Abstract: A system for applying an herbicide to an agricultural field includes a sensor configured to measure total vegetation density in the agricultural field; and an applicator vehicle comprising a chassis, a liquid holding tank carried by the chassis, and at least one nozzle carried by the chassis and in fluid communication with the liquid holding tank. A controller is configured to control an amount of flow of herbicide through the nozzle(s) based on the total vegetation density measured by the sensor. A method of applying an herbicide to an agricultural field includes measuring a total vegetation density in the agricultural field and spraying a variable amount of an herbicide through at least one nozzle onto the agricultural field. The amount of herbicide is based on the measured total vegetation density, without regard to distinction between crop and weed.

Abstract: An agricultural applicator machine has a frame and at least one horizontally extending boom assembly. The boom assembly pivots to a folded position in which it is secured in a boom-cradle mechanism. The boom-cradle mechanism includes a crossmember and a boom rest at an outer end of the crossmember, the boom rest having a rigid inboard boom stop, a rigid outboard boom stop, and a saddle portion. The inboard boom stop extends from the saddle portion in an out-of-phase configuration relative the outboard boom stop. The boom-cradle mechanism has a locking assembly having an actuator assembly configured to rotate the crossmember, and thus the cradle boom rest. The actuator assembly connects to the crossmember through a linkage assembly. The actuator assembly causes the crossmember to rotate causing the boom rest to move between an open position and a locked position.

Abstract: Technologies for guiding an agricultural vehicle through crop rows using a camera and signal processing to locate the crop row or centers of the crop row. The signal processing uses a filter to filter data from images captured by the camera and locates the row or the centers based on the filtered data. The filter is generated based on a signal processing transform and an initial image of the crop row captured by the camera. The filter is applied to subsequent images of the crop row captured by the camera. In some embodiments, the camera includes one lens. For example, monocular computer vision is used in some embodiments. Also, in some embodiments, a central processing unit generates the filter based on the transform and the initial image of the crop row and applies the generated filter to the subsequent images of the row.

Abstract: An agricultural applicator machine has a frame and at least one horizontally extending boom assembly. The boom assembly pivots to a folded position in which it is secured in a boom-cradle mechanism. The boom-cradle mechanism includes a crossmember and a boom rest at an outer end of the crossmember, the boom rest having a rigid inboard boom stop, a rigid outboard boom stop, and a saddle portion. The inboard boom stop extends from the saddle portion in an out-of-phase configuration relative the outboard boom stop. The boom-cradle mechanism has a locking assembly having an actuator assembly configured to rotate the crossmember, and thus the cradle boom rest. The actuator assembly connects to the crossmember through a linkage assembly. The actuator assembly causes the crossmember to rotate causing the boom rest to move between an open position and a locked position.

Abstract: A sprayer vehicle includes a chassis having a longitudinal axis and supported by a plurality of wheels, a boom carried by the chassis, and a pivoting mechanism. The boom has a first boom extension and a second boom extension, each carrying a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge material. The pivoting mechanism is configured to co-linearly orient the first boom extension at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the chassis and the second boom extension at an obtuse angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the chassis. Other sprayer vehicles are configured to discharge material while the wheels of the sprayer are oriented at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the chassis. Control systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A motor shaft assembly includes a first shaft, a first motor, a second shaft and a second motor. The first shaft has a first end and a second end. The first motor is attached to the first end of the first shaft and is configured to rotate the first shaft about a longitudinal axis. The first shaft and the first motor have a longitudinal bore. The second shaft has a first end and a second end, wherein a portion of the second shaft is positioned in the longitudinal bore. The second motor is attached to the first end of the second shaft and is configured to rotate the second shaft about the longitudinal axis. A conveyor assembly includes a first shaft, sprocket, motor, and conveyor, and a second shaft, sprocket, motor and conveyor. An agricultural apparatus includes a tank, a boom, conveyors and motors.

Abstract: A system and method for predicting a future wind direction and speed and, based thereon, determining a future wind-driven drift and providing the information to an operator or automatically acting to adapt application parameters to better control the wind-driven drift of a fluid during application of the fluid to land or crops by an agricultural machine. A processor receives machine and meteorological data, uses a model to predict the future wind direction and speed, and accesses a drift distance database to determine and visually depict the future wind-driven drift of the fluid. A sensitive area database stores information about sensitive areas bordering the target area, which may also be displayed, to facilitate controlling the wind-driven drift with regard to the sensitive areas. The mathematical model may be a kernel filter, an autoregressive model, an autoregressive integrated moving average model, or a hybrid model which incorporates features of different models.

