Abstract: A rotation sensor assembly includes a rotated component rotatably coupled with a base. The rotation sensor assembly includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is coupled with the base or the rotated component. The transmitter generates a magnetic field including a sinusoidally time-varying dipole near-field corresponding to an excitation signal having a first phase value. The receiver is coupled with the other of the rotated component or the base. The receiver detects the magnetic field and generates a reception signal based on the magnetic field with a second phase value corresponding to a rotation angle of the rotated component relative to the base. The receiver is mechanically isolated from the transmitter. A rotation angle module is coupled with the transmitter. The rotation angle module, for instance a phase detector, measures the rotation angle of the rotated component based on the phase difference in the first and second phase values.

Abstract: A wrap spring clutch system includes one or more wrap spring clutch assemblies each having a latching actuator assembly. The latching actuator assembly includes an armature plunger movably coupled with a solenoid coil, and in a powered solenoid coil state the solenoid coil moves the armature plunger between deployed and retracted configurations. A latching magnet latches the armature plunger in one of the deployed or retracted configuration in an unpowered solenoid coil state. A latching spring latches the armature plunger in the other of the deployed or retracted configuration in an unpowered solenoid coil state. The wrap spring clutches include a rotatable input hub and a rotatable output hub configured for rotation by the input hub. A helical spring is engaged with the output hub and selectively engaged in slipping and locking engagement with the input hub according to the deployed or retracted configuration of the armature plunger.

Abstract: Leading vehicle position information can be used to determine a location and heading of one or more implements of a trailing vehicle in an implement train that includes the leading vehicle. In an example, the leading vehicle pulls one or more trailing vehicles, and information about the leading vehicle position or heading is used to update a function of one or more implements associated with trailing vehicles of the implement train. In an example, the present subject matter includes identifying a heading of a trailing vehicle based on its initial location, an intermediate location, and a destination location. In an example, the present subject matter includes identifying a speed of one or more points on a trailing vehicle. In some examples, the present subject matter includes determining a location, heading, or speed of multiple implements associated with multiple trailing vehicles.

Abstract: The invention provides a system, device and method for using a rotary actuator, e.g., a stepper motor to actuate a wrap spring clutch. Feedback from a system of sensors and GPS data, including rotational speed, travel speed and direction are provided to improve the reaction accuracy of the clutch. In one embodiment, a plurality of actuator controllers are connected in a configuration wherein one controller is a “master” and the remaining controllers are “slaves” to provide a higher level of machine control.

Abstract: The invention provides a system, device and method that can control the rates of seed dispensation and fertilizer application as a function of forward speed as well as across all rows. Thus, the system and control device allow control of each individual row unit, whereby dispensation and application are effected, by a central controller which controls a plurality of pulse width modulation valves, each of which controls a hydraulic motor with an integrated rpm reduction and which drives a stub drive shaft which rotates at the proper speed in order to provide the desired seed and fertilizer metering. Each of the stub drive shafts may rotate at completely different speeds and/or may be shut down while the remaining stub drive shafts rotate at the desired speed. The integrated rpm reduction within each hydraulic motor allows very fine rotational control of the dispensation and application rates.

Abstract: A system for measuring crop moisture content in a harvester elevator includes a receiver and processing node and one or more moisture sensing instruments coupled to one or more paddles of the harvested elevator, respectively. The moisture sensing instruments each include a moisture sensor and a transmitter in communication with a receiver and processing node. The moisture sensor is configured to dynamically measure the moisture content of a static harvested crop, relative to the sensor and corresponding paddle, at ascends in the harvester elevator.

Abstract: Leading vehicle position information can be used to determine a location and heading of one or more implements of a trailing vehicle in an implement train that includes the leading vehicle. In an example, the leading vehicle pulls one or more trailing vehicles, and information about the leading vehicle position or heading is used to update a function of one or more implements associated with trailing vehicles of the implement train. In an example, the present subject matter includes identifying a heading of a trailing vehicle based on its initial location, an intermediate location, and a destination location. In an example, the present subject matter includes identifying a speed of one or more points on a trailing vehicle. In some examples, the present subject matter includes determining a location, heading, or speed of multiple implements associated with multiple trailing vehicles.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods for a multi-section applicator having variable-rate sections. In an example, an apparatus can include a flow meter to provide a substance to plurality of sections, and an applicator controller including memory configured to store a coverage map of the substance. In certain examples, each section can include a metering device configured to receive a flow command and to provide a flow of the substance to a manifold using the flow command. In certain examples, the applicator controller can be configured to receive speed information and position information of the apparatus, to receive the flow rate information, to determine application rate information of the substance for each section using the speed and position information, and the coverage map, and to provide the flow command to each metering device using the application rate and flow rate information.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods for a multi-section applicator having variable-rate sections. In an example, an apparatus can include at least one distribution manifold, a user interface, and an applicator controller. The at least one distribution manifold distributes a substance and can include an inlet port configured to receive the substance, a plurality of outlet ports, one or more sensors located at an outlet port, a controllable valve that supplies the substance to the inlet port. The applicator controller measures a value of the distribution parameter using the sensor signal produced by the at least one sensor of an outlet port, detects when the measured value differs from a specified target value by more than a specified error threshold value, and presents an indication, using the user interface, that the measured value differs from the target value according to the detection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyethylene foam and materials including the same. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a foam including a solid composition including polyethylene, and a gaseous composition including a blowing agent. Various embodiments provide a multilayered structure including the foam, and methods of making and using the foam and multilayered structure. In various embodiments, the multilayered structure can be a geomembrane.

