter flowable particulate material from a storage tank to a material distribution system via rotation of the meter roller. The meter roller also includes multiple air passages formed within a body of the meter roller. Each air passage is fluidly coupled to a central cavity of the meter roller and extends to a base of a respective recess, and the air passage is configured to flow air from the central cavity into the respective recess.

A system for managing material accumulation relative to ground engaging tools of an agricultural implement may include a ground engaging tool and an acoustic sensor configured to generate data indicative of an acoustic parameter of a sound produced as the ground engaging tool engages the ground when a ground engaging operation is performed within a field. Additionally, the system may include a controller communicatively coupled to the acoustic sensor. The controller may be configured to monitor the data received from the acoustic sensor and determine a presence of material accumulation relative to the ground engaging tool based at least in part on the acoustic parameter.

A system for detecting the operational status of ground engaging tools for agricultural implements includes an agricultural implement including a frame and a ground engaging tool coupled to the frame. The system further includes one or more sensors supported relative to the frame. The sensor(s) are configured to capture data indicative of a fluid flow past the ground engaging tool as the agricultural implement is moved across the field. The system further includes a controller configured to monitor the data received from the sensor(s) and identify an operational status of the ground engaging tool based at least in part on a comparison between one or more monitored values associated with the fluid flow past the ground engaging tool as the agricultural implement is moved across the field and a predetermined threshold value.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A system for managing material accumulation relative to an agricultural implement may include a ground engaging tool supported on an agricultural implement and an infrared sensor having a field of view directed towards the ground engaging tool, The infrared sensor may be configured to generate data indicative of a temperature gradient of field materials at the ground engaging tool. A controller of the system may be communicatively coupled to the infrared sensor. The controller may monitor the data received from the infrared sensor and determine a presence of material accumulation relative to the ground engaging tool based at least in part on the temperature gradient of the field materials at the ground engaging tool.