Abstract: A dynamic yield monitor system includes a plurality of instruments to measure harvested crop characteristics while a crop is in-flow within a harvester elevator. The system includes a volume instrument that measures a harvested crop volume from the in-flow harvested crop within the harvester elevator, and a weight instrument that measures a harvested crop weight from the in-flow harvested crop within the harvester elevator. Optionally, the system includes other instruments including a moisture and temperature instrument. A receiver and processing node communicates with the instrument. The receiver and processing determines variable harvested crop test weight based on at least the measured harvested crop volume and measured harvested crop weight of the in-flow crop. The receiver and processing node further determines a variable yield of the harvested crop based on the measured harvested crop volume, the measured harvested crop weight, and the variable harvested crop test weight.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing an edge of a region includes at least one distance sensor configured to detect a plurality of distances of objects along a plurality of adjacent scan lines. A controller is in communication with the at least one distance sensor and is configured to determine a location of an edge of a region within the plurality of adjacent scan lines. The controller includes a comparator module configured to compare values corresponding to the detected plurality of distances, and an identification module configured to identify the location of the edge of the region according to the compared values. In one example, the values corresponding to the detected plurality of distances include couplets of standard deviations that are analyzed and selected to identify the location of the edge.

Abstract: System and techniques for an image filter based on row identification are described herein. A crop row center represented in an image of a crop row can be calculated. A filter corresponding to a set of expected crop characteristics of the crop row can be obtained. Elements in the image can then be categorized based on applying the filter to the image when the filter anchored on the crop row.

Abstract: A system for controlling nozzle flow rate includes a master node having an expected overall flow rate module configured to generate an expected overall flow rate of an agricultural product based on one or more sprayer characteristics, and an adjustment module configured to generate an error correction based on a difference between the expected overall flow rate and an actual overall flow rate of the agricultural product. A plurality of smart nozzles are in communication with the master node, each of the smart nozzles includes an electronic control unit in communication with one or more control valves and one or more nozzle assemblies. Each of the smart nozzles includes a target smart nozzle flow rate module configured to generate a target smart nozzle flow rate of the agricultural product based on the one or more sprayer characteristics. The target smart nozzle flow rate is adjusted according to the error correction.

Abstract: An atmospheric balloon descent system includes a system housing having a drogue chamber containing a drogue chute and a parachute chamber containing a parachute. The parachute coupled with the drogue chute with a drogue tether. A riser tether extends between a descent system end portion and a balloon system end portion, and the descent system end portion is coupled with the parachute. A drogue cover release is coupled between the riser tether and the drogue cover. The descent system transitions between riser deployment and parachute deployment configurations. In the riser deployment configuration the system housing is decoupled from the atmospheric balloon system and the riser tether is deployed between the system housing and the atmospheric balloon system. In the parachute deployment configuration the deployed riser tether opens the drogue chamber and deploys the drogue chute and the deployed drogue chute opens the parachute chamber and deploys the parachute.

Abstract: An atmospheric balloon includes an upper apex and a lower apex and a balloon membrane. The balloon membrane includes a plurality of balloon gores. The balloon gores extend between the upper and lower apexes. One or more of the balloon gores includes upper straight line gore edges and lower straight line gore edges. The upper and lower straight line gore edges are coupled along one or more corresponding upper and lower straight line gore edges of adjacent balloon gores of the plurality of balloon gores. The one or more balloon gores are formed with cutting the gore material along a straight line cutting edge to form the upper and lower straight line gore edges.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of calculating a geospatial position by a mobile device by monitoring with the mobile device a first control channel from a first cell of a cellular communications system; monitoring with the mobile device a second control channel from a second cell of the cellular communications system at the same time as the first cellular control channel; receiving with the mobile device a first correction value sent over the first control channel; receiving with the mobile device a second correction value sent over the second control channel; receiving with the mobile device a signal from a global navigation satellite system; calculating with the mobile device the geospatial position based upon the signal from the global navigation satellite system and at least one of the first correction value and the second correction value.

Abstract: A load based pressure and flow control system including a variable displacement hydraulic motor and a flow control valve coupled with a motor inlet. A motor inlet pressure sensor is interposed between the variable displacement hydraulic motor and the flow control valve, the motor inlet pressure sensor configured to measure a motor inlet pressure at the motor inlet. An output sensor is coupled with a motor output of the variable displacement hydraulic motor and configured to measure an output characteristic of the variable displacement hydraulic motor. A displacement and flow controller of the system is configured to change displacement of the variable displacement hydraulic motor according to a pressure difference across the flow control valve between the measured motor inlet pressure and a hydraulic system pressure, and change a flow rate of hydraulic fluid through the flow control valve according to the measured output characteristic of the hydraulic motor.

Abstract: A reaping based yield monitor system includes one or more reaping yield instruments configured for coupling with a harvester head. The one or more reaping yield instruments measure at least one crop characteristic of a harvested crop in sections of the harvester head. A yield monitor determines a variable yield of the harvested crop. An apportionment module apportions the variable yield of the harvested crop to the sections of the harvester head based on the at least one crop characteristic measured in each of the sections of the harvester head. In another example, a stand counting module counts a harvested standing crop with the one or more reaping yield instruments and a stand count output module output a harvested standing crop value based on one or more of the counted harvested standing crop or filtered measured values of a stand characteristic measured with the one or more reaping yield instruments.

Abstract: A metering device for an agricultural implement to apply a field input, for example, pneumatically delivered granular product including seed or fertilizer, to an agricultural field. the rate of application of dispensers of one section of the implement can be collectively varied in relation to the rate of application of the dispensers of a different section of the implement frame.

