AGRICULTURAL OPERATION MONITORING APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20180184581A1
• Filed: 06/15/2016
• Published: 07/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Climate LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: The Climate Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Granted Patent: US 10,681,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/007 Determining fertilization requirements
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/201 Mounting of the seeding tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/203 comprising depth regulation means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3554 for determining moisture content
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4738 Diffuse reflection precedence is given to G01N21/55 - G01N21/57 if specular component is taken into consideration, e.g. also for testing fluids, fibrous materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/24 Earth materials G01N33/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/245 for agricultural purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/246 for water content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/18 for evaluating statistical data , e.g. average values, frequency distributions, probability functions, regression analysis forecasting specially adapted for a specific administrative, business or logistic context G06Q10/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/56 relating to colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/60 relating to illumination properties, e.g. using a reflectance or lighting model

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring soil properties including soil moisture, soil electrical conductivity and soil temperature. Embodiments include a soil reflectivity sensor and/or a soil temperature sensor for measuring moisture and temperature.

Claims

1. A control and monitoring system for an agricultural implement having a plurality of row units, comprising:

a reflectivity sensor generating a reflectivity signal related to reflectivity of soil worked by at least one of said row units; and

a processor in data communication with said reflectivity sensor, said processor configured to calculate a statistical variation in said reflectivity signal.

2. The control and monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said reflectivity sensors are disposed on a soil engaging component disposed within a seed trench formed by an opening system of the row unit.

3. The control and monitoring system of claim 2 wherein said soil engaging component is disposed rearward of seeds being deposited in said seed trench by the row unit.

4. The control and monitoring system of claim 3 wherein said soil engaging component is a seed firmer.

5. The control and monitoring system of claim 2 wherein said soil engaging component is a shank extension disposed forward of seeds being deposited in the seed trench by the row unit.

6. The control and monitoring system of claim 2 wherein said soil engaging component is a trailing member secured to a shank of the row unit forward of seeds being deposited in the seed trench by the row unit.

7. The control and monitoring system of claim 2 wherein said soil engaging component is a trailing member secured to a shank extension attached to a shank of the row unit forward of seeds being deposited in the seed trench by the row unit.

8. The control and monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising:

a camera disposed to capture images of a seed trench opened by an opening assembly of the row unit; and

a monitoring device displaying said captured images.

9. The control and monitoring system of claim 8 wherein said camera is disposed on a shank extension forward of seeds being deposited by the row unit.

10. The control and monitoring system of claim 9 wherein said reflectivity sensors are disposed on a soil engaging component disposed within said seed trench.

11. The control and monitoring system of claim 10 wherein said soil engaging component is disposed rearward of seeds being deposited in said seed trench by the row unit.

12. The control and monitoring system of claim 11 wherein said soil engaging component is a seed firmer.

13. The control and monitoring system of claim 10 wherein said soil engaging component is a shank extension disposed forward of seeds being deposited in the seed trench by the row unit.

14. The control and monitoring system of claim 10 wherein said soil engaging component is a trailing member secured to a shank of the row unit forward of seeds being deposited in the seed trench by the row unit.

15. The control and monitoring system of claim 10 wherein said soil engaging component is a trailing member secured to a shank extension attached to a shank of the row unit forward of seeds being deposited in the seed trench by the row unit.

16. The control and monitoring system of claim 2 wherein said reflectivity sensors are disposed on a bottom side of said soil engaging component to measure soil reflectivity at a bottom of said seed trench.

17. The control and monitoring system of claim 2 wherein said reflectivity sensors are disposed on a side of said soil engaging component to measure soil reflectivity on a sidewall of said seed trench.

18. The control and monitoring system of claim 10 wherein said reflectivity sensors are disposed on a bottom side of said soil engaging component to measure soil reflectivity at a bottom of said seed trench.

19. The control and monitoring system of claim 10 wherein said reflectivity sensors are disposed on a side of said soil engaging component to measure soil reflectivity on a sidewall of said seed trench.

20. The control and monitoring system of claim 17 wherein said soil engaging component includes a biasing member to bias said soil engaging member toward said sidewall of said seed trench.

21. The control and monitoring system of claim 19 wherein said soil engaging component includes a biasing member to bias said soil engaging member toward said sidewall of said seed trench.

22. The control and monitoring system of claim 8 further comprising a global positioning receiver in data communication with said monitoring device, wherein said monitor device is configured to associate said generated reflectivity signal with a position reported by said global positioning receiver.