Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for capturing images of a field and performing agricultural data analysis of the images. In one embodiment, a computer system for monitoring field operations includes a database for storing agricultural image data including images of at least one stage of crop development that are captured with at least one of an apparatus and a remote sensor moving through a field. The computer includes at least one processing unit that is coupled to the database. The at least one processing unit is configured to execute instructions to analyze the captured images, to determine relevant images that indicate a change in at least one condition of the crop development, and to generate a localized view map layer for viewing the field at the at least one stage of crop development based on at least the relevant captured images.

Abstract: The present Specification is directed to the heterogeneous integration of compound-semiconductor devices on indirect-bandgap material substrates. A chip comprising compound-semiconductor layer stack disposed on a handle substrate of germanium is bonded, stack-side down, to a silicon layer disposed on a host substrate. The use of a germanium handle substrate enables the handle substrate to be removed after bonding using methods that are highly selective for germanium over the compound semiconductor layer stack. As a result, the compound-semiconductor layer stack does not need to be protected during handle substrate removal and the handle substrate can be completely removed without causing damage to the compound-semiconductor layer stack. As a result, after handle-substrate removal, the materials of the layer stack can be processed further to define one or more optically active devices in conventional fashion.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an integrated sensor system with modular sensors and wireless connectivity components for monitoring properties of field soil is described. In an embodiment, an integrated sensor system comprises one or more sensors that are configured to determine one or more measures of at least one property of soil. The integrated sensor system also includes one or more processing units that are configured to receive, from the sensors, the measures of at least one property of soil and calculate soil property data based on the measures. The system further includes a transmitter that is configured to receive the soil property data from the processing units, establish a communications connection with at least one computer device, and automatically transmit the soil property data to the at least one computer device via the communications connection. In an embodiment, the communications connection is a wireless connection established between the transmitter and a smart hub or a LoRA-enabled device.

Abstract: A liquid application apparatus for applying liquid to soil during a planting operation, having: a ground-engaging component mounted to a planter row unit, the planter row unit opening a planting trench, the planter row unit depositing seeds in the planting trench, the ground-engaging component disposed at least partially within said planting trench as the planter row unit traverses the field; a first liquid injection conduit mounted to said ground-engaging component and disposed to inject liquid into a first sidewall of said planting trench, and wherein said ground-engaging component is mounted in a housing via at least one of a height adjustment arm that is pivotably mounted in the housing to allow for height adjustment of said ground-engaging component, and a spring that is pivotably mounted in the housing to allow for vertical deflection of said ground-engaging component.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and an apparatus for distributing starter fertilizer during the planting process. In an embodiment, a starter fertilizer system is configured to apply fertilizer to a planted seed during a planting process. The starter fertilizer system includes a rudder blade, a fertilizer reservoir and a conduit. The rudder blade is configured to the dig a furrow that is offset from the planted seed. The conduit is coupled with the fertilizer reservoir and the rudder blade such that fertilizer is able to traverse from the reservoir to the rudder blade. The rudder blade is offset from each row unit such that fertilizer is expelled at a desired fertilizer location.

Abstract: In one aspect, a crop input applicator is provided. In one aspect, the applicator comprises a valve (e.g., voice coil valve) disposed to deposit liquid on or near a seed furrow and/or on or near a seed. In one aspect, the applicator includes one or more seed sensors disposed to detect passage of seeds.