Abstract: A holding tank cover includes a gas permeable insulating membrane and a gas impermeable cover layer sized to overlay and conceal the gas permeable membrane. Together, the gas permeable membrane and the gas impermeable cover layer facilitate a controlled transmission of gas between an interior of the holding tank and an environment external to the holding tank.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein adjust harvest characteristics by selecting one or more harvest characteristics according to the location of a harvester within a field. For example, the selection includes determining the location of the harvester within the field, associating the location with a corresponding zone of a plurality of zones in the field where each of the plurality of zones corresponds to a respective crop planted within the field (for instance a hybrid type), and assigning one or more harvest characteristics to a harvest operation according to at least the corresponding zone and the respective crop within the corresponding zone. Harvest operations are conducted with the assigned one or more harvest characteristics. The systems and methods described repeat selecting the one or more harvest characteristics as the harvester changes location within the field according to further examples.

Abstract: Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems and machine readable mediums to efficiently stream data across restricted networks. In some examples, this streamed data may be sent more efficiently using lower overhead protocols such as UDP. In order to bypass the aforementioned limitations on these lower overhead protocols, the client may send a periodic update message to the server. This update message maintains the openings in the network firewalls and updates the server on the client's status. This update message may be sent much less frequently than a typical TCP acknowledgement, and the lower overhead protocol may be a protocol that does not retransmit lost or corrupted packets—thereby eliminating unnecessary overhead. In some examples this streamed data may be GNSS correction data. In some examples, the client may be behind one or more network firewalls.

Abstract: A balloon system includes a balloon having a balloon membrane extending between an upper apex and a lower apex opening. The lower apex opening extends through the balloon membrane at a balloon lip. A ballonet is within the balloon. The ballonet is coupled with the balloon membrane at the lower apex opening. The ballonet includes a lower ballonet panel having a lower perimeter edge and a ballonet orifice extending through the lower ballonet panel at a ballonet lip and an upper ballonet panel having an upper perimeter edge. The upper and lower ballonet panels are coupled along the respective upper and lower perimeter edges. A lower apex fitting couples the ballonet with the balloon at the balloon lip of the lower apex opening.

Abstract: A system for determining a volume of loose material within a container comprises a support arm mountable above the container, an array of one or more sensors mounted to the support arm, wherein each of the one or more sensors is configured to determine a discrete distance measurement between the array and a surface of the loose material or a surface of the container, and at least one processor in communication with the array of one or more sensors, the processor configured to estimate a volume of the loose material in the container from discrete distance measurements determined by the one or more sensors of the array.

Abstract: A system for nozzle control includes an overall system pressure valve, configured to adjust the pressure of an agricultural product within a boom. A master node is configured to receive an overall system flow rate measurement, an overall target flow rate, and an overall system pressure measurement, the master node configured to adjust the overall system pressure valve to control the pressure of the agricultural product. A plurality of smart nozzles are configured to dispense the agricultural product, the plurality of smart nozzles each having an electronic control unit (ECU) and one or more individual nozzles, the smart nozzle is configured to control a nozzle flow rate of the associated one or more individual nozzles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing wide-area surveillance with a radar and/or other sensors from a stratospheric balloon launched from a land or ship platform for detection, tracking, and classification of maritime, land, and air objects such as ships, people/vehicles, or aircraft are described generally herein. In one or more embodiments, an apparatus is battery operated and includes a stratospheric balloon filled that is filled with helium when it is launched and a gondola with a radar system and communication equipment suspended therefrom. When launched, the apparatus can travel with the wind until it reaches an altitude of approximately 68,500 ft., then it can move substantially horizontally with the stratospheric winds until it returns to earth via a parachute. Multiple apparatus launches at periodic intervals can help provide continuous coverage of the surveillance area. The apparatus can be recovered and re-used or can be considered expendable.

Abstract: A system for generating a non-visual notification of a machine condition includes a machine condition sensor configured to sense a machine condition. A notification generation controller is in communication with the machine condition sensor. The notification generation controller generates a notification according to the sensed machine condition. In a feedback configuration the notification generation controller compares an integral of a rate of change of the sensed machine condition with a threshold to trigger the generation of a notification. In a guidance configuration the notification generation controller uses the deviation of the machine condition from a guidance direction determined with a steering algorithm to control the generation of a notification. A non-visual notification generator is in communication with the notification generation controller and generates a non-visual notification based on the notification.

Abstract: System and techniques for optical flow sensing applications in agricultural vehicles are described herein. A plurality of digital images of an agricultural environment can be obtained from a sensor affixed to agricultural equipment. The plurality of digital images can include a first image and a second image, the second image being captured subsequent to the first image. A transformation of a landmark between the first image and the second image can be identified. A degree of motion for the agricultural equipment relative to an environmental target can be calculated based on the transformation of the landmark.

Abstract: An example includes a method to estimate a bias affecting an inertial sensor. The method can include monitoring a plurality of rate-of-turn samples, from the inertial sensor, in a sequence over time, wherein each of the plurality of rate-of-turn samples includes substantially the same actual bias value that is included in each of the plurality of other rate-of-turn samples. The method can include estimating the bias as a weighted average of the plurality of rate-of-turn samples. The method can include determining an adjusted rate-of-turn sample by subtracting the bias from an instant rate-of-turn sample of the plurality of rate-of-turn samples. The method can include putting out the adjusted rate-of-turn.