Method for planting a seed in an agricultural field
Patent Information
- Application Number
- BR112021020852
- Authority / Receiving Office
- BR · BR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-15
Smart Images
Figure 00000031_0000 
Figure 00000032_0000 
Figure 00000033_0000
Abstract
Description
METHOD FOR PLANTING A SEED IN AN AGRICULTURAL FIELD Field of Invention
[001] The present description refers, in general, to a system and method for planting a seed using site-specific seed orientation. Fundamentals of Description
[002] Agricultural machinery is used for a wide variety of agricultural operations. For example, agricultural machinery can be used to plant crops, provide crop treatment operations (spraying, irrigation, fertilization, etc.), harvesting operations, to name a few. In traditional agricultural operations, an agricultural machine includes or may otherwise provide support for an agricultural implement, such as tools for operations like tilling, planting, spraying, baling, harvesting, etc.
[003] In many agricultural systems, it is often desirable to determine the characteristics of the area where an operation is to be performed and to generate site-specific recommendations. Some work has already been done to detect field features and mark the detected feature with a geographic location, in order to generate maps or other georeferenced data linking the detected features to their location within the field. Some systems detect features in a field using images that can be captured and processed to obtain relevant data.
[004] The above discussion is provided merely for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the matter claimed. Summary of the Description
[005] A method for planting a seed in an agricultural field, the method comprising: determining, with a processor, a position of Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 10 / 91 / 28 a seed guide within the agricultural field using position data from at least one planter or agricultural vehicle; determine, with the processor, a desired planting orientation corresponding to the position of the seed guide within the agricultural field; and plant the seed with the seed guide according to the desired planting orientation within the agricultural field.
[006] A method for planting a seed with a desired planting orientation within an agricultural field, the method comprising: determining, with a processor, a position of the seed guide within the agricultural field; using position data from at least one planter or agricultural vehicle; determining, with the processor, the desired planting orientation for the position of the seed guide within the agricultural field; and planting the seed according to the desired planting orientation at the position within the agricultural field.
[007] A method for planting a seed in an agricultural field with a planter in accordance with a seed orientation instruction, the method comprising: determining, with a processor, a position of the planter within the agricultural field; determining, with the processor, the seed orientation instruction for the position of the planter within the agricultural field; planting the seed in accordance with the seed orientation instruction at the position in the field; and verifying that the orientation of the planted seed at the position in the field corresponds to the seed orientation instruction.
[008] A method for planting a seed with a planter in accordance with a seed orientation instruction for an agricultural field, the method comprising: determining, with a processor, a position of the planter within the agricultural field; determining, with the processor, the seed orientation instruction for the position of the planter within the agricultural field; planting the seed in accordance with the seed orientation instruction at the position in the field; determining whether a Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 11 / 91 / 28: orientation of the planted seed in the field position corresponds to the seed orientation instruction; and adjust the orientation of the planted seed if the orientation of the planted seed in the field position does not correspond to the seed orientation instruction.
[009] A system for planting a seed within an agricultural field, the system comprising: a planter configured to plant a seed in a desired planting orientation, the desired planting orientation having a three-dimensional orientation of the seed relative to the soil; and a processor, the processor receiving the desired planting orientation for a planter position within the agricultural field and, based on the planter position, controlling the planter to plant the seed in the desired planting orientation.
[0010] A system for planting a seed within an agricultural field, the system comprising: a planter; a seed guide associated with the planter; and a processor, the processor receiving a seed guidance instruction to the agricultural field and position data from the planter within the agricultural field and, based on the seed guidance instruction and the position data, controlling the seed guide to plant the seed in a desired planting orientation. Brief Description of the Drawings
[0011] The detailed description of the drawings refers to the attached figures in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example of a site-specific seed guidance system; Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for site-specific seed orientation using an agricultural planter; Figure 3 illustrates an example image of an agricultural planter with a plurality of seedbed formers having Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, p. 12 / 91 / 28 a plurality of corresponding cultural lines; Figure 4 illustrates the possible desired planting orientations of a corn seed; and Figure 5 illustrates a side and top view of two possible desired planting orientations from Figure 4 as planted in a seedbed and a top view of the resulting plants corresponding to each of the two possible desired planting orientations. Detailed Description of the Drawings
[0012] Regarding emergence, it is known that significant productivity loss can occur when plant emergence within a plot is delayed. See, for example, Ford, JH and DR Hicks. 1992, Corn growth and yield in uneven emerging stands, J. of Production Agriculture, 5:185-188; Liu, W., Tollenaar, M., Stewart, G. and Deen, W, 2004, Response of corn grain yield to spatial and temporal variability in emergence, Crop Sci. 44:847-854; and Heiniger, RW and L. Boerema, 2015, How important is uniform emergence in corn, In 2015, Agronomy Abstracts, ASA. Thus, controlling the operation of an agricultural process using site-specific data for the area to be planted allows certain benefits early in the season in terms of emergence time and light capture.For example, regarding the process of planting seeds in an agricultural field, seeds placed in a desired planting orientation will impact the subsequent development of plant characteristics such as leaf, root, and grain orientation. Optimizing the desired planting orientation of the seed in a seedbed, and then ensuring that the actual orientation of the planted seed matches the desired planting orientation, allows for ideal soil contact, uniform emergence and plant growth, optimal and uniform utilization of inputs such as light, water, and nutrients, and avoids other causes of yield loss such as soil compaction or... Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 13 / 91 / 28 machine contact with the plant or grain.
[0013] For example, leaf orientation relative to neighboring plants can impact the light intercepted by the leaves and plant behaviors, such as shade avoidance. Additionally, by increasing the amount of shade through leaf orientation, weed presence and pressure can be reduced. Similarly, root orientation can impact a plant's ability to locate applied nutrients or impact competition between plants and weeds for nutrients. Finally, the orientation of the grain, flower, fruit, or ear—and specifically corn ears—produced by the plant can be located on a stalk / stem relative to the orientation of the planted seed. Ensuring that corn ears are in series within a row (e.g., row 102 best seen in Figure 3) can help minimize contact between the grain and machinery during the season and reduce grain loss at harvest.However, it may be recognized by a technician in the field that row 102 may not be a conventional series of parallel rows, but may include any number of patterns to aid crop growth. Some crops or crop varieties have an initial leaf and / or root orientation relative to seed orientation. For example, with grains planted tip-down, the first leaves of the corn plant usually emerge parallel to the germ. Torres, Guilherme, Leaf Angle and Emergence as Affected by Seed Orientation at Planting, Experimental Agricultural, Volume 47, Issue 4, October 2011, pp. 579-592. Similarly, other features should be optimized, including topography (sunlight, heat, water capture); row direction (soil compaction, machinery contact, harvesting); prevailing winds (seedling helicopteration, pollination, mold prevention, etc.).); and paths for future equipment or proximity to roadways (soil compaction, machinery contact, sunlight). Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 14 / 91 / 28
[0014] Figure 1 shows a block diagram of an example site-specific seed guidance system 100. The system 100 operates in a work site (e.g., agricultural field) 90 comprising some number of seedbeds 105, such as crop rows 102 (best seen by the dashed lines in Figure 3). In one example, using position data corresponding to the position and heading of an agricultural tractor and / or implement within an agricultural field, the system 100 comprising at least one seed guide 120, each seed guide 120 having an associated seedbed former 130, plants seeds 124 in a given position within the agricultural field according to a seed guidance instruction 148.In one example, the seed orientation instruction has a desired planting orientation 141 that includes multidimensional position information of the seed relative to the surface plane (i.e., ground level), seed planting depth, and crop row for a given position within the agricultural field 90. In another example, the multidimensional position information is provided so that the seed has a position (e.g., within row 102) and / or an orientation in three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates (X, Y, and Z) at that position. In this example, the Cartesian coordinates would have an origin corresponding to some point on the seed and then to the X, Y, and Z axis lines. The seed orienter 120 would then be configured to adjust the pitch, roll, and yaw (orthogonal axes and resulting coordinates) of the seed using the multidimensional position information.
[0015] The seedbed former 130 may be a high-speed row unit as described in U.S. Patent No. 8,850,998, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. In this example, the seedbed former 130 has disposed therein a seedbed forming device (not shown) and a seed metering device. Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 15 / 91 / 28 122 separating the seeds 124 from a seed reservoir 123 having a seed stock in a seed distribution system 126. The seed distribution system 126 can be configured to transport the seed 124 some distance to the seedbed 105, while retaining the seed in its desired planting orientation 141.
