Abstract: A pose detection sensor, of a mobile agricultural machine, generates, for various points along a route traveled by the mobile machine, signals indicative of a pose of the pose detection sensor. A point cloud is identified, based on the signals generated by the pose detection sensor, the point cloud including a set of points that are estimated to correspond to a surface of the ground over which the mobile machine travels. Elevation values are generated for each point in the point cloud. In some examples, a plane is calculated based on the points in the point cloud, the plane including predictive elevation values of the ground surface ahead of the mobile machine.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a plurality of controllable subsystems and a forward-looking crop sensor that detects a characteristic of the crop in front of the harvester. The forward-looking sensor generates a first sensor signal indicative of the detected characteristic. The harvester further includes a component sensor that detects a characteristic of a component of the agricultural harvesting machine and generates a second sensor signal indicative of the detected characteristic. Adaptation logic receives the first and second sensor signals and determines a sensor conversion factor intermittently during operation of the agricultural harvester. Recommendation logic receives the conversion factor and generates a recommendation to change operation of a controllable subsystem, based in part on the calculated conversion factor and a value received from the forward-looking crop sensor. A control system controls the controllable subsystem based on the generated recommendation.

Abstract: A mobile agricultural machine includes a row unit having a furrow opener mounted to the row unit and configured to engage a surface of ground over which the mobile agricultural machine travels to open a furrow in the ground. A furrow closer is mounted to the row unit behind the furrow opener relative to a direction of travel of the mobile agricultural machine and is configured to engage the surface of the ground to close the furrow. An image sensor system is mounted to the row unit and configured to sense characteristics of residue and seeds in the furrow opened by the furrow opener and generate a sensor signal indicative of the characteristics. The mobile agricultural machine can further include a control system configured to generate a residue/seed characteristic indicator corresponding to the sensed characteristics and to generate an action signal to control an action of the mobile agricultural machine based on the residue/seed characteristic indicator.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a plurality of controllable subsystems and a forward-looking crop sensor that detects a characteristic of the crop in front of the harvester. The forward-looking sensor generates a first sensor signal indicative of the detected characteristic. The harvester further includes a component sensor that detects a characteristic of a component of the agricultural harvesting machine and generates a second sensor signal indicative of the detected characteristic. Adaptation logic receives the first and second sensor signals and determines a sensor conversion factor intermittently during operation of the agricultural harvester. Recommendation logic receives the conversion factor and generates a recommendation to change operation of a controllable subsystem, based in part on the calculated conversion factor and a value received from the forward-looking crop sensor. A control system controls the controllable subsystem based on the generated recommendation.

Abstract: A mobile agricultural machine includes a row unit having a furrow opener mounted to the row unit and configured to engage a surface of ground over which the mobile agricultural machine travels to open a furrow in the ground. A furrow closer is mounted to the row unit behind the furrow opener relative to a direction of travel of the mobile agricultural machine and configured to engage the surface of the ground to close the furrow. A furrow sensor system is mounted to the row unit and configured to sense characteristics relative to the furrow opened by the furrow opener and generate a sensor signal indicative of the characteristics. The mobile agricultural machine can further include a control system configured to determine a furrow quality metric corresponding to the furrow sensed by the furrow sensor system based on the sensor signal and generate an action signal to control an action of the mobile agricultural machine based on the furrow quality metric.

Abstract: A pose detection sensor, of a mobile agricultural machine, generates, for various points along a route traveled by the mobile machine, signals indicative of a pose of the pose detection sensor. A point cloud is identified, based on the signals generated by the pose detection sensor, the point cloud including a set of points that are estimated to correspond to a surface of the ground over which the mobile machine travels. Elevation values are generated for each point in the point cloud. In some examples, a plane is calculated based on the points in the point cloud, the plane including predictive elevation values of the ground surface ahead of the mobile machine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to track a blade are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a blade that is pivotable, first and second optical targets operatively coupled to the blade, and a first camera for collecting first imaging data of the first optical target within a first field of view. The example apparatus also includes a second camera for collecting second imaging data of the second optical target within a second field of view. The example apparatus also includes a selector to select at least one of the first or second imaging data, and a processor to determine an orientation of the blade based on the selected imaging data.

Abstract: An elevation map generator in a mobile agricultural machine generates an elevation map by estimating an elevation value for points in front of a work machine based on a plane derived from a measured elevation point measured by a pose detection system affixed to the work machine. Each elevation value has a corresponding confidence value that varies inversely with a distance of the point from the pose detection system. As the machine moves, additional elevation values are aggregated for each point, based on the confidence values. The machine is controlled based on the aggregated evaluation values.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to track a blade are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a blade that is pivotable, first and second optical targets operatively coupled to the blade, and a first camera for collecting first imaging data of the first optical target within a first field of view. The example apparatus also includes a second camera for collecting second imaging data of the second optical target within a second field of view. The example apparatus also includes a selector to select at least one of the first or second imaging data, and a processor to determine an orientation of the blade based on the selected imaging data.

