17040results about "Mowers" patented technology

The present invention relates to cutting tools, in particular, to control systems for cutters such as vegetation cutters, especially hedge cutters or trimmers (10). Hedge cutters (10) frequently suffer in use from a problem of blocked cutting blades when they encounter a twig or branch whose size or density exceeds the capacity of the blades. We describe a vegetation cutting apparatus (10) having a plurality of cutting blades (11,12), at least one of which blades (11,12) is drivable by an electric motor. At least one driven blade (11,12) is movable between two predefined points of maximum travel. The apparatus (10) includes a control mechanism which causes a change of direction in the movement of the at least one movable blade at a point intermediate the points of maximum travel in response to an event sensed by the control mechanism.

An agricultural robot system and method of harvesting, pruning, culling, weeding, measuring and managing of agricultural crops. Uses autonomous and semi-autonomous robot(s) comprising machine-vision using cameras that identify and locate the fruit on each tree, points on a vine to prune, etc., or may be utilized in measuring agricultural parameters or aid in managing agricultural resources. The cameras may be coupled with an arm or other implement to allow views from inside the plant when performing the desired agricultural function. A robot moves through a field first to “map” the plant locations, number and size of fruit and approximate positions of fruit or map the cordons and canes of grape vines. Once the map is complete, a robot or server can create an action plan that a robot may implement. An action plan may comprise operations and data specifying the agricultural function to perform.

A search system for a tool. A border cable separates inner and outer areas. A generator feeds the border cable with current, whose magnetic field affects a sensing unit on the tool, and the sensing unit emits signals to a control unit that directs the tool's motion. The current contains at least two components of different frequency. A search cable is placed within the inner area so that it separates a search area, and is fed by a signal generator with an adapted current (e.g., the current direction alternates to be either in phase or out of phase in relation to the current direction in the border cable) so that the magnetic fields in the different areas provide at least three patterns. Accordingly, the control unit can separate the inner, outer, and search areas.

The invention relates to an agricultural working machine (1), in particular a forage harvester (2), with at least one spout (4) for conveying received and processed crop (7) to a transport vehicle (6, 25), wherein an electro-optical device (18) is provided for the direction control of the spout (4) at least during the process of conveying to the transport vehicle (6, 25), and wherein the electro-optical device (18) detects characteristic parameters (30) of the spout (4) and characteristic parameters (30) of the transport vehicle (6) and / or the agricultural working machine (1). This ensures that a control of a spout (4) of agricultural working machines (1, 2) is provided which almost completely relieves the operator of the agricultural working machine (1, 2) of the task of monitoring the spout.

Embodiments of the invention comprise a system and method that enable robotic harvesting of agricultural crops. One approach for automating the harvesting of fresh fruits and vegetables is to use a robot comprising a machine-vision system containing rugged solid-state digital cameras to identify and locate the fruit on each tree, coupled with a picking system to perform the picking. In one embodiment of the invention a robot moves through a field first to “map” the field to determine plant locations, the number and size of fruit on the plants and the approximate positions of the fruit on each plant. A robot employed in this embodiment may comprise a GPS sensor to simplify the mapping process. At least one camera on at least one arm of a robot may be mounted in appropriately shaped protective enclosure so that a camera can be physically moved into the canopy of the plant if necessary to map fruit locations from inside the canopy. Once the map of the fruit is complete for a field, the robot can plan and implement an efficient picking plan for itself or another robot. In one embodiment of the invention, a scout robot or harvest robot determines a picking plan in advance of picking a tree. This may be done if the map is finished hours, days or weeks before a robot is scheduled to harvest, or if the picking plan algorithm selected requires significant computational time and cannot be implemented in “real time” by the harvesting robot as it is picking the field. If the picking algorithm selected is less computationally intense, the harvester may calculate the plan as it is harvesting. The system harvests according to the selected picking plan. The picking plan may be generated in the scout robot, harvest robot or on a server. Each of the elements in the system may be configured to communicate with each other using wireless communications technologies.

A display management method and system of a mobile terminal for switching between user interfaces of applications is disclosed. A display management method of a mobile terminal according to the present invention includes displaying a first execution screen of a first application on a display; detecting an input signal for activating a second application; and displaying a second execution screen corresponding to the second application in response to the input signal, wherein displaying the second execution screen comprising presenting at least one of a first intermediate image obtained by downsizing an image contained within the first execution screen, a second intermediate image obtained by downsizing an image contained within the second execution screen, and a task window containing at least the downsized first and second intermediate images in a sequential order.

A pickup for an agricultural implement, the pickup including dual floating windguards that pivot and float causing the tines to maintain contact with the crop at all times as it moves over the pickup and across the stuffer.

A hybrid utility vehicle includes a tool-supporting frame and an electrical power source driven by an engine. Right and left rear wheels independently driven by permanent magnet electric motors and front wheels electrically steerable over a range of approximately 180 degrees operate under the control of a vehicle controller responsive to steering and speed input controls to provide zero turn radius operation with minimum slippage and tire scuffing. Space efficiency provided by the electric steering and an electrically driven tool deck facilitate a variety of tool mounting configurations including a rear discharge deck with a chute passing under the vehicle frame between the driven wheels. An inverter connected to the electrical power source provides 110 / 220 volt output. The power source also functions as a high powered, high rpm, low noise starter motor.

For controlling several agricultural machine systems during operation on a territory, based on a reference line, an optimized route for working the territory is determined for the particular machine system, and the particular machine system is driven along this route. The reference line is determined by recording a reference path that was driven along with a first machine system, and the first machine system is controlled based on this reference line with consideration for the working conditions of the first machine system. This reference line is also transmitted by the first machine system to at least one second machine system, which is controlled based on this reference line of the first machine system and with consideration for the working conditions of the second machine system. A corresponding control system for controlling several agricultural machine systems during operation of a territory is also described.

A spout control system controls and aims a spout and a spout cap of a crop harvesting vehicle with respect to a separate crop hauling vehicle moving with the harvesting vehicle. The control system includes a video camera which is mounted on the cap and which views a field of view which includes a portion of the hauling vehicle. An image signal generated by the camera is received by an image processing unit. The image processing unit processes a digitized form of the image signal and automatically generates spout and cap control signals as a function thereof. Actuators automatically aim the spout and the cap in response to the control signal.

A crop harvesting header with a cutter bar and a draper assembly has a draper canvas with a plurality of transverse slats with a resilient strip across a front edge of the outer surface in front of the front end of the slats to cooperate with a rearwardly projecting element of the cutter bar extending over the upper run of the draper canvas to engage the upper surface of said strip to form a seal to inhibit entry between the cutter bar and the draper canvas of materials carried by the cut crop. There is also provided a bead on the canvas on the surface opposite the strip within the width of the strip. The arrangement can be symmetrical with a strip at each of the front and rear edges spanned by the slats extending between them, with beads on each edge opposite the front and rear strips respectively.

An agricultural robot system and method of harvesting, pruning, culling, weeding, measuring and managing of agricultural crops. Uses autonomous and semi-autonomous robot(s) comprising machine-vision using cameras that identify and locate the fruit on each tree, points on a vine to prune, etc., or may be utilized in measuring agricultural parameters or aid in managing agricultural resources. The cameras may be coupled with an arm or other implement to allow views from inside the plant when performing the desired agricultural function. A robot moves through a field first to “map” the plant locations, number and size of fruit and approximate positions of fruit or map the cordons and canes of grape vines. Once the map is complete, a robot or server can create an action plan that a robot may implement. An action plan may comprise operations and data specifying the agricultural function to perform.

A border of a designated area is defined within a work area. A designated axis is determined for the designated area. A series of generally parallel rows are aligned consistent with a travel axis having a known alignment with respect to the designated axis. One of the generally parallel rows is aligned as a starting row. The vehicle is pointed in a starting direction along or generally parallel to the travel axis. The vehicle engages in a turn path segment after an end of the starting row to move the vehicle at least somewhat perpendicular to the travel axis between the starting row and a next row. A turn path segment has a turn radius greater than or equal to a minimum turning radius of the vehicle, where the starting row and the next row are spatially separated by a multiple of effective vehicular implement widths less an overlap allowance. The turn path segment is defined so as to skip one or more intervening parallel rows between the starting row and the next row.

