Abstract: A control apparatus (10) for a boom irrigator (80) comprises a microprocessor (16) and an associated memory (18) to store data corresponding to a desired distribution of fluid by the boom irrigator (80). The boom irrigator (80) has a plurality of control circuits (24). Each control circuit (24) is in communication with the microprocessor (16). Each control circuit (24) actuates at least one fluid control device, or solenoid, (82) in response to instructions received from the microprocessor (16). The microprocessor (16) is responsive to the data in the associated memory (18) and is arranged to communicate with the control circuits (24) to control the operation thereof in accordance with the data. The control apparatus (10) can be used in a system (12) for controlling a boom irrigator (80) which employs a computer system (14) that executes software allowing a user to input design distribution data for the fluid and to store the data.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a particulate material such as cotton is disclosed, in which a plurality of emitter-receiver pairs are arranged in a spaced apart manner about a passageway to monitor material flowing through said passageway, and a controller activates each emitter-receiver pair in sequence and obtains a signal from the receiver in that pair only, the controller keeps in an associated memory a cumulative count of the signals from each receiver, and calculates from the cumulative counts an estimated total quantity of material passing between the emitter-receiver pairs. The controller also maintains a weighting for each sensor in calculating the quantity of material flowing through said passageway, and compensate for one or more emitter-receiver pairs become blocked.