Abstract: In one aspect, a system for determining soil parameters of a field across which an agricultural implement is being moved may include a sensor mounted on a ground engaging member. As such, the sensor may be configured to capture data indicative of a soil parameter of soil within the field. Furthermore, the system may include a controller configured to receive an input indicative of a selected planting depth for the field. Moreover, the controller may be configured to control an operation of an actuator in a manner that adjusts the penetration depth of the ground engaging member such that the sensor is positioned at the selected planting depth. Additionally, the controller may be configured to determine the soil parameter of the soil within the field at the selected planting depth based on the data received from the sensor.

Abstract: A method for automatically leveling an agricultural implement being towed by a work vehicle includes monitoring a vehicle inclination angle via at least one vehicle-based sensor supported on the work vehicle, monitoring an implement inclination angle via at least one implement-based sensor supported on the implement, and determining that the work vehicle has begun to travel across an inclined surface based on the vehicle inclination angle. The method further includes initially adjusting a position of a hitch of the work vehicle in a first direction to maintain the implement inclination angle within a predetermined angular inclination range as the vehicle travels across the inclined surface and adjusting the position of the hitch in a second direction opposite the first direction to maintain the implement inclination angle within the predetermined angular inclination range.

Abstract: A method for controlling the actuation of wing sections of an agricultural implement may include regulating a supply of hydraulic fluid to a wing actuator coupled to a wing section to pivot the wing section relative to a center frame section of the implement from a transport position towards a work position. The method may also include monitoring a wheel load associated with at least one wheel of the wing section as the wing section is being moved towards the work position and detecting when the wheel(s) of the wing section contacts the ground based at least in part on the monitored wheel load. In addition, the method may include adjusting one or more flow parameters of the supply of hydraulic fluid to the wing actuator to reduce an actuation rate at which the wing section is being pivoted after detecting that wheel(s) has contacted the ground.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for controlling the operation of an agricultural implement may include an agricultural implement configured to perform an agricultural operation on a field as the implement is moved across the field. A controller of the system configured to receive data indicative of a plurality of field characteristics of the field. The controller may also be configured to determine first and second soil moisture content values of the soil within the field at first and second depths below a field surface of the field based on the received data, respectively. Additionally, the controller may be configured to initiate adjustment of an operating parameter of the agricultural implement based on the determined the first soil moisture content value and the determined second soil moisture content value.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for rephasing fluid-driven actuators includes a plurality of fluid-driven actuators fluidly coupled together in series. A controller is configured to monitor a position differential existing between current positions of rods of the actuators relative to a differential threshold based on sensor measurements. The actuators are out-of-phase when the monitored differential exceeds the threshold. The controller is also configured to initiate a flow of fluid to the actuators to rephase the actuators when the monitored differential exceeds the threshold. The controller is further be configured to continue to monitor the differential following initiation of the flow of fluid to the actuators. Additionally, the controller is configured to implement a control action associated with terminating the rephasing of the actuators when the monitored differential remains constant after a first time period has elapsed following initiation of the flow of fluid.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for determining soil parameters of a field across which an agricultural implement is being moved may include a sensor mounted on a ground engaging member. As such, the sensor may be configured to capture data indicative of a soil parameter of soil within the field. Furthermore, the system may include a controller configured to receive an input indicative of a selected planting depth for the field. Moreover, the controller may be configured to control an operation of an actuator in a manner that adjusts the penetration depth of the ground engaging member such that the sensor is positioned at the selected planting depth. Additionally, the controller may be configured to determine the soil parameter of the soil within the field at the selected planting depth based on the data received from the sensor.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for adjusting fore/aft level trim of the frame of a towed agricultural tillage implement utilize an electronic control unit that receives an input signal indicative of a desired depth of penetration of tillage tools operatively attached to the front and rear of the implement frame, and automatically computes a desired for/aft trim angle as a function of the desired depth input, and then adjusts the fore/aft trim of the implement frame by titling the frame toward the front or rear of the frame in accordance with the desired fore/aft trim angle computed from the desired depth input signal.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for monitoring soil conditions within a field may include an implement configured to be traversed across a field. The implement may further include a plurality of ground engaging tools pivotally coupled to the frame and a plurality of sensors. Each sensor may be configured to detect a parameter indicative of a current position of one of the plurality of ground engaging tools. Additionally, the system may include a controller configured to monitor a displacement of each ground engaging tool and determine a current global ground engaging tool displacement parameter for the implement based on the monitored displacements of the plurality of ground engaging tools. Additionally, the controller may be configured to identify a soil condition for a swath of the field being traversed by the implement based on a comparison between the current global ground engaging tool displacement parameter and a predetermined global displacement threshold.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for adjusting fore/aft level trim of the frame of a towed agricultural tillage implement utilize an electronic control unit that receives an input signal indicative of a desired depth of penetration of tillage tools operatively attached to the front and rear of the implement frame, and automatically computes a desired for/aft trim angle as a function of the desired depth input, and then adjusts the fore/aft trim of the implement frame by titling the frame toward the front or rear of the frame in accordance with the desired fore/aft trim angle computed from the desired depth input signal.