[0016] It may be recognized by a person skilled in the art that a seed 124 may be planted in a seedbed 105, the seedbed 105 being formed in various ways, such as a furrow, pocket, recess, hole, opening, or any other form or position from which the seed 124 may grow and become a plant. In one example, the seedbed 105 is formed with the seedbed forming device to create a conventional “V”-shaped furrow. However, in another example, the seed 124 is not deposited in a conventional “V”-shaped furrow in parallel rows. Instead, the seedbed former 130 is an injection system whereby the seed 124 is injected into uniquely shaped pouches in the soil 95 (best seen in Figure 5), the pouches being created in varying geometries and patterns within the work site / field 90 so that the seed 124 is placed at an ideal spacing and contact with the soil 95.For example, the seedbed maker 130 can create a specific seedbed shape 105 to help plant the seed 124 in its desired planting orientation 141. It can be recognized, then, by a common technician in the subject, that the seedbed maker 130 can utilize any number of methods that can be used to form different styles and shapes of seedbeds and plant the seed 124 in that seedbed 105.
[0017] In one example, to achieve an actual planted seed orientation 149 that corresponds to the desired planting orientation 141, the seed orienter 120 additionally comprises a former of Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, p. 16 / 91 / 28 seedbed 130 to orient the seed 124 in the desired planting orientation 141 in the seedbed 105. In Figure 1, the seed orienter 120 may include adjustment of seed orientation in one or more of the X, Y, and Z dimensions at one or more locations on the seedbed former 130 including, for example, the seed metering device 122, seed distribution system 126, or seed detector 132. The seedbed former 130 may include one or more components at various locations to adjust seed orientation, such as the positioning device 134, the seed rotator 136, and / or the seedbed closer 138. In one example, the seedbed former 130 may be controlled by the processor 140 based on a desired planting orientation 141.The desired planting orientation 141 can be determined before planting the seed 124 using the seed orientation instruction 148, the location of the seedbed former 142 from a seedbed former location sensor 152, a direction of the seedbed former 144 from a seedbed former direction sensor 154, other sensor data 146 and other sensors 156.
[0018] Some existing components of the seedbed former 130 may provide initial seed orientation 124 before the seed 124 is planted. For example, the seed metering device 122 may have a seed disc with seed cutouts in it to evenly orient the seed. While this may provide some initial orientation, the seeds 124 may deviate from the desired planting orientation 141 as they move toward the seedbed 105. For example, in a seedbed former 130 with a conventional seed tube, the seed 124 may bounce off the sides of the tube as the seed falls freely into the seedbed 105, resulting in random seed orientation and failing to reach the Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 17 / 91 / 28 desired planting orientation required 141. In another example, it was observed that seed distribution systems 126, such as the John Deere ExactEmerge™ row units described in US Patent No. 8,850,998, can maintain the desired planting orientation 141 from the seed metering device 122 to the seedbed 105 by, among other things, eliminating seed 124 jump in the seed tube. Furthermore, although the desired planting orientation 141 can be maintained up to the seedbed 105, the seed 124 can still be eliminated from the desired planting orientation 141 after coming into contact with the seedbed 105 and / or being covered with soil 95.
[0019] Thus, additional seed orientation may be necessary to ensure that seed 124 is planted in the desired planting orientation 141. In another example, the positioning device 134 and the seed rotator 136 each interact with the seed at some point before the seed is contacted by the soil 95 with the seedbed closer 138. For example, the positioning device 134 can be used to align seed 124 in a first dimension or axis while the seed rotator 136 aligns seed 124 in a second dimension or axis so that the seed is parallel to line 102 with the caryopsis 400 pointing downwards (as best seen in Figure 5). In one example, the positioning device 134 and / or seed rotator 136 is a conventional seed closer.The positioning device 134 and the seed rotator 136 may include various other suitable structures for adjusting the orientation of the seed 124 before the seed 124 is contacted by the soil 95. As can be recognized by a common technician in the subject, the positioning device 134 and the seed rotator 136 may also be independent structures working in combination or independently and are therefore not limited to a conventional seed hardener. Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 18 / 91 / 28
[0020] The seedbed closer 138 can then follow the positioning device 134 or seed rotator 136 and move the soil 95 into ideal contact with the seed 124, while preserving the desired planting orientation 141. In one example, the seedbed closer 138 is a conventional closing wheel or drag chain for moving the soil 95 into contact with the seed 124. However, as can be recognized by a person skilled in the art, the seedbed closer 138 is not limited to this example and may include another suitable structure for moving the soil 95 into contact with the seed.Thus, under the control of the processor 140, the positioning device 134, the seed rotator 136 and the seedbed closer 138 can operate in combination or independently with the seed metering device 122, the seed distribution system 126 and a seed detector 132 to provide some initial seed orientation, detect the orientation of the seed 124 within the seedbed 105 and then orient the seed 124 to an actual planted seed orientation 149 that corresponds to the desired planting orientation 141.