A control arrangement is provided for controlling the transfer of agricultural crop from a harvesting machine to a transport vehicle, the transport vehicle comprising a loading container. The control arrangement based on signals from a sensor arrangement detects the fill level and / or the outer contours of the loading container and controls the position of the output end of a discharge device with respect to the harvesting machine and / or the ejection direction of the discharge device, and / or the position of the transport vehicle with the loading container with respect to the harvesting machine, automatically in such a manner that the loading container is successively filled with the crop. It is further proposed that the sensor arrangement is designed to detect the position of a second loading container and that the control arrangement can be operated so that after detection of an overall sufficiently filled first loading container, the discharge device will be automatically aligned to the second loading container based on the signals from the sensor arrangement.

A crop harvesting header includes a center portion mounted on two spring arms and two separate wings pivotally connected to the center portion. The wings are connected to the center portion by interconnecting linkages which transfer weight from the wings to the spring arms each including a balance beam arranged to balance the lifting force from the spring arm with the downward forces from the center portion and wing such that the downward force on a skid plate of each portion on the ground varies automatically as the total downward force is varied. The balance beams apply force to the linkages by a compression member to reduce forces. The movement caused by floating of the header and the change of angle of the header are compensated at the balance beam to ensure that the force to the wings is reduced as the requirement caused by changes in geometry reduces.

A grinder includes a grinder housing having a grinder actuator, a first grinding plate, a second grinding plate and a detachable coupling arrangement. The first grinding plate is detachably coupling with the grinder actuator, wherein the first grinding plate has a plurality of first grinding knifes downwardly and spacedly extended from a bottom side of the first grinding plate. The second grinding plate has a plurality of second grinding knifes upwardly and spacedly extended from the top side of the second grinding plate at a position that the first and second grinding knifes are spacedly disposed within a grinding compartment, such that when the grinder actuator is turned with respect to the grinder base to drive the first grinding plate to rotate, the first and second grinding knifes are correspondingly moved within the grinding compartment to provide a grinding action.

The smart robotic lawn mowing system utilizes the ultrasonic and RF sensors installing on the mower base and stands to define the mowing region, to track the position of the robotic lawn mower base, and to control and monitor the mowing routs. The installed sensors form a network for the system to determine the relative distances in between stands and robotic lawn mower base, and therefore the mowing is done with a controlled manner. The sensors are coupled together, and users, based on the application of the invention, can define the mowing sequences of the mowing zones, the areas of the mowing zones, and the mowing routes. The control of the mower may be wireless and users are able to monitor and modify the settings with a computer, a cell phone, and a tablet through wireless network, a wifi, and an internet.

A sensor system, method, and computer program product for determining physical characteristics of individual plants within a row located in an agricultural environment is provided. Embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, a sensor assembly including a plurality of emitters and a corresponding plurality of receivers disposed substantially opposite one another such that the receivers may receive a plurality of signals emitted by said emitters to generate a binary profile image of each plant within a row of plants positioned along a row axis. Embodiments of the present invention also include supplementary sensors for determining other plant characteristics including leaf pattern and plant location along the row axis. The method and computer program product embodiments of the present invention may also differentiate selected plants of interest from invasive or weed species using the outputs of the sensor device of the present invention.

A cutting assembly for a header of a plant-cutting machine includes a blade assembly fastened to a head assembly, which is configured to be drivingly connected to a motor. The cutting assembly is suitable for mounting proximate to the center of the header, in an end-to-end relation with another cutting assembly. Removal of the blade assembly from the head assembly can be efficiently effected by releasing or removing a small number of fasteners, thus allowing an operator to readily remove or replace the blade assembly as needed.

There is therefore provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a robotic system for systematically moving about an area to be covered. The system includes at least one boundary marker (48) located along the outer edge of the area to be covered, a robot (40) with a navigation system (41) and a sensor unit (43). The navigation system (41) navigates the robot (40) in generally straight, parallel lines from an initial location and turns the robot (40) when the robot (40) encounters one of the boundary markers (48), thereby to systematically move about the area to be covered. The sensor unit (43) senses proximity to one of the at least one boundary marker (48).

