Abstract: A method of monitoring a cut-crop laying in a field or during a cutting process, the method includes: receiving a sensing signal from a cut-crop sensor positioned on a mobile agricultural machine, wherein the sensing signal is representative of a sensed gaseous composition associated with the cut-crop; estimating a condition of the cut-crop based on the sensing signal; and outputting cut-crop state data including the condition of the cut-crop.

Abstract: A method for determining soil clod size within a field includes receiving an image depicting an imaged portion of the field. Furthermore, the method includes identifying a soil clod present within the imaged portion of the field. Additionally, the method includes determining a maximum height of the identified soil clod above a soil surface of the field. Moreover, the method includes determining a maximum length of the identified soil clod. In addition, the method includes determining a radius of a sphere based on the determined maximum height and the determined maximum length, with the sphere including a first portion approximating a portion of the identified soil clod positioned above the soil surface and a second portion approximating a portion of the identified soil clod positioned below the soil surface. Furthermore, the method includes determining a size of the identified soil clod based on the determined radius.

Abstract: An agitating system of an agricultural system includes a brace configured to couple to a sub-hopper of the agricultural system and a support configured to engage the brace and to support a shaft within the sub-hopper. The support includes a support piece having a first portion configured to receive the shaft and the brace has a recess configured to receive the first portion of the support piece while the support is in an installed configuration.

Abstract: A conduit for an agricultural system includes a first end configured to couple to a metering system, a second end configured to couple to a pipe, one or more bellows disposed adjacent to the second end and configured to enable the conduit to flex adjacent to the second end, and a substantially rigid portion extending generally longitudinally from the first end to the one or more bellows, where the substantially rigid portion substantially rigidly supports the conduit between the first end and the one or more bellows.

Abstract: A container for growing plants includes a bottom wall, a first side wall extending perpendicular to the bottom wall, and a second side wall extending perpendicular to the bottom wall and parallel to the first side wall such that the bottom wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall at least partially define a plant growing chamber. Furthermore, the container includes a lid configured to selectively occlude access to the plant growing chamber. Additionally, one of the bottom wall, the first or second side walls, or the lid includes a rail and another of the bottom wall, the first or second side walls, or the lid defines a groove such that the rail of the container is configured to be received within a groove of a first adjacent container and the groove of the container is configured to receive a rail of a second adjacent container.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for equalizing airflow in lines delivering product-conveying air to boom sections of an agricultural machine by controlling valves, such as electronically, in each air distribution line to induce additional pressure drops in lines which would cause imbalance in the system. Such valves can include, but are not limited to: ball valves, butterfly valves, gate valves, globe valves, diaphragm valves, pinch valves and/or plug valves. With the proposed system, the lines of least pressure drop can be induced with additional pressure drop by particular valves in order to bring the lines back to a balanced state.

Abstract: An agitating system includes an agitator disposed within a sub-hopper of the agitating system. The agitator is configured to promote movement of the particulate material through the sub-hopper. The agitating system also includes a deflector assembly configured to movably couple to a bracket at a position laterally offset from a center axis of the agitator. The deflector assembly includes a deflector that establishes a space between the deflector and the agitator, and the deflector is configured to block a portion of the particulate material from exerting a force onto the agitator as the particulate material flows through the sub-hopper.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for determining soil clod size or soil surface residue coverage of a field may include an agricultural implement configured to perform a non-soil-working operation on the field as the agricultural implement is towed across the field. Furthermore, the system may include a non-contact-based sensor installed on the agricultural implement, with the non-contact-based sensor configured to capture data indicative of at least one of a soil clod size of the field or a soil surface residue coverage of the field. Additionally, a controller of the disclosed system may be configured to receive data from the non-contact-based sensor as the agricultural implement is moved across the field. Moreover, the controller may be configured to determine at least one of the soil clod size of the field or the soil surface residue coverage of the field based on the received data.

Abstract: A system for identifying soil layers within a field includes a non-contact-based sensor configured to capture data indicative of a subsurface soil layer within the field. Furthermore, the system includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the non-contact-based sensor. In this respect, the computing system is configured to determine a thickness of the subsurface soil layer in a vertical direction based on the data captured by the non-contact-based sensor. Moreover, the computing system is configured to identify the subsurface soil layer as one of a compaction layer or a B-horizon based on the determined thickness.