[0021] Consequently, the seed guide 120 ensures that the seeds are planted in the correct position within the seedbed 105 of row 102 and in the desired planting orientation 141. Obtaining the desired planting orientation 141 can be done at any stage between the seed reservoir 123 of the seedbed former 130 and the seedbed 105 or in some combination thereof. For example, the seed guide 120 can use the positioning device 134, seed rotator 136 or nearest seedbed 138 to correct the random orientation of the seed 124 due to jumping or movement of the seed tube within a seed distribution system 126 by rotating or turning the seed 124 within a seedbed 105 before being covered with soil 95. Under control Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, p. 19 / 91 / 28 of processor 140, seed guide 120 ensures that seed 124 is planted in the actual planting orientation 149 - that is, individualized, distributed and covered with soil 95 (for example, with seedbed closer 138) - which corresponds to the desired planting orientation 141.
[0022] In another example, the seed guide 120 may act upon a seed 124 that has been altered to form an altered seed and facilitate further seed orientation. In one example, an altered seed may include placing or otherwise affixing a magnetic material to some part of the seed 124. A corresponding structure(s), such as a chamfer made of a suitable reactive (e.g., magnetic) material to the altered seed, may be incorporated or otherwise positioned near and / or along the seed path in one or more segments or portions until the seed reaches the seedbed 105. As the now magnetized seed passes through the chamfer, the seed would gain further seed orientation near the seedbed 105 in a repeatable manner to help achieve the desired planting orientation 141.In another example, seed 124 is altered by marking the seed with a symbol or other designation representing the desired planting orientation 141 of seed 124. In one example, the altered seeds – either by marking or application of magnetic material – may be made on board or off an agricultural machine by a seed company, distributor, the seed producer, or some combination thereof. In one example, the marking may be within the visible spectrum, outside the visible spectrum (e.g., near or mid-infrared), or some combination thereof. In this example, the marking (similarly applicable to a seed with magnetic material) would be detected and captured by a seed detector 132, and then a representative signal sent to the processor 140. The processor 140 could then interpret the marking and... Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 20 / 91 / 28, send an instruction to the seed guide 120 to adjust the orientation of seed 124 to the desired planting orientation 141. The adjustment to the desired planting orientation 141 may occur before seed 124 is placed in seedbed 105, within seedbed 105, or some combination thereof. As can be recognized by one skilled in the art, the altered seed and the corresponding reactive structure are not limiting, and other means and methods for altering a seed and / or adding seed orientation may be implemented.
[0023] In some examples, the processor 140 uses an open or closed loop orientation control to provide an actual orientation of planted seed 149 corresponding to the desired planting orientation 141. In this example, the processor 140 may use a seed detector 132, such as a camera, to verify the seed orientation by observing the orientation of the planted seed 149 and sending a representative signal to the processor 140 for comparison with the desired planting orientation 141. The verified seed orientation, the observed seed orientation, and / or the comparison thereof may be subsequently stored in a database for later access. The seed detector 132 may be placed in locations such as the seed metering device 122, the seed distribution system 126, the seedbed 105, or at some other point before the seed 124 is covered by the soil 95.By comparing the actual orientation of the planted seed 149 with the desired planting orientation 141, the processor 140 can initiate adjustments to the seed guide 120 necessary to bring the actual orientation of the planted seed 149 into line with the desired planting orientation 141. These adjustments can be displayed to an operator in an associated display component (not shown) and can be implemented manually or automatically.
[0024] With further reference to Figure 1, processor 140 includes a receiver, transceiver or other electronic component that receives the signal or Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 21 / 91 / 28 signals from the seedbed former location sensor 152, seedbed former direction sensor 154, and other sensors 156 (which may include, in one example, a signal from the seed detector 132 corresponding to seed detection). The processor 140 is configured to use the received signal or signals to determine information about the location, direction, placement, and / or orientation of a seed 124 or seeds within the seedbed 105. For example, in the illustrated example, the processor 140 is coupled to a display component (not shown), which may display the seed orientation instruction 148 and / or display the actual location and orientation of the planted seed 149 of the seed 124 or seeds in the seedbed 105 to an operator. In some examples, one or both of the 140 processor and the display component are located remotely.In some examples, the other sensors themselves 156 include a processor or other electronic component that calculates a position of the seed 124 or seeds in the seedbed 105.
