Method and apparatus for determining the location of seedlings during agricultural production
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining the location of rows of seedlings planted during agricultural production, comprising:
- means for sensing a position of a planting machine during a planting operation and responsively producing position information signals;
means for receiving said position information signals, responsively transforming said position information signals to seedling row locations and responsively constructing a database of said seedling row locations; and
a sensing means for determining an orientation relative to the planting machine of a seed head attached to said planting machine and responsively producing a seed head orientation signal, wherein said transformation is performed in response to said seed head orientation signal and said position information signals.
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Abstract
In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for determining the location of rows of seedlings planted during agricultural production is provided. The apparatus senses the position of a planting machine 102 during a planting operation. The apparatus transforms the planting machine position to seedling row locations and creates a database of the locations.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for determining the location of row of seedlings planted during agricultural production is provided. The method includes the steps of planting seedlings using a planting machine, sensing the position the planting machine and transforming the machine position to seedling row locations.
148 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining the location of rows of seedlings planted during agricultural production, comprising:
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means for sensing a position of a planting machine during a planting operation and responsively producing position information signals; means for receiving said position information signals, responsively transforming said position information signals to seedling row locations and responsively constructing a database of said seedling row locations; and a sensing means for determining an orientation relative to the planting machine of a seed head attached to said planting machine and responsively producing a seed head orientation signal, wherein said transformation is performed in response to said seed head orientation signal and said position information signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for determining the location of rows of seedlings planted during agricultural production, comprising:
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means for sensing a position of a planting machine during a planting operation and responsively producing position information signals; means for receiving said position information signals, responsively transforming said position information signals to seedling row locations and responsively constructing a database of said seedling row locations; means associated with an agricultural machine, for sensing a position of said agricultural machine and responsively producing an agricultural machine position signal; means for storing said database, receiving said agricultural machine position signal and responsively displaying to an operator of said agricultural machine the position of the agricultural machine relative to said seedling row locations; and means for comparing said agricultural machine position to said seedling row locations, and responsively determining a position for a shank of at least one ripper attached to the agricultural machine which avoids said seedling row locations. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for determining the location of rows of seedlings planted during agricultural production, comprising:
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planting seedlings in rows using a planting machine; sensing position information of said planting machine during said step of planting said seedlings; determining an orientation relative to said planting machine of a seed head attached to said planting machine and responsively transforming said position information to seedling row locations; and storing said seedling row locations in a database. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification