Delay coordinating system for agricultural machines

• US 6,089,743 A
• Filed: 12/12/1996
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ag-Chem Sales Company Incorporated (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ag-Chem Sales Company Incorporated (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: McQuinn, Alvin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUGGIERO, JOSEPH F
• Application Number:
  US08/766,420
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 364/479.11, 364/479.01, 364/479.1, 364/167.02, 364/167.07, 701/50, 340/684, 239/1, 239/11, 239/61, 239/69, 239/155, 111/130, 111/200, 111/903, 111/904, 222/52, 222/129, 221/2, 221/9
• US Class Current: 700/240
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/10 in agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/903 Monitor

Abstract

An improved mobile agricultural products crop input application control system including a delay coordinating system particularly adaptable for use in site-specific (precision) farming, wherein selected discrete delay information unique to each on-board crop input storage release point, crop input transport system, and/or crop input dispensing point is combined with anticipated field reference point data obtained with a machine positioning system, e.g. "Dead Reckoning", GPS, and/or radar, and a computer, to direct independent functioning of selected on-board storage devices, material transport systems, crop input release point mechanisms and/or dispensing point mechanisms to ensure stored crop inputs are released for a timely combination to achieve a predetermined quantity and prescription of crop inputs delivered to the anticipated field reference point as the crop input applicator machine(s) travels over a predetermined geographic land area. The delay coordination system provides environmental advantages to all through enhanced resource management by more accurately and precisely placing crop inputs resulting in a significant improvement in the use of crop input resources.

Claims

1. A mobile agricultural products crop input application system comprising:

a machine having a plurality of agricultural products crop dispensing points;

an actuator operatively coupled to each dispensing point within a majority of said plurality of product dispensing points on said machine;

a machine positioning system operatively coupled to said machine for anticipating a field reference point and generating anticipated field reference point data as said machine traverses a field; and

a delay compensation system in communication with said machine, said delay compensation system including;

a data processor;

a data input device in communication with said data processor;

an algorithmic software directing said data processor; and

a data storage unit, wherein discrete delay data associated with each distinct said dispensing point within said majority of dispensing points is stored and supplied to said data processor such that said data processor, directed by said algorithmic software, can automatically determine discrete time data for activating each said dispensing point actuator using said discrete delay data, said anticipated field reference point data, and algorithmically defined interrelationships between said discrete delay data and said anticipated field reference point data such that each said dispensing point actuator associated with said majority of dispensing points is activated at a unique relative discrete moment in time as said machine traverses said field.

2. The mobile crop input application system of claim 1 further comprising at least one control module in communication with said data processor such that said at least one control module can access said discrete time data in said data storage unit to activate each said dispensing point actuator at said unique relative discrete moment in time.

3. The mobile crop input application system of claim 1 wherein said machine is self-propelled.

4. The mobile crop input application system of claim 1 wherein said machine is equipped for towing.

5. The mobile crop input application system of claim 1 further comprising at least one data sensor in communication with said data input device for updating at least a portion of said discrete delay data on a real time basis.

6. A mobile agricultural products crop input application system comprising:

a machine having a plurality of agricultural products crop input storage devices;

an actuator operatively coupled to each storage device within a majority of said plurality of crop input storage devices on said machine;

a machine positioning system operatively coupled to said machine for anticipating a field reference point and generating anticipated field reference point data as said machine traverses a field; and

a delay compensation system in communication with said machine, said delay compensation system including;

a data processor;

a data input device in communication with said data processor;

an algorithmic software directing said data processor; and

a data storage unit, wherein discrete delay data associated with each distinct said storage device within said majority of storage devices is stored and supplied to said data processor such that said data processor, directed by said algorithmic software, can automatically determine discrete time data for activating each said storage device actuator using said discrete delay data, said anticipated field reference point data, and algorithmically defined interrelationships between said discrete delay data and said anticipated field reference point data such that each said storage device actuator associated with said majority of storage devices is activated at a unique relative discrete moment in time as said vehicle traverses a field.

7. The mobile crop input application system of claim 6 further comprising at least one control module in communication with said data processor such that said at least one control module can access said discrete time data in said data storage unit to activate each said storage device actuator at said relative discrete moment in time.

8. The mobile crop input application system of claim 6 wherein said machine is self-propelled.

9. The mobile crop input application system of claim 6 wherein said machine is equipped for towing.

10. The mobile crop input application system of claim 6 further comprising at least one data sensor in communication with said data input device for updating at least a portion of said discrete delay data on a real time basis.

11. A mobile agricultural products crop input application system comprising:

a machine having a plurality of agricultural products crop input transport devices;

an actuator operatively coupled to each transport device within a majority of said plurality of transport devices on said machine;

a machine positioning system operatively coupled to said machine for anticipating a field reference point and generating anticipated field reference point data as said machine traverses a field; and

a delay compensation system in communication with said machine, said delay compensation system including;

a data processor;

a data input device in communication with said data processor;

an algorithmic software directing said data processor; and

a data storage unit, wherein discrete delay data associated with each distinct transport device within said majority of transport devices is stored and supplied to said data processor such that said data processor, directed by said algorithmic software, can automatically determine discrete time data for activating each said transport device actuator using said discrete delay data, said anticipated field reference point data, and algorithmically defined interrelationships between said discrete delay data and said anticipated field reference point data such that each said transport device actuator associated with said majority of transport devices is activated at a unique relative discrete moment in time as said machine traverses a field.

12. The mobile crop input application system of claim 11 further comprising at least one control module in communication with said data processor such that said at least one control module can access said discrete time data in said data storage unit to activate each said transport device actuator at said unique relative discrete moment in time.