[0025] In some examples, a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit 150 is also connected to the processor 140 to allow correlation between other sensor data 146, seed data 147, seed orientation instruction 148, and / or a detected seed and GPS location, whether for storage on a map, in a database, or in any other form. In some examples, the processor 140 analyzes the signal or signals from various sensors, including other sensors 156, and determines seed location measurements and placement parameters, such as desired planting orientation, seed spacing, good percentage spacing, or a statistical measure of seed placement accuracy, such as the standard deviation of seed spacing or a coefficient of variation, etc. The display component can then display the measurements of these seed placement parameters. Knowing the seed location and placement parameters can help an operator understand, Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 22 / 91 / 28, for example, what percentage of the seeds are within a desired tolerance range or limit for the desired planting orientation and / or spacing. The operator can then make corrections to the seedbed former 130, as described in US Patent Publication 2012 / 0004768, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference, which discusses various types of seed placement and location parameters and seed placement measurement parameters that can be determined by the processor 140, as well as how these measurements can be displayed (see, for example, paragraphs
[0013] -
[0037] ).
[0026] In some examples, the processor 140 receives a seed guidance instruction 148 from a database maintained by the operator or an entity affiliated with the operator. Furthermore, the seed guidance instruction 148 can be loaded into the processor 140 via a wireless communication network and / or loaded manually or automatically, depending on the operator's location or the desired intention to plant an agricultural field 90. In another example, the GPS receiver unit 150 is connected to the processor 140 to allow verification of a detected seed or planted seed guidance 149 (e.g., using a signal from the seed detector 132) and GPS location for comparison with the seed guidance instruction 148.The seed orientation instruction 148 can be an a priori seed orientation map, a georeferenced seed location seed orientation map, a set of rules, a formula, a vector map, a raster map, or any suitable format determining a preferred orientation for a given seed or seeds at a given location(s). In some examples, the seed orientation instruction 148 is generated using a set of rules that use in situ data to calculate the orientation without using a map as an intermediate data structure. Additionally, the seed orientation instruction 148 can use data that... Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 23 / 91 / 28 are georeferenced (e.g., a topographic map) or are not georeferenced (e.g., a compass). When the seed orientation instruction 148 is a seed orientation map a priori, the map may still have management zones for a particular agricultural field 90. Each management zone on the map may have, without limitation, the desired planting orientation 141 which includes orientation relative to the ground, orientation relative to North; orientation relative to the direction of travel; and orientation such as slope, rotation or yaw.
[0027] In one example, the seed orientation instruction 148 initially includes a desired planting orientation 141 calculated with the processor 140, other sensor data 146 from other sensors 156 independently or in combination with the seed detector 132. The seed orientation instruction 148 can also be updated later with the planted seed orientation 149 determined and verified with the processor 140 and the seed detector 132. For example, in some work sites, such as mountainous work sites, tilt and rotation data can be useful in the overall control of seed orientation. Other sensors 156 and sensor data 146 can be used to calculate the planted seed orientation 149, without limitation.
[0028] The desired planting orientation 141 can also be calculated using seed data 147. Seed data 147 may include, without limitation, crop type, seed type including size and shape (e.g., predominantly flat, predominantly round, large round, large flat, medium round, medium flat, small flat, small round), crop variety, seed geometry, roots relative to seed orientation, leaves relative to seed orientation and grain relative to seed orientation, plant height, leaf size, number of leaves, quantity of crop product (e.g., ears of corn, soybean pods, etc.), size of crop product (e.g., Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 24 / 91 / 28 corn tassel length, ear length / size, soybean pod length / size, etc.), root lodging, quantity of agricultural products fallen from the plant (e.g., fallen corn ears, fallen soybean pods, etc.), stem lodging, plant appearance, green permanence classification, crop rot (e.g., ear rot, kernel rot, stem rot, etc.), integrity, grain quality classification, agricultural product shape (e.g., corn ear shape, etc.), ear type (e.g., flexible, semi-flexible, or fixed), husk cover, kernel depth, stem length, ear diameter, moisture percentage, brittle break, tassel branch angle, days to silk, pollen shedding, leaf sheath pubescence, number of leaves above the top ear node, lateral tassel branches, number of ears per stem bark color, leaf waves and creases, ear taper, internode length, tassel length, kernel rows, grain length, grain thickness, husk extent, ear position, Goss wilt and Stewert wilt ratings, leaf blight, gray leaf spot rating, kernel pop score, southern rust rating, or any other agricultural characteristic.