Abstract: A system for monitoring tilled floor conditions within a field includes a sensor frame and a tilled floor sensing assembly supported on the sensor frame. The assembly, in turn, includes a plurality of pins configured to be extended relative to the sensor frame such that each pin penetrates a top surface of the field. Furthermore, the assembly includes a plurality of position sensors, with each position sensor configured to capture data indicative of a position of a given pin of the plurality of pins relative to the sensor frame. Moreover, the assembly includes a plurality of force sensors, with each force sensor configured to capture data indicative of a force being applied to a given pin of the plurality of pins. Additionally, the data captured by the plurality of position sensors and the data captured by the plurality of force sensors is indicative of a tilled floor profile of the field.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for detecting terrain variations within a field includes receiving one or more images depicting an imaged portion of an agricultural field. The method also includes classifying a portion of the plurality of pixels that are associated with soil within the imaged portion of the agricultural field as soil pixels with each soil pixel being associated with a respective pixel height. Additionally, the method includes identifying each soil pixel having a pixel height that exceeds a height threshold as a candidate ridge pixel and each soil pixel having a pixel height that is less than a depth threshold as a candidate valley pixel. The method further includes determining whether a ridge or a valley is present within the imaged portion of the agricultural field based at least in part on the candidate ridge pixels or the candidate valley pixels.

Abstract: An agricultural metering system includes independently controllable sets of meter rollers. Each set of meter rollers includes at least one meter roller and is configured to rotate about a respective rotational axis, and the rotational axes are generally parallel to one another and not aligned with one another. The agricultural metering system also includes meter boxes configured to receive agricultural product from a compartment of a storage tank. Each set of meter rollers is disposed within a respective meter box, and each set of meter rollers is configured to meter the agricultural product from the compartment of the storage tank. The agricultural metering system also includes distribution lines. Each distribution line is disposed downstream from a respective set of meter rollers and is configured to receive the agricultural product output from the respective set of meter rollers.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for an agricultural application includes an implement including a frame. The frame includes a center frame section and at least one movable frame section. A first imaging device is installed on the movable frame section. A second imaging device is installed inboard of the movable frame section relative to the center frame section in the unfolded position. A computing system is communicatively coupled to the first imaging device and the second imaging device. When the implement is in the unfolded position, the computing system receives image data associated with an imaged environment outward of the implement from the first imaging device. When the implement is in the folded position, the computing system receives image data associated with an imaged environment outward of the implement from the second imaging device.

Abstract: A container for growing plants includes a bottom wall, a first side wall extending perpendicular to the bottom wall, and a second side wall extending perpendicular to the bottom wall and parallel to the first side wall such that the bottom wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall at least partially define a plant growing chamber. Furthermore, the container includes a lid configured to selectively occlude access to the plant growing chamber. Additionally, the container includes a carrier assembly positioned with the plant growing chamber and movably coupled to the first side wall and the second side wall. Moreover, the container includes a tool coupled to the carrier assembly such that movement of the carrier assembly relative to the first side wall and the second side wall moves the tool within the plant growing chamber.

Abstract: A method for determining soil clod parameters within a field includes receiving, with a computing system, three-dimensional image data depicting an imaged portion of the field. The three-dimensional image data, in turn, includes a first two-dimensional image depicting the imaged portion of the field relative to a first position and a second two-dimensional image depicting the imaged portion of the field relative to a second position, with the first position being spaced apart from the second position. Furthermore, the method includes identifying, with the computing system, a soil clod depicted with the received three-dimensional image data. Additionally, the method includes comparing, with the computing system, the first and second two-dimensional images to identify a shadow surrounding at least a portion of the identified soil clod. Moreover, the method includes determining, with the computing system, a soil clod parameter associated with the identified soil clod based on the identified shadow.

Abstract: A particulate material metering system includes a controller configured to determine a radius of curvature of a path of a lead vehicle coupled to an agricultural implement. The controller is configured to determine a lead time of the lead vehicle relative to the agricultural implement based on a speed of the lead vehicle and/or the agricultural implement. The controller is configured to determine a radius of curvature of a path of the agricultural implement based on the radius of curvature of the path of the lead vehicle at a determination time, in which the determination time is a current time minus an offset time, and the offset time is based on the lead time. The controller is configured to determine target particulate material flow rates of respective metering devices of the particulate material metering system based on the radius of curvature of the path of the agricultural implement.

Abstract: A particulate material metering system includes a controller configured to determine a radius of curvature of a path of a lead vehicle coupled to an agricultural implement. The controller is configured to determine a lead time of the lead vehicle relative to the agricultural implement based on a speed of the lead vehicle and/or the agricultural implement. The controller is configured to determine a radius of curvature of a path of the agricultural implement based on the radius of curvature of the path of the lead vehicle at a determination time, in which the determination time is a current time minus an offset time, and the offset time is based on the lead time. The controller is configured to determine target particulate material flow rates of respective metering devices of the particulate material metering system based on the radius of curvature of the path of the agricultural implement.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for determining soil clods within a field includes receiving one or more images depicting an imaged portion of an agricultural field. The method also includes classifying a portion of the plurality of pixels that are associated with soil within the imaged portion of the field as soil pixels with each soil pixel being associated with a respective pixel height. The method also includes generating a first ray from a local maximum in a first direction and a second ray from the local maximum in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first ray until opposing endpoints are determined based on a detected edge condition. Lastly, the method includes determining whether a soil clod based at least in part the first ray or the second ray of the candidate soil clod.