The entire right, title and interest in and to this application and all subject matter disclosed and / or claimed therein, including any and all divisions, continuations, reissues, etc., thereof are, effective as of the date of execution of this application, assigned, transferred, sold and set over by the applicant(s) named herein to Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation having offices at Moline, Ill. 61265, U.S.A., together with all rights to file, and to claim priorities in connection with, corresponding patent applications in any and all foreign countries in the name of Deere & Company or otherwise.

The invention provides a transgenic soybean event MON 87708 plant and plants, plant cells, seeds, plant parts, and commodity products derived from event MON 87708. The invention also provides polynucleotides specific for event MON 87708 and plants, plant cells, seeds, plant parts, and commodity products comprising polynucleotides specific for event MON 87708. The invention also provides methods related to event MON 87708.

Systems and methods are provided for directly linking a harvest environment using precision farming techniques to the marketplace. It is a feature of this invention that properties of crops are evaluated "on-the-move," during the harvest thereof, and are made known to users in the harvest environment to enable the real-time transaction for the sale of these crops. In a preferred embodiment, crops are harvested from an agricultural field in the harvest environment with a combine having an auger section thereon. A plurality of properties of the crops are evaluated on-the-move by flowing the harvested crops through the auger section and over an optical device. The optical device utilizes light reflected from the crops to determine the properties. Thereafter, the marketplace is searched with a computing configuration aboard the combine for a market seeking the crop properties. If a market is found, a wireless communication link between the harvest environment and the market is used to transact for a sale of the crops. The properties of the crops are correlated to a location in the agricultural field to expand the knowledge base about the field to enhance future precision farming operations.

A battery charging station, for a robot, includes a base, two side-walls barriers, a stop, a supporting arm, a charging connector, and a transmitter. The side-walls barriers are separately mounted on the base. The stop is mounted on the back of the base to form a docking space together with the barriers and the base. The supporting arm is cantilever mounted on the stop by one free end thereof with the other end extending into the space over the docking space. The charging connector is mounted on the free end of the supporting arm and is configured for providing an electrical connection between the robot and a power source. The transmitter is positioned on the upper surface of the supporting arm and is configured for emitting signals for the robot to locate the re battery charging station.

A method for selecting an optimal setting of an adjustable work unit in an agricultural harvesting machine, wherein each setting of the work unit results in a work result, includes adjusting a first set parameter of the work unit on the machine to a first work setting; recording a first, stable work result; adjusting the first set parameter of the work unit to a second work setting; recording a second, stable work result; comparing the first and second work results; and selecting between the first and second work settings based on the comparison of the first and second work results.A device for selecting an optimal setting of an adjustable work unit in an agricultural harvesting machine includes means for adjusting a first set parameter of the work unit to different work settings; a control device to determine a work result as a function of a work setting; and a memory device in communication with the control device to record the work result.

The different illustrative embodiments provide a system for autonomous machine management comprising a number of autonomous machines, a number of nodes, a performance estimation module, and a navigation system. The number of autonomous machines is configured to perform area coverage tasks in a worksite. The number of nodes is configured to define a number of worksite areas for the worksite. The performance estimation module is executed by a processor unit and configured to calculate a percentage of work completed in the number of worksite areas. The navigation system is configured to operate an autonomous machine to perform the area coverage tasks and move between the number of worksite areas.

A transport system for a crop header includes a first and a second wheel arrangement on the header frame adjacent a respective ends for acting as a stabilizer when the header is in the operating position and movable to a transport position for transporting the header when removed from the vehicle in a transport direction generally longitudinal of the header frame and at a right angle to the working direction with each being mounted on the header frame for rotation of a rolling direction of the first wheel arrangement between the working position and the transport position, in which the rolling direction is along the transport direction. Each of the wheel arrangements includes two parallel wheels coupled together. The wheel arrangement at the rear end includes a second wheel which is mounted on a swing arm so as to be moved to a position adjacent the cutter bar so that the header is stably supported on the first wheel arrangement, the first wheel of the second wheel arrangement and the second wheel of the second wheel arrangement. The first and second wheels of the second wheel arrangement include coupling members for connection together to operate as a common wheel arrangement in the operating position. The swing arm includes a tower which attaches to the cutter bar and can fold down on to the swing arm in the field position.