Predictive weed map and material application machine control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025331508-A1
Application number	US-202519201530-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 7, 2025
Priority date	Feb 6, 2020
Publication date	Oct 30, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A predictive map is obtained by an agricultural material application system. The predictive map maps predictive weed values at different geographic locations in a field. A geographic position sensor detects a geographic locations of an agricultural material application machine at the field. A control system generates a control signal to control the agricultural material application machine based on the geographic locations of the agricultural material application machine and the predictive map.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . An agricultural material application system comprising:
a geographic position sensor configured to detect a geographic location of a mobile agricultural material application machine at a worksite; one or more processors; and memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to:
obtain a predictive weed map of the worksite that maps predictive values of a weed characteristic to different geographic locations in the worksite; and
control a controllable subsystem of the agricultural material application machine based on the detected geographic location of the mobile agricultural material application machine and the predictive weed map.

22 . The agricultural material application system of claim 21 , wherein the weed characteristic is weed size.

23 . The agricultural material application system of claim 21 , wherein the weed characteristic is weed intensity.

24 . The agricultural material application system of claim 21 , wherein the controllable subsystem comprises a propulsion subsystem, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to control the propulsion subsystem to adjust a travel speed of the material application machine based on the detected geographic location of the mobile agricultural material application machine and the predictive weed map.

25 . The agricultural material application system of claim 21 , wherein the controllable subsystem comprises a steering subsystem, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to control the steering subsystem to adjust a travel direction of the material application machine based on the detected geographic location of the mobile agricultural material application machine and the predictive weed map.

26 . The agricultural material application system of claim 21 , wherein the controllable subsystem comprises one or more material application actuators, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to control the one or more material application actuators to controllably apply material to the worksite based on the detected geographic location of the mobile agricultural material application machine and the predictive weed map.

27 . The agricultural material application system of claim 26 , wherein the material comprises seed.

28 . The agricultural material application system of claim 26 , wherein the material comprises one of fertilizer, herbicide, or pesticide.

29 . The agricultural material application system of claim 26 , wherein the one or more material application actuators include a first material application actuator corresponding to a first material and a second material application actuator corresponding to a second material, wherein the first material and the second material are different, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to selectively control one of the first material application actuator or the second material application actuator based on the detected geographic location of the mobile agricultural material application machine and the predictive weed map.

30 . The agricultural material application system of claim 29 , wherein first material is seed of a first variety and wherein the second material is seed of a second variety, different than the first variety.

31 . The agricultural material application system of claim 29 , wherein the first material and the second material are each a same type of material and are each of a different variety of the same type of material, wherein the type of material comprises one of fertilizer, pesticide, or herbicide.

32 . The agricultural material application system of claim 26 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to control the one or more material application actuators to controllably apply material to the worksite by controlling the one or more material application actuators to controllably apply a select amount of material to the worksite.

33 . A computer implemented method of controlling a mobile agricultural material application machine comprising:
detecting a geographic location of the mobile agricultural material application machine at a worksite; obtaining a predictive weed map of the worksite that maps predictive values of a weed characteristic to different geographic locations in the worksite, wherein the weed characteristic is one of weed size or weed intensity; and controlling a controllable subsystem of the mobile agricultural material application machine based on the detected geographic location of the mobile agricultural material application machine and the predictive weed map.

34 . The computer implemented method of claim 34 , wherein controlling a controllable subsystem of the mobile agricultural material application machine based on the detected geographic location of the mobile agricultural material application machine and the predictive weed map comprises controlling, based on the detected geographic location of the mobile agricultural material application machine and the predictive weed map, at least one of: (i) a propulsion subsystem of the mobile agricultural material application machine; (ii) a steering subsystem of the mobile agricultural material application machine; (iii) a material application actuator of the mobile agricultural material application machine; or (iv) a combination of (i), (ii), and (iii).

35 . The computer implemented method of claim 33 , wherein obtaining the predictive weed map of the worksite comprises:
obtaining, during operation of the mobile agricultural material application machine at the worksite, in-situ sensor data indicative of one or more in-situ values of the weed characteristic; obtaining prior data, generated prior to the operation of the mobile agricultural material application machine at the worksite, the prior data indicative of one or more values of a characteristic, the characteristic different than the weed characteristic; and generating the predictive weed map based on the in-situ sensor data and the prior data.

36 . A mobile agricultural material application machine comprising:
a geographic position sensor configured to detect a geographic location of the mobile agricultural material application machine at a worksite; one or more processors; and memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to:
obtain a predictive weed map of the worksite that maps predictive values of a weed characteristic to different geographic locations in the worksite; and
control the agricultural material application machine based on the detected geographic location of the mobile agricultural material application machine and the predictive weed map.

37 . The mobile agricultural material application machine of claim 36 , wherein the weed characteristic is one of weed size or weed intensity.

38 . The mobile agricultural material application machine of claim 36 and further comprising:
a first material source configured to hold a first material;
a second material source configured to hold a second material, different than the first material; and
wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more process

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Vandike Nathan R
• Palla Bhanu Kiran Reddy
• Pardina-Malbran Federico
• Hanson David A
• Agarwal Andrea M
• Anderson Noel W

Classifications

• A01C7/0445

  Seed ejectors · CPC title

• A01C7/0443

  Seed singulators · CPC title

• A01C7/046

  with perforated seeding discs · CPC title

• A01M9/0092

  Regulating or controlling systems (the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06) · CPC title

• A01C7/105

  Seed sensors · CPC title