Abstract: An automatic point layout system identifies points and their coordinates using vertical planes of laser light. Laser controllers aim vertical laser light planes that will cross at any desired point on the jobsite floor. The user views a virtual jobsite illustration on a remote controller touchscreen display, and selects a point of interest. Commands are sent to the two laser controllers, which aim their laser transmitters at that point of interest, showing visible laser light lines that intersect directly at the point of interest, for staking. The user selects a second point of interest on the touchscreen display, commanding the laser transmitters to rotate to a new set of coordinates. The user performs these functions seamlessly; the remote controller allows the user to quickly move from one point of interest to the next, without having changing to any other operating mode between the identifying and staking of each new point.

Abstract: A center pivot irrigation system adapted for variable depth application of water under the corner sprinkler arm. The system includes a pivot sprinkler arm with a first set of nozzles, and a first set of control valves each provided on the pivot sprinkler arm upstream of a nozzle. The irrigation system includes a corner sprinkler arm pivotally coupled to an end of the pivot sprinkler arm, and the corner sprinkler arm includes a second set of spaced apart nozzles and a second set of control valves. The irrigation system includes a controller transmitting control signals to the first and second sets of control valves to open and close in a pattern that includes a valve pulsing pattern for the corner sprinkler arm, whereby input water is applied at a variable rate under the corner sprinkler arm to apply different depths to various user-defined zones.

Abstract: In a method of for generating a crop recommendation, a plurality of data sets are received by a computer system from a plurality of disparate data sources, wherein each of said plurality of data sets describes a factor affecting a crop. A benchmark is created by the computer system for each of the data sets which describes how the factor affects the market value of the crop. A model is generated by the computer system which describes the crop based upon each of said benchmarks from the plurality of data sets. A report is then generated by the computer system comprising at least one recommendation to increase the market value of the crop.

Abstract: A radio frequency component receives and digitizes a first plurality of L1 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals and a second plurality of L2C GNSS signals from a plurality of GNSS satellites. A software defined GNSS receiver operating on a processor of a cellular telephone separate from the radio frequency component derives carrier phase measurements from the first plurality of L1 GNSS signals and the second plurality of L2C GNSS signals during an epoch. A wireless message from a communication device located at a base location is received conveying pseudorange and carrier measurements derived from the first plurality of L1 GNSS signals from said plurality of GNSS satellites during the epoch. The cellular telephone determines a distance from the base location to said first location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining orientation and three-dimensional position of construction equipment are presented. An orientation device is mounted to a machine. The orientation device has an image sensor. The orientation device measures an offset between a direction of the orientation device and a reference at a known location. The heading of the machine is calculated based on the offset and the known location of the reference.

Abstract: A system for determining a location within an area defined by a grid of radio-frequency (RF) tag circuits includes RF exciters that are configured to emit unmodulated RF energy. The grid of the RF tag circuits are configured to receive the unmodulated RF energy from one or more of the RF exciters and to emit modulated RF energy. Each RF tag circuit may store information associated with a location of the RF tag circuit within the area and the modulated RF energy emitted from each RF tag circuit may carry the information.

Abstract: The invention relates to generating regional tropospheric correction information for correcting observations useful for estimating phase ambiguities and/or a position of global or regional navigation satellite systems (NSS) receiver(s). For each of a plurality of reference stations, at least one troposphere correction parameter is estimated by evaluating NSS observation equations using i) precise satellite information or the information derived from the precise satellite information, and ii) received multiple-frequency-signals-based raw observations or a linear combination thereof. The regional tropospheric correction information is then generated based on the estimated troposphere correction parameter(s) per reference station, the tropospheric correction information comprising a regional tropospheric delay function(s) and coefficients representing a tropospheric delay affecting a NSS signal passing through the troposphere in a region of interest.

Abstract: Auto-guidance of a mobile machine is provided that does not require a graphical user interface display. Human interactions with the auto-guidance system of a mobile machine are performed solely with one or more electromechanical switches of the auto-guidance system while the mobile machine is operating. A first point for auto-guidance of a mobile machine is set by an auto-guidance system in response to a first electromechanical switch input. A second point for auto-guidance of the mobile machine is set by the auto-guidance system in response to a second electromechanical switch input after movement of the mobile machine from the first point. The auto-guidance system activates auto-guidance of the mobile machine along a path defined by the first point and the second point. The setting of the first point, the setting of the second point, and the activating are performed by one or more hardware processors.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting and managing data during an agricultural manual operation is provided. The agricultural manual operation includes harvesting, planting roots, cutting flowers, and pruning and thinning fruit trees or vegetables. The apparatus comprises: an intelligent tool configured to log an event including an agricultural manual operation when a picker succeeds in picking at least one harvested product by using the intelligent tool, or planting event when a worker succeeds in planting at least one product, or cutting flowers event when a worker succeeds in cutting at least one flower product, or pruning and thinning event when a worker succeeds in thinning fruit trees. The apparatus further comprises a means for collecting a set of data relevant to at least one manually picking event, or manually planting event, or manually cutting event, or manual pruning or thinning event.

