Agricultural operation monitoring apparatus, systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025113761-A1
Application number	US-201918726067-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 7, 2019
Priority date	Jun 7, 2018
Publication date	Apr 10, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus for imaging and characterizing a soil surface and a trench in the soil surface formed by an agricultural implement. The sensors are disposed on the agricultural implement in data communication with a processor to generate the soil surface and trench images which may be displayed to the operator. In one embodiment, the sensors include one or more time of flight cameras for determining a depth of the trench and other characteristics of the surrounding soil surface and the trench, including detection of seeds, soil or other debris in the trench and moisture lines within the trench. The system may control operating parameters of the implement based on the generated images.

First claim

1 . An agricultural implement, comprising:
at least one row unit, each said at least one row unit including an opening assembly and a seed delivery device, the opening assembly configured to open a seed trench in a soil surface and the seed delivery device configured to deposit seed in said open seed trench as the agricultural implement travels in a forward direction of travel; an image capture device disposed on said at least one row unit to capture images of said open seed trench looking down from above said open seed trench after the seed is deposited in said open seed trench; and a processor in data communication with said image capture device, said processor configured to analyze said captured images from said image capture device to determine agronomic properties of said open seed trench, said agronomic properties selected from the group consisting of: trench depth, trench collapse percentage and trench shape.

2 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gas dispenser disposed to expel gas into a space between said image capture device and said seed open trench.

3 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein said image capture device has a lens comprising an electrostatic coating to repel dust.

4 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein said image capture device has a hydrophobic coating.

5 . The agricultural implement of claim 4 , further comprising:
an electrostatic charging system disposed proximate to said image capture device.

6 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , further comprising:
a row cleaner assembly disposed forward of said opening assembly of said at least one row unit, said row cleaner assembly disposed to engage the soil surface to move soil and residue from the soil surface laterally with respect to the forward direction of travel and forward of said opening assembly.

7 . The agricultural implement of claim 6 , wherein said image capture device captures images of said soil surface a distance laterally to each side of said open seed trench and wherein said processor is further configured to analyze said captured image to detect a presence of an extra trench laterally of said open seed trench produced by said row cleaner assembly.

8 . The agricultural implement of claim 7 , further comprising a sensor mounted to the agricultural implement and oriented toward the soil surface forward of said row cleaner assembly to detect soil mounds forward of said row cleaner assembly.

9 . The agricultural implement of claim 8 , wherein said sensor comprises one of: a camera, a time of flight camera, a radar, an ultrasonic sensor, a LIDAR, and a laser line triangulator.

10 . A method for adjusting depth of a seed trench opened by an agricultural implement in a soil surface, the agricultural implement, including:
a row unit including an opening assembly having two opening discs rollingly mounted to a downwardly extending shank and disposed to open the seed trench in the soil surface, gauge wheels, and a depth adjustor for setting a position of the gauge wheels relative to the opening discs for limiting a depth of penetration of the opening discs into the soil surface, and the row unit further including a seed delivery device configured to deposit seed in said open seed trench; an image capture device disposed on said row unit to capture images of said seed open trench looking down from above said open seed trench after the seed is deposited in said open seed trench; and a processor in data communication with said image capture device and configured to process said captured images to measure a depth of said open seed trench within said captured images, said processor in signal communication with said depth adjuster and configured to actuate said depth adjuster to adjust a depth of said open seed trench by adjusting a positioning the gauge wheels relative to the opening discs; wherein said method comprises: said processor comparing said measured depth of said open seed trench to a desired seed trench depth input; and said processor generating a signal to actuate said depth adjustor to adjust the position of the gauge wheels relative to the opening discs until said measured depth approaches said desired seed trench depth.

11 . A method for placing liquid relative to a seed in a seed trench opened by an agricultural implement, the agricultural implement including:
a row unit including an opening assembly having two opening discs rollingly mounted to a downwardly extending shank and disposed to open the seed trench in the soil, a seed delivery mechanism for depositing seed in the open seed trench, and a valve in fluid communication with a fluid source; image capture device disposed on said row unit to capture images of said open seed trench looking down from above said open seed trench and after the seed is deposited in said open seed trench; and a processor in data communication with said image capture device, said processor configured to process said capture images to detect said seed in said open seed trench; wherein said method comprises: said processor generating a seed pulse upon detection of each seed in said open seed trench; and with each generated seed pulse, said processor generating a signal to open the valve to dispense fluid on or adjacent to each seed in said open seed trench.

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Strnad Michael
• Koch Dale
• Morgan Matthew

Classifications

• A01C7/203

  comprising depth regulation means · CPC title

• A01C7/04

  Single-grain seeders with or without suction devices · CPC title

• A01C5/064

  with rotating tools · CPC title

• A01B79/02

  combined with other agricultural processing, e.g. fertilising, planting · CPC title

• A01B63/008

  Vertical adjustment of tools (A01B63/10 takes precedence) · CPC title