Abstract: A motor shaft assembly includes a first shaft, a first motor, a second shaft and a second motor. The first shaft has a first end and a second end. The first motor is attached to the first end of the first shaft and is configured to rotate the first shaft about a longitudinal axis. The first shaft and the first motor have a longitudinal bore. The second shaft has a first end and a second end, wherein a portion of the second shaft is positioned in the longitudinal bore. The second motor is attached to the first end of the second shaft and is configured to rotate the second shaft about the longitudinal axis. A conveyor assembly includes a first shaft, sprocket, motor, and conveyor, and a second shaft, sprocket, motor and conveyor. An agricultural apparatus includes a tank, a boom, conveyors and motors.

Abstract: A motor shaft assembly includes a first shaft, a first motor, a second shaft and a second motor. The first shaft has a first end and a second end. The first motor is attached to the first end of the first shaft and is configured to rotate the first shaft about a longitudinal axis. The first shaft and the first motor have a longitudinal bore. The second shaft has a first end and a second end, wherein a portion of the second shaft is positioned in the longitudinal bore. The second motor is attached to the first end of the second shaft and is configured to rotate the second shaft about the longitudinal axis. A conveyor assembly includes a first shaft, sprocket, motor, and conveyor, and a second shaft, sprocket, motor and conveyor. An agricultural apparatus includes a tank, a boom, conveyors and motors.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft, a first barrel, and a second barrel. The shaft has a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis of rotation. The first barrel surrounds a first portion of the shaft and is fixed to the shaft to rotate therewith. The second barrel surrounds a second portion of the shaft and is configured to rotate about the axis independent of a rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: An assembly includes first and second shafts and first and second sprockets. The first shaft has a first and second ends and a first longitudinal axis of rotation. The first sprocket is attached to the first shaft proximate the first end of the first shaft. The first sprocket rotates with the first shaft. The second shaft is spaced from the first shaft by a distance, the second shaft having a first end spaced from the first end of the first shaft by the distance, a second end spaced from the second end of the first shaft by the distance, and a second longitudinal axis of rotation substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis of rotation. The second sprocket is attached to the second shaft proximate the second end of the second shaft. The second sprocket rotates with the second shaft. The distance is adjustable.

Abstract: A system and method for predicting a future wind direction and speed and, based thereon, determining a future wind-driven drift and providing the information to an operator or automatically acting to adapt application parameters to better control the wind-driven drift of a fluid during application of the fluid to land or crops by an agricultural machine. A processor receives machine and meteorological data, uses a model to predict the future wind direction and speed, and accesses a drift distance database to determine and visually depict the future wind-driven drift of the fluid. A sensitive area database stores information about sensitive areas bordering the target area, which may also be displayed, to facilitate controlling the wind-driven drift with regard to the sensitive areas. The mathematical model may be a kernel filter, an autoregressive model, an autoregressive integrated moving average model, or a hybrid model which incorporates features of different models.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft, a first barrel, and a second barrel. The shaft has a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis of rotation. The first barrel surrounds a first portion of the shaft and is fixed to the shaft to rotate therewith. The second barrel surrounds a second portion of the shaft and is configured to rotate about the axis independent of a rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: A motor shaft assembly includes a first shaft, a first motor, a second shaft and a second motor. The first shaft has a first end and a second end. The first motor is attached to the first end of the first shaft and is configured to rotate the first shaft about a longitudinal axis. The first shaft and the first motor have a longitudinal bore. The second shaft has a first end and a second end, wherein a portion of the second shaft is positioned in the longitudinal bore. The second motor is attached to the first end of the second shaft and is configured to rotate the second shaft about the longitudinal axis. A conveyor assembly includes a first shaft, sprocket, motor, and conveyor, and a second shaft, sprocket, motor and conveyor. An agricultural apparatus includes a tank, a boom, conveyors and motors.

Abstract: An assembly includes first and second shafts and first and second sprockets. The first shaft has a first and second ends and a first longitudinal axis of rotation. The first sprocket is attached to the first shaft proximate the first end of the first shaft. The first sprocket rotates with the first shaft. The second shaft is spaced from the first shaft by a distance, the second shaft having a first end spaced from the first end of the first shaft by the distance, a second end spaced from the second end of the first shaft by the distance, and a second longitudinal axis of rotation substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis of rotation. The second sprocket is attached to the second shaft proximate the second end of the second shaft. The second sprocket rotates with the second shaft. The distance is adjustable.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprising regularly monitoring additive levels in plural areas of a field, wherein a first area of the plural areas comprises an additive rich area and a second area of the plural areas comprises an additive deficient area; performing statistical analysis on data corresponding to the monitored additive levels of the first and second areas; and determining when to apply additives to a third area of the plural areas of the field based on results of the statistical analysis.