Abstract: Guiding a leading vehicle according to a desired trailing vehicle path includes generating one or more proceeding paths for one or more intermediate locations along an implement train between a trailing vehicle first location and a leading vehicle second location. The proceeding paths generated with a propagation and transformation algorithm that propagates a preceding path of one of the first location, such as the desired trailing vehicle path, or one of one or more intermediate locations to an immediately proceeding location, and transforms the preceding path according to dimensional characteristics of the implement train. A second guiding path is generated for the leading vehicle second location with the algorithm based on the immediately preceding path of the intermediate location closest to the second location. The method facilitates guidance of the trailing vehicle along the desired trailing vehicle path without navigation markers on the implement train except for the leading vehicle.

Abstract: A system comprises a distribution boom having dispensers spaced apart along the distribution boom, a first storage container that contains an agricultural product dispensed using the distribution boom, a pump device that provides a flow stream of the agricultural product to the distribution boom, a second storage container that contains a cleaning agent, a plurality of directional control valves that alter a path of the flow stream including selectively supplying one of the cleaning agent or the agricultural product to the flow stream, and a control module in electrical communication with the pump device, the plurality of directional control valves and a user interface. The plurality of directional control valves are individually controllable by the control module according to an indication received via the user interface.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for row guidance parameterization with Hough transform are described herein. An electronic representation of a field (ERF) can be received. The ERF can include a set of feature sets including one of a set of crop row features or a set of furrow features. A first parameter space can be produced by applying a slope-intercept Hough transform (SLIHT) to members of a feature set. Peaks in the first parameter space can be identified. A second parameter space can be produced by application of the SLIHT to the peaks. A vanishing point can be calculated based on a vanishing point peak in the second parameter space. A track-angle error can be calculated from the vanishing point.

Abstract: Guiding a leading vehicle according to a desired trailing vehicle path includes generating one or more proceeding paths for one or more intermediate locations along an implement train between a trailing vehicle first location and a leading vehicle second location. The proceeding paths generated with a propagation and transformation algorithm that propagates a preceding path of one of the first location, such as the desired trailing vehicle path, or one of one or more intermediate locations to an immediately proceeding location, and transforms the preceding path according to dimensional characteristics of the implement train. A second guiding path is generated for the leading vehicle second location with the algorithm based on the immediately preceding path of the intermediate location closest to the second location. The method facilitates guidance of the trailing vehicle along the desired trailing vehicle path without navigation markers on the implement train except for the leading vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multilayered structures. In various embodiments, the present invention provides an at least partially transparent multilayered structure that includes at least one first layer including at least one polyolefin, and at least one second layer including at least one of a cyclic olefin copolymer and a cyclic olefin polymer. In various embodiments, the present invention provides methods of making such multilayered structures, and photobioreactors having compartments including such multilayered structures.

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.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for enabling at least a minimum pressure and flow rate of stored NH3 from a storage tank to knives for injection into soil, regardless of ambient temperature. A pressure sensor and control valve monitors the pressure of the NH3 flow. If the sensed pressure drops below a desired minimum, e.g., 0.5 psi, a controller drives the control valve to open and also signals ramping up of a boost pump. The boost pump pumps NH3 from the storage tank to ensure maintenance of a minimum flow rate and pressure of NH3 from the tank to the soil. The pump runs on-demand only as needed, thereby reducing power requirements when the pump is not needed to supplement NH3 tank pressure.

Abstract: A rotation sensor assembly includes a rotated component rotatably coupled with a base. The rotation sensor assembly includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is coupled with the base or the rotated component. The transmitter generates a magnetic field including a sinusoidally time-varying dipole near-field corresponding to an excitation signal having a first phase value. The receiver is coupled with the other of the rotated component or the base. The receiver detects the magnetic field and generates a reception signal based on the magnetic field with a second phase value corresponding to a rotation angle of the rotated component relative to the base. The receiver is mechanically isolated from the transmitter. A rotation angle module is coupled with the transmitter. The rotation angle module, for instance a phase detector, measures the rotation angle of the rotated component based on the phase difference in the first and second phase values.

Abstract: Metering devices for an agricultural implement are provided for applying a field input, for example, pneumatically delivered granular product including seed or fertilizer or sprayed liquid product including fertilizer and the like, to an agricultural field. In the applying of the field input, the rate of application of the 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: 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.