Abstract: A method of controlling formation of a bale includes: forming a bale from crop material by rotating the bale in a bale chamber; receiving with a controller of a control system at least one operating condition value corresponding to at least one operating condition sensed by a sensor when the bale is forming; automatically determining with the controller a power take-off speed of a drive mechanism responsive to receiving the at least one received operating condition value; and applying with the control system the determined power take-off speed to the drive mechanism.

Abstract: By injecting a chemical fluid and a carrier fluid directly at each nozzle, and by then mixing the fluids at each nozzle to produce a mixed fluid, an improved spray system may be provided which does not contaminate the tank or distribution system with chemical fluid and which allows improved spraying with minimal delay. Accordingly, a system is provided on a field sprayer for independently controlling the flow rate of concentrated chemical fluid to individual spray nozzles using a high pressure chemical distribution rail or loop routed to each nozzle and solenoid injection valves to control the flow of chemical fluid to each nozzle independently.

Abstract: By injecting a chemical fluid and a carrier fluid directly at each nozzle, and by then mixing the fluids at each nozzle to produce a mixed fluid, an improved spray system may be provided which does not contaminate the tank or distribution system with chemical fluid and which allows improved spraying with minimal delay. Accordingly, a system is provided on a field sprayer for independently controlling the flow rate of concentrated chemical fluid to individual spray nozzles using a high pressure chemical distribution rail or loop routed to each nozzle and solenoid injection valves to control the flow of chemical fluid to each nozzle independently.

Abstract: A system for metering liquids at very low flows for use with agricultural sprayers is provided. The system may utilize two electronically controlled solenoid valves in series with a storage chamber in between. The flow may be a function of the PWM control of each of the valves, the phase relationship between the control signals, the storage chamber in between, the pressure difference across the metering device, and the fluid being metered.

Abstract: With the use of a low cost microphone mounted at each nozzle, a sound signature of the nozzles may be captured and stored to be used as a continuous indicator of any changes in the flow rate of the nozzles. By measuring changes in sound at each nozzle, it is possible to determine the change in flow before a change in pressure manifests into a problem in the system. The change in sound will oftentimes be significant for plugged nozzles, or nozzles that have excessive wear and flow at too high of a rate. The invention has the advantage of being relatively low cost with ceramic microphones, for example, and with little or no moving parts required. A closed loop control system may be included to compensate for nozzle degradation.

Abstract: The present inventors have recognized that a spinner spreader system may be augmented with an air assist system in which an air current is generated to engage particles after they have left the spinner spreader system to thereby enhance the trajectory of the particles. In one aspect, one or more fans with appropriate ductwork may be added below one or more spinning disks to direct jets or curtains of air in the direction of the broadcast pattern of particles leaving the one or more disks. The directed air stream should preferably be faster than the particles leaving the one or more disks, thereby adding additional acceleration to the particles compensating opposing forces.

Abstract: A method of controlling formation of a bale includes: forming a bale from crop material by rotating the bale in a bale chamber; receiving with a controller of a control system at least one operating condition value corresponding to at least one operating condition sensed by a sensor when the bale is forming; automatically determining with the controller a power take-off speed of a drive mechanism responsive to receiving the at least one received operating condition value; and applying with the control system the determined power take-off speed to the drive mechanism.

Abstract: With the use of electromagnetic radiation sources, such as lasers emitting light, and corresponding detectors, spray patterns from spray nozzle assemblies can be sampled and compared to one or more calibration patterns to determine if nozzles of spray nozzle assemblies are worn out. A unique calibration pattern could be used to compare for each spray nozzle assembly, and/or a single calibration pattern could be used to compare for multiple spray assemblies. In one aspect, detectors can be arranged near sources to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by spray patterns. In another aspect, detectors can be arranged opposite of sources to detect electromagnetic radiation transmitted through a spray pattern.

Abstract: A system for metering liquids at very low flows for use with agricultural sprayers is provided. The system may utilize two electronically controlled solenoid valves in series with a storage chamber in between. The flow may be a function of the PWM control of each of the valves, the phase relationship between the control signals, the storage chamber in between, the pressure difference across the metering device, and the fluid being metered.

Abstract: A remotely positionable stabilizer wheel arrangement for a towable agricultural implement utilizes a control unit that receives an input signal indicative of a desired position of the stabilizer wheel, and/or a desired depth of penetration of tillage tools operatively attached to the front and rear of the implement frame, to automatically control a hydraulic positioning cylinder of the remotely positionable stabilizer wheel arrangement to position and hold the stabilizer wheel at the desired position of the stabilizer wheel, by controlling pressure in the hydraulic cylinder to hold the stabilizer wheel at a target position determined from the desired position input signal.

Abstract: With the use of a low cost microphone mounted at each nozzle, a sound signature of the nozzles may be captured and stored to be used as a continuous indicator of any changes in the flow rate of the nozzles. By measuring changes in sound at each nozzle, it is possible to determine the change in flow before a change in pressure manifests into a problem in the system. The change in sound will oftentimes be significant for plugged nozzles, or nozzles that have excessive wear and flow at too high of a rate. The invention has the advantage of being relatively low cost with ceramic microphones, for example, and with little or no moving parts required. A closed loop control system may be included to compensate for nozzle degradation.