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: In one aspect, a system for monitoring the displacement of a ground engaging tool of an agricultural implement. A controller of the system may be configured to monitor a magnitude of a displacement defined between a current position of a ground engaging tool of the implement and a predetermined ground engaging tool position. The controller may also be configured to initiate a first control action when it is determined that the magnitude of the displacement of the ground engaging tool exceeds a first threshold displacement value. Moreover, the controller may further be configured to initiate a second control action when it is determined that the magnitude of the displacement of the ground engaging tool exceeds a second threshold displacement value, with the second threshold displacement value corresponding to a greater displacement relative to the predetermined ground engaging tool position than the first displacement threshold value.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for monitoring frame levelness of an agricultural implement may include first and second sensors configured to detect first and second parameters indicative of forces exerted on first and second ground engaging tools of the implement by the ground, respectively. The system may also include a controller configured to monitor a parameter differential between the first and second parameters based on measurement signals received from the first and second sensors, with the monitored parameter differential being indicative of at least one of pitch or roll of a frame of the implement. The controller may be further configured initiate a control action associated with adjusting the pitch and/or the roll of the frame based on a magnitude of the monitored parameter differential to adjust an orientation of the frame relative to the ground.

Abstract: A method for automatically leveling an agricultural implement being towed by a work vehicle may generally include monitoring a vehicle inclination angle via at least one vehicle-based sensor supported on the work vehicle, monitoring an implement inclination angle via at least one implement-based sensor supported on the implement, and determining that the work vehicle has begun to travel across an inclined surface based on the vehicle inclination angle. Additionally, the method may include initially adjusting a position of a hitch of the work vehicle in a first direction to maintain the implement inclination angle within a predetermined angular inclination range as the vehicle travels across the inclined surface and adjusting the position of the hitch in a second direction opposite the first direction to maintain the implement inclination angle within the predetermined angular inclination range as at least one ground-engaging component of the implement travels across the inclined surface.

Abstract: A method for controlling the actuation of wing sections of an agricultural implement may include regulating a supply of hydraulic fluid to a wing actuator coupled to a wing section to pivot the wing section relative to a center frame section of the implement from a transport position towards a work position. The method may also include monitoring a wheel load associated with at least one wheel of the wing section as the wing section is being moved towards the work position and detecting when the wheel(s) of the wing section contacts the ground based at least in part on the monitored wheel load. In addition, the method may include adjusting one or more flow parameters of the supply of hydraulic fluid to the wing actuator to reduce an actuation rate at which the wing section is being pivoted after detecting that wheel(s) has contacted the ground.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for rephasing fluid-driven actuators may include a plurality of fluid-driven actuators fluidly coupled together in series. A controller may be configured to monitor a position differential existing between current positions of rods of the actuators relative to a differential threshold based on sensor measurements. The actuators may be out-of-phase when the monitored differential exceeds the threshold. The controller may also be configured to initiate a flow of fluid to the actuators to rephase the actuators when the monitored differential exceeds the threshold. The controller may further be configured to continue to monitor the differential following initiation of the flow of fluid to the actuators. Additionally, the controller may be configured to implement a control action associated with terminating the rephasing of the actuators when the monitored differential remains constant after a first time period has elapsed following initiation of the flow of fluid.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a chassis; an implement frame carried by the chassis; a shank connected to the implement frame, the shank including a shank point configured to break apart soil and a load sensor associated with the shank point which is configured to output shank load signals as the shank point advances through soil; an actuator carried by the chassis and configured to adjust a depth of the shank point; and a controller electrically coupled to the load sensor and the actuator. The controller is configured to receive the shank load signals; generate a load profile from the received shank load signals; analyze the load profile to determine whether the shank point is in a soil compaction layer; and activate the actuator to adjust the depth of the shank point based on the analyzed load profile.

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: In one aspect, a system for detecting ground engaging tool float for an agricultural implement may include an implement having a ground engaging tool pivotally coupled to a frame and a biasing element coupled between the frame and the ground engaging tool. The biasing element may be configured to bias the ground engaging tool to a predetermined ground engaging tool position relative to the frame. The system may also include a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a current position of the ground engaging tool relative to the frame. Additionally, the system may include a controller configured to monitor the current position of the ground engaging tool based on measurement signals received from the sensor and identify a time period across which the ground engaging tool is displaced from the predetermined ground engaging tool position.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for monitoring soil conditions within a field may include an implement configured to be traversed across a field. The implement may further include a plurality of ground engaging tools pivotally coupled to the frame and a plurality of sensors. Each sensor may be configured to detect a parameter indicative of a current position of one of the plurality of ground engaging tools. Additionally, the system may include a controller configured to monitor a displacement of each ground engaging tool and determine a current global ground engaging tool displacement parameter for the implement based on the monitored displacements of the plurality of ground engaging tools. Additionally, the controller may be configured to identify a soil condition for a swath of the field being traversed by the implement based on a comparison between the current global ground engaging tool displacement parameter and a predetermined global displacement threshold.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for adjusting fore/aft level trim of the frame of a towed agricultural tillage implement utilize an electronic control unit that receives an input signal indicative of a desired depth of penetration of tillage tools operatively attached to the front and rear of the implement frame, and automatically computes a desired for/aft trim angle as a function of the desired depth input, and then adjusts the fore/aft trim of the implement frame by titling the frame toward the front or rear of the frame in accordance with the desired fore/aft trim angle computed from the desired depth input signal.