Abstract: An elevation map generator in a mobile agricultural machine generates an elevation map by estimating an elevation value for points in front of a work machine based on a plane derived from a measured elevation point measured by a pose detection system affixed to the work machine. Each elevation value has a corresponding confidence value that varies inversely with a distance of the point from the pose detection system. As the machine moves, additional elevation values are aggregated for each point, based on the confidence values. The machine is controlled based on the aggregated evaluation values.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to track a blade are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a blade that is pivotable, first and second optical targets operatively coupled to the blade, and a first camera for collecting first imaging data of the first optical target within a first field of view. The example apparatus also includes a second camera for collecting second imaging data of the second optical target within a second field of view. The example apparatus also includes a selector to select at least one of the first or second imaging data, and a processor to determine an orientation of the blade based on the selected imaging data.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a plurality of controllable subsystems and a forward-looking crop sensor that detects a characteristic of the crop in front of the harvester. The forward-looking sensor generates a first sensor signal indicative of the detected characteristic. The harvester further includes a component sensor that detects a characteristic of a component of the agricultural harvesting machine and generates a second sensor signal indicative of the detected characteristic. Adaptation logic receives the first and second sensor signals and determines a sensor conversion factor intermittently during operation of the agricultural harvester. Recommendation logic receives the conversion factor and generates a recommendation to change operation of a controllable subsystem, based in part on the calculated conversion factor and a value received from the forward-looking crop sensor. A control system controls the controllable subsystem based on the generated recommendation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to track a blade are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a blade that is pivotable, first and second optical targets operatively coupled to the blade, and a first camera for collecting first imaging data of the first optical target within a first field of view. The example apparatus also includes a second camera for collecting second imaging data of the second optical target within a second field of view. The example apparatus also includes a selector to select at least one of the first or second imaging data, and a processor to determine an orientation of the blade based on the selected imaging data.

Abstract: A mixing system is provided comprising a first mixing tub, a first actuator to control flow of a carrier fluid, a sensor to determine a rate of flow of the fluid, and a second actuator to control flow of a dry material to form a mixture in the first mixing tub. The system further comprises a second mixing tub, a controller, and a weight sensor to determine the weight of the first mixing tub. The controller modulates the second actuator based on the rate of flow of the carrier fluid, based on the weight of the first mixing tub, and based on one of a sensed height of the mixture in the second mixing tub and a weight of the second mixing tub to provide the mixture at least one of at a commanded density and at a commanded flow rate. The mixture may be provided to a well bore to perform a servicing operation.

Abstract: Well bore servicing equipment is provided. The well bore servicing equipment comprises a first manipulator to grip a well bore work string, to raise the work string, and to lower the work string. The well bore servicing equipment further comprises a controller to receive a work string trajectory input and to automatically control the first manipulator to raise and lower the work string substantially in conformance with the work string trajectory input.

Abstract: Improved methods and systems for estimating material weight, mass and volume in real-time are disclosed. The amount of material in the container is measured. An estimate of the amount of material in the container is then obtained using the measured amount of material in the container, a desired rate of change of material, and a container system model. The estimate of the amount of material in the container is then adjusted based on the difference between the estimated and measured amount of material in the container.

Abstract: Well bore servicing equipment is provided. The well bore servicing equipment comprises a first manipulator to grip a well bore work string, to raise the work string, and to lower the work string. The well bore servicing equipment further comprises a controller to receive a work string trajectory input and to automatically control the first manipulator to raise and lower the work string substantially in conformance with the work string trajectory input.

Abstract: Well bore servicing equipment is provided. The well bore servicing equipment comprises a first manipulator to grip a well bore work string, to raise the work string, and to lower the work string. The well bore servicing equipment further comprises a controller to receive a work string trajectory input and to automatically control the first manipulator to raise and lower the work string substantially in conformance with the work string trajectory input.

Abstract: Well bore servicing equipment is provided. The well bore servicing equipment comprises a first manipulator to grip a well bore work string, to raise the work string, and to lower the work string. The well bore servicing equipment further comprises a controller to receive a work string trajectory input and to automatically control the first manipulator to raise and lower the work string substantially in conformance with the work string trajectory input.

Abstract: Well bore servicing equipment is provided. The well bore servicing equipment comprises a first manipulator to grip a well bore work string, to raise the work string, and to lower the work string. The well bore servicing equipment further comprises a controller to receive a work string trajectory input and to automatically control the first manipulator to raise and lower the work string substantially in conformance with the work string trajectory input.