[0029] Although each seedbed former 130 may have its own set of sensors, it is anticipated that in some example implementations there will be sensors providing data to multiple seedbed formers 130 via wired or wireless communication means such as CAN bus or Wi-Fi. Position and heading may come from a single global navigation system receiver located on the agricultural vehicle (e.g., tractor) 300, implement, or both. Using position and heading inputs, geometry techniques can be applied to determine the location and heading of a seedbed former 130 on a towed toolbar. The heading and position inputs may, as Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 25 / 91 / 28 described above, comes from the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver 150 (e.g., GPS receiver) or any location system report in any global or local coordinate system. In one example, the bearing may be obtained from an electronic compass and may be relative to true or magnetic north.
[0030] Similarly, processing can be done on a single processor 140 dedicated to a seedbed former 130, distributed to a single processor 140 dedicated to controlling multiple seedbed formers 130, distributed among processors 140 on the agricultural vehicle 300, on the implement or on a remote control location etc. Although this description focuses on corn and its individualized dosing, it can also be applied, without limitation, to other crops and other measurement approaches, such as volumetric measurement, seed collection and placement, a priori orientation on seed tape, plug measurement etc.
[0031] With reference now to Figure 2, a flowchart for an example method of using the system is shown. In a first step, the position data corresponding to at least one of the agricultural vehicle 300, implement, location / position of the seedbed former 142 and the bearing of the seedbed former 144 are obtained. These inputs can be obtained from the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver 150 (e.g., GPS receiver) or any location system report in any global or local coordinate system. The bearing can be obtained from a GNSS receiver, electronic compass, etc. The bearing can be relative to true or magnetic north.
[0032] In a second step, the desired planting orientation 141 is obtained from a seed orientation instruction 148 based on the location of the seedbed former 142 determined in step Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 26 / 91 / 28 above. Again, seed orientation instruction 148 may be an a priori seed orientation map, a georeferenced seed location seed orientation map, a set of rules, a formula, a vector map, a raster map, or any suitable format determining a preferred orientation for a given seed or seeds at a given location(s). In some examples, seed orientation instruction 148 is generated using a set of rules that use in situ data to calculate orientation without using a map as an intermediate data structure. Furthermore, seed orientation instruction 148 may use data that is georeferenced (e.g., a topographic map) or that is not georeferenced (e.g., a compass).When seed orientation instruction 148 is a seed orientation map a priori, the map may still have management zones for a particular agricultural field 90. Each management zone on the map may have, without limitation, desired planting orientation information such as: orientation relative to North; orientation relative to direction of travel; and orientation such as slope, rotation or yaw.
[0033] In a third step, the desired planting orientation 141 is determined from the seed orientation instruction 148, the location of the seedbed former 142 from the seedbed former location sensor 152, a bearing of the seedbed former 144 from the seedbed former position sensor 154, other sensor data 146, and other sensors 156. With respect to step 4, the seed 124 can be oriented with the seed orienter 120 to the desired planting orientation. As described previously, the seed orienter 120 can include adjusting the seed orientation at one or more locations on the seedbed former 130 including, for example, the seed metering device 122, seed distribution system 126, or seed detector 132. The seedbed former 130 can Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, p. 27 / 91 / 28 include one or more components in various locations, such as positioning device 134, seed rotator 136 and / or seedbed closer 138 to further adjust the seed orientation in relation to the desired planting orientation 141.
[0034] In other examples, additional steps may be provided and include seed orientation using an open or closed loop control in the processor 140. The open and closed loop orientation control may utilize a seed detector 132, such as a camera, to verify the seed orientation by observing the actual orientation of the planted seed 149 and sending a representative signal to the processor 140 for comparison with the desired planted orientation 141. The seed detector 132 may be disposed in locations such as the seed metering device 122, the seed distribution system 126, the seedbed 105 or at some other point before the seed 124 is covered by the soil 95.By comparing the actual orientation of the planted seed 149 with the desired planting orientation 141, and, if applicable, determining that a tolerance or limit has been exceeded, the processor 140 may initiate adjustments of the seed guide 120 necessary to bring the actual orientation of the planted seed 149 into line with the desired planting orientation 141.
[0035] With reference now to Figure 3, an agricultural vehicle (e.g., tractor) 300 is shown pulling a planter 302 having a main frame with a plurality of seedbed formers 130 in a direction of travel 304. In one example, the seedbed formers 130 are coupled (e.g., mounted) to a front or rear portion of the main frame, so that they are pulled over the soil surface 95 in the agricultural field 90. Seed sources, such as storage tanks 308, are coupled to the main frame and hold the seed 124 which is distributed, for example, pneumatically or in any other suitable manner, to a mini-seedbed. Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 28 / 91 / 28 (not shown) associated with each seedbed former 130. Storage tanks 308 are coupled to the minihoppers by means of conduits, such as flexible tubes, and a pressurized supply device (not shown). Each storage tank 308 may contain the same or different varieties of seeds 124 to be planted in the soil 95. Each seedbed former 130 is connected to a conduit so that it is in communication with a storage tank 308 to receive seeds. As illustrated by way of example only in Figure 1, each seedbed former 130 further includes its own substructure to which the various components (e.g., seed metering device 122, seed distribution system 126, seed detector 132, positioning device 134, seed rotator 136, seedbed closer 138, etc.) are mounted.
