Precision Planting LLC

A mechanism for predicting a fill level of a container. Image data of the interior of the container is received and processed to identify a representation (in the image data) of an interface between agricultural material, gas and the container. The representation of the target interface is processed in a first prediction process to produce an interface-derived fill level of the container. This interface-derived fill level of the container is processed to predict the fill level of the container.

A mechanism for determining a runout time for one or more sub-volumes carried in an interior volume of a container carrying pourable agricultural material. A distance determining system is used to determine a distance to multiple points on an exposed surface of the agricultural material. A flow rate monitoring system is used to determine one or more flow rates in different parts of the interior volume of the container. The determined flow rate(s) and the determined distance(s) are processed to predict or estimate the runout time(s) for the one or more sub-volumes.

A mechanism for determining an intended flow rate of fluid pumped by a pumping arrangement for an agricultural vehicle. A processing system processes a set of parameters to produce the intended flow rate of fluid. The set of parameters comprises a measured pressure of the fluid, a duty cycle of the pumping arrangement and an indicator of a size of an orifice through which the fluid exits the pumping arrangement.

In one embodiment a first light plane is generated across the passageway by a first LED emitter array. A corresponding photodiode receiver array detects particles passing through a first number of light channels comprising the first light plane. In a second embodiment a second light plane is generated across the passageway at 90 degrees from the first light plane and longitudinally offset from the first light plane by a second LED emitter array. A corresponding photodiode receiver array detects particles passing through a second number of light channels comprising the second light plane. The second light plane is capable of identifying particles in a third dimension that may go undetected when passing through the first light plane. The raw output signals generated by respective photodiodes is normalized, analyzed and characterized to differentiate between particles passing through light planes as individual particles or groups of overlapping particles to be separately counted.

A system for sensing characteristics of a trench in a soil surface during planting operations. A trench opening assembly opens a trench in the soil surface as the trench opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel. A trench closing assembly disposed rearward of the trench opening assembly closes the opened trench with soil. One or more sensors may be disposed on an appurtenance disposed in said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the open trench or an area of the trench closed with soil by the trench closing assembly or a sensor may be disposed outside of said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the trench closed with soil or a combination of the sensors may be disposed in the trench and outside of the trench.

A soil or plant analysis apparatus to perform low and high frequency measurements is described herein. In one embodiment, the soil analysis apparatus comprises a first sub-system to perform low frequency soil measurements and a second sub-system to perform high frequency soil measurements. The high frequency measurements of the second sub-system are at least 1.25 times the low frequency measurements of the first sub-system.

A measurement system for determining a flow rate of agricultural fluids from an applicator implement such as a fertilizer applicator. The implement has a manifold with an inlet for receiving agricultural fluids from a tank and several outlets for distributing the fluids to points along the length of the applicator. The measurement system measures the flow rate of fluids from at least one of the manifold outlets with a first pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of the agricultural fluids at the manifold inlet; a second pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of the agricultural fluids flowing out of the manifold outlet; and a controller for calculating the mass flow rate of the agricultural fluids flowing from the outlet based at least partially on the pressure of the fluids at the inlet and the pressure of the fluids flowing out of the outlet.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or other samples. A soil collection system is disclosed which captures and directs samples to the sampling system for processing.

A system for planting seeds ( 106 ) includes a seed meter ( 128 ) configured to provide seeds, and a delivery wheel assembly ( 130 ) configured to receive the seeds individually from the seed meter and carry the seeds to a seed trench ( 104 ). A row unit ( 100 ) for planting seeds includes a frame ( 110 ) configured to be coupled to a toolbar ( 112 ), a seed-trench opening assembly ( 120 ) carried by the frame and configured to form a seed trench, a seed meter configured to provide seeds, and a delivery wheel assembly configured to receive the seeds individually from the seed meter and carry the seeds to the seed trench. Related methods are also disclosed.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples. A soil collection system is disclosed which captures and directs samples to the sampling system for processing.