Abstract: A delivery assembly for a crop input delivery system. The delivery system includes a boom adapted to be supported at a proximal end from a mobile vehicle, the mobile vehicle holding a supply of the crop input, the boom supporting a conduit having a proximal end in fluid communication with the supply of crop input. The delivery system further includes a first coupler and a second coupler. The first coupler is supported on a distal end of the boom and is coupled to the conduit. The second coupler is in fluid communication with a storage tank disposed on the implement, the second coupler configured to fluidly couple with the first coupler. A clamping assembly releasably couples the first and second couplers in fluid engagement.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for agricultural data analysis. In one embodiment, a computer system for monitoring field operations includes a database for storing agricultural data including yield and field data and at least one processing unit that is coupled to the database. The at least one processing unit is configured to execute instructions to monitor field operations, to store agricultural data, to automatically determine whether at least one correlation between different variables or parameters of the agricultural data exceeds a threshold, and to perform analysis of the agricultural data to identify a category of man-made issues or other issues that have potentially caused the correlation when at least one correlation occurs between different variables or parameters of the agricultural data.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and method for monitoring weather conditions and controlling field operations based on the weather conditions. In one embodiment, a system for monitoring weather conditions for field operations includes a plurality of weather devices for monitoring weather conditions of fields with at least at one weather device in proximity to each field being monitored and at least one weather device having an electronics module for determining weather data including precipitation data. The system also includes an agricultural computer system having at least one processing unit for executing instructions for monitoring weather conditions. The at least one processing unit is configured to execute instructions to receive weather data from the plurality of weather devices for monitoring weather conditions of fields, to process the weather data, and to generate data including precipitation rate for monitoring weather conditions and operations of the plurality of weather devices.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a desired seed population rate during periods of acceleration of the agricultural planter. In one method, if the horizontal acceleration of the planter is greater than a predefined upper threshold, the seed disc is driven at a rotational speed to maintain the desired seed population rate based on a highest stable ground speed. In another method, if the horizontal acceleration is less than a predefined lower acceleration threshold, the seed disc is driven at a rotational speed to maintain the desired seed population rate based on a lowest stable ground speed. In another method, if the horizontal acceleration is less than the predefined upper acceleration threshold and is greater than the predefined lower acceleration threshold, the seed disc is driven at a rotational speed to maintain the desired seed population rate based on an a preferred planter ground speed input.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an integrated sensor system with modular sensors and wireless connectivity components for monitoring properties of field soil is described. In an embodiment, an integrated sensor system comprises one or more sensors that are configured to determine one or more measures of at least one property of soil. The integrated sensor system also includes one or more processing units that are configured to receive, from the sensors, the measures of at least one property of soil and calculate soil property data based on the measures. The system further includes a transmitter that is configured to receive the soil property data from the processing units, establish a communications connection with at least one computer device, and automatically transmit the soil property data to the at least one computer device via the communications connection. In an embodiment, the communications connection is a wireless connection established between the transmitter and a smart hub or a LoRA-enabled device.

Abstract: Crop input application systems, methods and apparatus are provided. In some embodiments, an irrigation system is provided with a reel in fluid communication with a liquid source. In some embodiments, a drop assembly is incorporated in an irrigation system. In some embodiments, a crop applicator system includes a reel positioned between adjacent rows of crop.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for capturing images of a field and performing agricultural data analysis of the images. In one embodiment, a computer system for monitoring field operations includes a database for storing agricultural image data including images of at least one stage of crop development that are captured with at least one of an apparatus and a remote sensor moving through a field. The computer includes at least one processing unit that is coupled to the database. The at least one processing unit is configured to execute instructions to analyze the captured images, to determine relevant images that indicate a change in at least one condition of the crop development, and to generate a localized view map layer for viewing the field at the at least one stage of crop development based on at least the relevant captured images.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an integrated sensor system with modular sensors and wireless connectivity components for monitoring properties of field soil is described. In an embodiment, an integrated sensor system comprises one or more sensors that are configured to determine one or more measures of at least one property of soil. The integrated sensor system also includes one or more processing units that are configured to receive, from the sensors, the measures of at least one property of soil and calculate soil property data based on the measures. The system further includes a transmitter that is configured to receive the soil property data from the processing units, establish a communications connection with at least one computer device, and automatically transmit the soil property data to the at least one computer device via the communications connection. In an embodiment, the communications connection is a wireless connection established between the transmitter and a smart hub or a LoRA-enabled device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring an agricultural implement. An example method includes, as an agricultural implement traverses a field, transmitting command signals to an implement actuator of the agricultural implement, whereby the implement actuator implements operating parameters associated with prescription data for the field. The method also includes receiving, at a monitor device, raw as-applied data from an implement sensor associated with the implement actuator, processing the raw as-applied data into processed as-applied data, and storing the processed as-applied data in a memory. The method further includes rendering a map representing the processed as-applied data, where the rendered map includes one or more application map images indicative of the processed as-applied data over an image of at least part of the field, and then displaying the rendered map.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a yield sensor of a harvesting machine. The yield sensor generates a grain force signal as clean grain piles are thrown by the elevator flights against the sensor surface of the yield sensor. A grain height sensor is disposed to detect a height of the clean grain pile on each passing elevator flight. Each grain height signal is associated with a corresponding grain force signal by applying a time shift to account for a time delay between the time the grain height signal is generated and the time at which the impact signal is generated. The grain force signal is corrected by multiplying the grain force signal by a correction factor. The correction factor is the sum of the grain height signals divided by the sum of the grain force signals over a predetermined period.

Abstract: In one aspect, a crop input applicator is provided. In one aspect, the applicator comprises a valve (e.g., voice coil valve) disposed to deposit liquid on or near a seed furrow and/or on or near a seed. In one aspect, the applicator includes one or more seed sensors disposed to detect passage of seeds.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring an agricultural implement. The system includes a monitor device, a communication module and a display device. The monitor device is in electrical communication with a plurality of sensors monitoring the operation of agricultural implement. The implement sensors generate “as-applied” data. The as-applied data is processed and transmitted to a display device via a communication module. The display device renders maps representing the as-applied data. The generated maps may be accessed and displayed as map overlays on a display device with a common view characteristic.