Abstract: With the use of electromagnetic radiation sources, such as lasers emitting light, and corresponding detectors, spray patterns from spray nozzle assemblies can be sampled and compared to one or more calibration patterns to determine if nozzles of spray nozzle assemblies are worn out. A unique calibration pattern could be used to compare for each spray nozzle assembly, and/or a single calibration pattern could be used to compare for multiple spray assemblies. In one aspect, detectors can be arranged near sources to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by spray patterns. In another aspect, detectors can be arranged opposite of sources to detect electromagnetic radiation transmitted through a spray pattern.

Abstract: A method for calibrating crop residue data for a field acquired using a vision-based system may include receiving image data associated with an imaged portion of the field, analyzing the image data using a first residue-estimating technique to determine a first estimated value of a crop residue parameter for the imaged portion of the field, and analyzing the image data using a second residue-estimating technique to determine a second estimated value of the crop residue parameter for the imaged portion of the field. In addition, when a differential exists between the first and second estimated values, the method may also include adjusting at least one of the first estimated value or one or more additional estimated values of the crop residue parameter determined using the first residue-estimating technique based on at least one of the second estimated value or the differential between first and second estimated values.

Abstract: A method for calibrating crop residue data for a field acquired using a vision-based system may include receiving image data associated with an imaged portion of the field, analyzing the image data using a first residue-estimating technique to determine a first estimated value of a crop residue parameter for the imaged portion of the field, and analyzing the image data using a second residue-estimating technique to determine a second estimated value of the crop residue parameter for the imaged portion of the field. In addition, when a differential exists between the first and second estimated values, the method may also include adjusting at least one of the first estimated value or one or more additional estimated values of the crop residue parameter determined using the first residue-estimating technique based on at least one of the second estimated value or the differential between first and second estimated values.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for conducting agricultural operations in a field using one or more autonomous vehicles in which the agricultural operations may be optimized during run time. The system includes providing a mission plan for an autonomous vehicle, receiving progress updates from the vehicle as it conducts an agricultural operation according to the mission plan, and monitoring for event conditions which may be reported by the vehicle. Event conditions may include, for example, detection of an obstacle, or an oncoming vehicle, or a disablement of the vehicle. Upon receiving an event condition, the system may revise the mission plan to resolve the event condition while providing an optimization based on current agricultural conditions.

Abstract: A remotely positionable stabilizer wheel arrangement for a towable agricultural implement utilizes a control unit that receives an input signal indicative of a desired position of the stabilizer wheel, and/or a desired depth of penetration of tillage tools operatively attached to the front and rear of the implement frame, to automatically control a hydraulic positioning cylinder of the remotely positionable stabilizer wheel arrangement to position and hold the stabilizer wheel at the desired position of the stabilizer wheel, by controlling pressure in the hydraulic cylinder to hold the stabilizer wheel at a target position determined from the desired position input signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for conducting agricultural operations in a field using autonomous vehicles in which a collision avoidance mechanism may be provided. The system may include providing a mission plan for autonomous vehicles to conduct agricultural operations, establishing a hierarchy for the vehicles, and monitoring for an event conditions indicating vehicles are traveling toward a collision with respect to one another. Upon receiving an event condition, the system may revise the mission plan to adjust a path of one of the vehicles based on the hierarchy in order to avoid the collision.

Abstract: A method for calibrating crop residue data for a field acquired using a vision-based system may include receiving image data associated with an imaged portion of the field, analyzing the image data using a first residue-estimating technique to determine a first estimated value of a crop residue parameter for the imaged portion of the field, and analyzing the image data using a second residue-estimating technique to determine a second estimated value of the crop residue parameter for the imaged portion of the field. In addition, when a differential exists between the first and second estimated values, the method may also include adjusting at least one of the first estimated value or one or more additional estimated values of the crop residue parameter determined using the first residue-estimating technique based on at least one of the second estimated value or the differential between first and second estimated values.

Abstract: A crop feeding mechanism for a harvester includes one or a plurality of screws or augers positioned in a hollow chamber of defined by the interior surface of an elongated frame, whereby the interior surface is tapered with decreasing volume in it rear portion. The one or a plurality of screws or augers are affixed upon a rotating axis and, as crop material is fed into the chamber, the one or a plurality of screws or augers conveys crop material rearward toward the tapered end and compact the crop materials so that the compacted crop material is extruded out of an opening at the rear end at a rate and temperature and in a form sufficient to allow a net wrap mechanism positioned at or near the opening to wrap the crop into a bale.

Abstract: A system for determining knife usage. The system includes an infeed cutter including a cutter rotor, a knife drawer, and a plurality of knives extending through the knife drawer. The cutter rotor is mounted above the knife drawer such that a cutting zone for crop material is defined. The system further includes a measuring device configured to measure a quantity which is representative for the couple exerted by the cutter rotor on crop material going through the cutting zone of the infeed cutter, a controller configured to control the measuring device for measuring values for the quantity at consecutive moments in time, and a knife usage determining module configured to determine knife usage based on the measured values.