13. The mobile crop input application system of claim 11 wherein said machine is self-propelled.

14. The mobile crop input application system of claim 11 wherein said machine is equipped for towing.

15. The mobile crop input application system of claim 11 further comprising at least one data sensor in communication with said data input device for updating at least a portion of said discrete delay data on a real time basis.

16. A mobile agricultural products crop input application system comprising:

a crop input applicator machine;

means operatively coupled to said machine for storing, conveying, and dispensing a plurality of agricultural products crop inputs;

means operatively coupled to said storing, conveying, and dispensing means for activating a flow of said crop inputs via said storing, conveying, and dispensing means coupled to said machine;

means operatively coupled to said machine for anticipating a field reference point and generating anticipated field reference point data as said machine traverses a field; and

a delay compensating means in communication with said machine, said delay compensating means including;

data processing means for processing crop input storing, conveying, and dispensing delay data and said field anticipated reference point data;

data input means in communication with said data processing means;

an algorithmic software directing said data processing means; and

data storing means, wherein discrete delay data associated with said product storing, conveying, and dispensing means is stored and supplied to said data processing means such that said data processing means, directed by said algorithmic software, can automatically determine discrete time data for activating said actuating means using said discrete delay data, said anticipated field reference point data, and algorithmically defined interrelationships between said discrete delay data and said anticipated field reference point data such that desired portions of said actuating means operatively coupled to said product storing, conveying, and dispensing means are activated at unique relative discrete moments in time as said machine traverses a field.

17. The mobile crop input application system of claim 16 further comprising at least one control module in communication with said data processing means such that said at least one control module can access said discrete time data in said data storing means to activate portions of said actuating means at said unique relative discrete moments in time.

18. The mobile crop input application system of claim 16 wherein said machine is self-propelled.

19. The mobile crop input application system of claim 16 wherein said machine is equipped for towing.

20. The mobile crop input application system of claim 16 further comprising data sensing means in communication with said data input means for updating at least a portion of said discrete delay data on a real time basis.

21. A method of dispensing agricultural products crop inputs to a predetermined geographic land area comprising:

providing a machine having a plurality of crop input storage devices operably connected thereto;

causing said machine to travel over a desired surface area of said geographic land area;

determining an anticipated field reference point in real time;

providing discrete crop input release point delay time information unique to each crop input storage device within said plurality of crop input storage devices; and

utilizing said unique release point delay time information and said anticipated field reference point to direct each crop input storage device within said plurality of product storage devices having a crop input to be released stored therein to release said stored crop input such that all stored crop inputs to be released are combined to achieve a predetermined prescription of crop input delivery to said anticipated field reference point as said machine traverses said predetermined geographic land area.

22. A method of dispensing agricultural products crop inputs to a predetermined geographic land area comprising:

providing a machine having a plurality of agricultural products crop input storage devices and at least one crop input transport device operably connected thereto;

causing said machine to travel over a desired surface area of said geographic land area;

determining an anticipated field reference point in real time;

providing discrete conveying delay time information unique to each said at least one crop input transport device; and

utilizing said unique discrete conveying delay time information and said anticipated field reference point to direct each said at least one crop input transport device having a product conveyed thereon to commence transporting stored crop inputs to be dispensed such that all stored crop inputs to be dispensed are combined to achieve a predetermined prescription of crop input delivery to said anticipated field reference point as said machine traverses said predetermined geographic land area.

23. A method of dispensing agricultural products crop inputs to a predetermined geographic land area comprising:

providing a machine having a plurality of crop input dispensing points and at least one crop input storage device operably connected thereto;

causing said machine to travel over a desired surface area of said geographic land area;

determining an anticipated field reference point in real time;

providing discrete dispensing delay time information unique to each crop input dispensing point within said plurality of crop input dispensing points; and

utilizing said unique discrete dispensing delay time information and said anticipated field reference point to direct each dispensing point having a crop input dispensed therefrom to commence dispensing stored crop inputs to be dispensed such that all stored crop inputs to be dispensed are combined to achieve a predetermined prescription of crop input delivery to said anticipated field reference point as said machine traverses said predetermined geographic land area.

24. A mobile agricultural products crop input application system for delivering a plurality of agricultural products crop inputs over a desired land area comprising:

a machine having a plurality of crop input release points for dispensing agricultural products, each release point having a characteristic delay time between initiating flow of the agricultural product and dispensing of the agricultural products;

a machine positioning system operatively coupled to said machine, said positioning system comprising at least one of a dead reckoning system, a global positioning system and a radar system; and

a delay compensation system in communication with said release points and said machine positioning system, wherein said delay compensation system activates each crop input release point as a function of machine position information and the characteristic delay time for that release point such that a desired prescription of crop inputs is delivered to an exact field point determined via said positioning system as said machine traverses said land area, and wherein said desired prescription of crop inputs is based upon formerly measured conditions and values at said exact field point.

25. The mobile crop input application system of claim 24 further comprising an actuator operatively coupled to each crop input release point.

26. The mobile crop input application system of claim 25 wherein said machine is self-propelled.

27. The mobile crop input application system of claim 25 wherein said machine is equipped for towing.

28. The mobile crop input application system of claim 26 further comprising an algorithmic software directing said machine positioning system to generate exact field point data on a real time basis as said machine traverses said land area, wherein said exact field point data is used in combination with said desired prescription of crop inputs to coordinate operation of said crop input release point actuators.

29. The mobile crop input application system of claim 27 further comprising an algorithmic software directing said machine positioning system to generate exact field point data on a real time basis as said machine traverses said land area, wherein said exact field point data is used in combination with said desired prescription of crop inputs to coordinate operation of said crop input release point actuators.