[0036] As shown in Figure 3, the agricultural vehicle 300 follows one or more guidance lines 306 generated or programmed using the receiver 150, the guidance lines further allowing the creation and visualization of one or more lines 102 along which the seed guide 120, specifically the seedbed former 130, will plant the seed 124. The guidance line 306 can thus be used to guide the agricultural vehicle 300 and the planter 302 to, among other things, minimize compaction and reduce overlapping application of the product. In one example, Figure 3 may also represent a seed guidance instruction 148 shown in a display component and visually representing a map along which the agricultural vehicle 300 and the seedbed former 130 will plant seeds. In this example, the lines 102 are dashed lines, each dash representing a potential location of a seed in a desired planting orientation.
[0037] With reference now to Figures 4-5, many possible desired planting orientations 141 are shown. In this example, the orientations Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, p. 29 / 91 / 28 desired planted 141 correspond to the possible orientations of a corn seed 124. In this example, seed 124 can be oriented in three dimensions (X, Y, and Z) and in any amount relative to the soil, including: 1) sideways with the embryo (not shown) pointing down or up relative to the soil surface or 2) with the caryopsis 400 of seed 124 pointing down or up relative to the soil surface 95. Furthermore, seed 124a can be oriented perpendicular to a crop row 102 or seed 124b can be oriented parallel to crop row 102. In one example, as shown in Figure 5, seed 124a is oriented with its caryopsis 400 pointing down and at an angle substantially parallel to crop row 102 and surrounded by soil 95.When the caryopsis 400 is pointing downwards within soil 95 and seed 124a is parallel to line 102, it can be expected with reasonable certainty that the plant will emerge uniformly and grow with its leaves perpendicular to line 102. This is best demonstrated by corn plant 160 shown in Figure 5. In this position, the plant will be in ideal contact with soil 95, allowing for uniform emergence and plant growth, ideal and uniform use of inputs such as light, water, and nutrients, and avoiding other causes of yield loss, such as soil compaction or machine contact with the plant or grain. In another example, when the caryopsis 400 is pointing downwards within soil 95, but seed 124b is perpendicular to line 102, it can be expected with reasonable certainty that the plant will emerge and grow with its leaves parallel to line 102. This is best demonstrated by corn plant 162 shown in Figure 5.
[0038] However, it may be recognized that one or more desired planting orientations 141 of a crop seed may be necessary to achieve the ideal spacing and orientation to maximize crop yield in an agricultural field 90. For example, in some agricultural fields, such as those with hills, terraces or other features Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 30 / 91 / 28 natural or artificial, it may be desirable to use multiple planting orientations or desired planting orientations 141 based on topography to capture sunlight or precipitation in an optimized way. In another example, the desired planting orientation 141 may change according to the type of crop (e.g., soybean, sugar beet, sunflowers, oats, sorghum, wheat) being planted and be entirely different or some combination of the desired planting orientations 141, as shown in Figures 4-5. In yet another example, the desired planting orientation 141 may change according to the type of seed (e.g., flat or round corn seed) being planted, thus requiring one or more different desired planting orientations.Thus, as can be recognized by any expert in the field, the desired planting guidelines 141 as shown in Figures 4-5 are only illustrative and do not include all the desired planting guidelines 141 that can be used to optimally plant and cultivate a crop in an agricultural field 90.
[0039] In one example, processor 140 may be composed of one or more software and / or hardware components in any proportion. In such an example, processor 140 may reside on a computer-based platform, such as, for example, a server or set of servers. Any server or servers may be physical servers or virtual machines running on another hardware platform or platforms. Any server, or any computer-based system, systems or elements described herein, shall generally be distinguished by one or more processors and processing elements and associated storage devices communicatively interconnected to one another by one or more buses or other communication mechanism to communicate information or data. In one example, the storage within such devices may include main memory, such as, for example, random access memory (RAM) or other storage devices. Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 31 / 91 / 28 dynamic, to store information and instructions to be executed by the processor(s) and for temporary storage of variables or other intermediate information during the use of the system and computing element described herein.