Abstract: A system for managing kinematic assets is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises an electronic identification device associated with an asset. The system further comprises a container comprising a reader disposed within the container for receiving a unique identification of the identification device. The container further comprises a reader node for maintaining an inventory record comprising the asset and for generating a report when the asset is not detected by said reader. The report further comprises a location of the container when said report is generated. The system further comprises a kinematic asset management platform comprising an asset registry for storing data conveyed by the report and a reports engine for generating a second report conveying the location of said container when the report is generated.

Abstract: A method to integrate all observations, e.g., surveying data in the form of total station data, images, and point clouds) from a surveying instrument that functions as a total station, a camera(s), and a scanner. The method provides an overall adjustment to maximize the accuracy of the adjustment by using all three types of available surveying data, and the method may be labeled an overall adjustment or integrated network adjustment to provide accurate station or instrument position data for a geodatabase for a surveyed site. The overall adjustment method allows all three types of surveying data to influence the results of the adjustment, and this achieved by generating a small number of virtual observations from the image and scan data that are of a form that allows them to be combined with or considered concurrently with the real observations from the total station as part of a single network adjustment.

Abstract: A path of travel used by an autopilot operation system for auto-guidance of a mobile machine is defined, transparently to a human operator, in response to the human operator engaging and disengaging operation of an implement coupled with the mobile machine. The auto-guidance of the mobile machine is activated, transparently to the human operator, in response to the human operator engaging the implement a second time.

Abstract: A fluid network exchange system for efficiently exchanging fluid in a fluid network for prevention of hygiene risks. The system includes a source and a plurality of sinks. The system also includes flow meters for determining the flow rate at each of the sinks and automatic flushing devices for flushing fluid at each of the sinks. The system determines an order and a flushing time for the plurality of sinks to be flushed. The sinks are flushed starting with the sink with the highest flow rate and ending with the sink with the lowest flow rate. Flushing times are determined based on the length of different pathways corresponding to different sinks.

Abstract: A method and system for non-contact location and orientation determination for an implement coupled with a mobile machine. One example detects an orientation of a recognized feature of an implement with a sensor mounted at a fixed location on the mobile machine. A range from the sensor to the recognized feature of the implement is also determined. In addition, a known operating envelope of the implement coupled with the mobile machine is accessed. The known operating envelope of the implement is then combined with the orientation and the range from the sensor to determine a position of the implement with respect to the mobile machine.

Abstract: This application discloses a GNSS reference apparatus having a vector error generator and a reference data server. The vector error generator generates one or more sequences of keyed intentional errors made confidential with confidential error keys, and then combines the sequences to generate a sequence of reference erroneous positions. The reference data server issues GNSS position-determination reference data based on the reference erroneous positions where the keyed intentional errors for at least one of the confidential sequences are reversible with confidential access to the corresponding confidential error key for determining a GNSS-based position.

Abstract: Efficient towed implement guidance to a desired path is achieved by guiding a towing vehicle toward a path on the opposite side of a desired path, then guiding the vehicle back to the desired path. Efficient forward implement guidance to a desired path is achieved by guiding a pushing vehicle along a tractrix. A vehicle leaves a straight line along a tractrix to keep a rear implement on the line as long as possible.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a system for extending the lifespan of a touch screen assembly. In one embodiment, a signal is received indicating an input pressure is being applied to a touch screen assembly. It is then determined that the input pressure comprises a valid input event and the coordinates of the valid input event are received from the touch screen assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods, notably carried out by global or regional navigation satellite system (NSS) receivers, which involve receiving satellite-specific, nadir-angle dependent correction information associated with each of at least two NSS satellites among a plurality of NSS satellites. The correction information is useful to correct observed NSS signals, so as to mitigate the effects of satellite-specific, nadir-angle dependent biases in the NSS signals, and thus improve the performance of position determination systems. The invention also relates to methods for generating such correction information, to methods for designing a satellite, to NSS receivers, to apparatuses for generating correction information to be sent to the receivers, and to computer programs and storage mediums.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques might provide for designing and/or implementing a drainage system for an agricultural area, based at least in part on three-dimensional soil modeling. In some embodiments, a computer system might identify one or more elevation points at each of a plurality of locations within the agricultural area, based on 3-D topographical surveys and 3-D soil profiles. A location of one or more outlet points within the agricultural area, where water will drain out, may be identified. The computer system might also determine location, length, and/or cross-sectional size for each of one or more drainage pipes (including main, sub-main, and lateral drainage pipes), based at least in part on optimization of location and/or costs based at least in part on the 3-D topographical surveys, the 3-D soil profiles, the one or more elevation points, and/or the location of the one or more outlet points.