[0040] In one example, the 140 processor may also include a static storage device, such as read-only memory (ROM), for storing static information and instructions for the processor(s). In another example, the 140 processor may include a storage device, such as a hard disk or solid-state memory, for storing information and instructions. This stored information and instructions may include, but are not limited to, instructions for calculation, which may include, but are not limited to, processing and analyzing agronomic data or information of all kinds. Such data or information may pertain to, but are not limited to, climate, soil, water, crop growth stage, pest or disease infestation data, historical data, future forecast data, economic data associated with agronomy, or any other type of agronomic data or information.
[0041] In one example, the processing and analysis of data by Processor 140 may refer to the processing and analysis of agronomic factors obtained from externally collected image data and issuing alerts, if necessary, based on predefined acceptability parameters. RAMs, ROMs, hard disks, solid-state memories, and the like are all examples of tangible computer-readable media that can be used to store instructions comprising processes, methods, and functionalities of the present description. Exemplary processes, methods, and functionalities of Processor 140 may include determining a need to generate and present alerts according to examples in the present description. The execution of such instructions causes the various Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 32 / 91 / 28 computer-based elements of the 140 processor execute the processes, methods, functionalities, operations, etc., described herein. In some instances, the 140 processor of this description may include wired circuits to be used in place of, or in combination with, in any proportion, such computer-readable instructions to implement the description.
[0042] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the state of the art has progressed to the point where there is little distinction between hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; the use of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in certain contexts the choice between hardware and software may become significant) a design choice that represents trade-offs between cost and efficiency. People skilled in the art will recognize that there are various vehicles by which the processes and / or systems and / or other technologies described herein may be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and / or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the processes and / or systems and / or other technologies are deployed.For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a primarily hardware and / or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for a primarily software implementation; or, again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware. Therefore, there are several possible vehicles by which the systems, methods, processes, apparatus and / or devices and / or other technologies described herein may be effected, none of which is inherently superior to the other, where which vehicle to be used is a choice depending on the context in which the vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary. Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, p. 33 / 91 / 28
[0043] The preceding detailed description has established various modalities of systems, apparatus, devices, methods, and / or processes through the use of block diagrams, schematics, flowcharts, examples, and / or functional language. Insofar as such block diagrams, schematics, flowcharts, examples, and / or functional language contain one or more functions and / or operations, it will be understood by those within the art that each function and / or operation within such block diagrams, schematics, flowcharts, examples, or functional language can be implemented, individually and / or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one example, various portions of the subject described herein can be implemented by means of Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other integrated formats.However, persons skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments described in this document, in whole or in part, can be implemented equivalently in integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuit and / or writing the code for the software and / or firmware would be well within the ability of a specialist in the light of this description.Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that the mechanisms of the subject described in this document are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject described in this document applies regardless of the type of signal carrier medium. Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 34 / 91 / 28 used to carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal carrier medium include, but are not limited to, the following: an edge computing module or device; a computer-readable memory medium, such as a magnetic medium like a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, and a magnetic tape; an optical medium such as a compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), and a Blu-ray disc; computer memory such as random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and read-only memory (ROM); and a transmission medium, such as a digital and / or analog communication medium, such as a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communication link, and a wireless communication link.
[0044] The subject described here sometimes illustrates different associated, comprised, contained, or connected components with different other components. It should be understood that such represented architectures are merely exemplary and that, in fact, many other architectures can be implemented that achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” so that the desired functionality is achieved. Therefore, any two or more components combined here to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated” with each other, so that the desired functionality is achieved, regardless of the intermediate architectures or components.Similarly, any two or more associated components can also be seen as being “operationally connected” or “operationally coupled” to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two or more components capable of being associated can also be seen as being “operationally coupleable” to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operationally coupleable components include, but are not limited to, physically coupleable and / or physically interacting components. Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 35 / 91 / 28 wireless interactive components and / or interacting wirelessly and / or logically interacting components and / or interacting logically.
[0045] Unless specifically stated otherwise or as apparent from the description in this document, it is acknowledged that throughout this description, discussions using terms such as “access”, “aggregate”, “analyze”, “apply”, “mediate”, “calibrate”, “verify”, “combine”, “communicate”, “compare”, “transmit”, “convert”, “correlate”, “create”, “define”, “derive”, “detect”, “disable”, “determine”, “allow”, “estimate”, “filter”, “find”, “generate”, “identify”, “incorporate”, “initiate”, “locate”, “modify”, “obtain”, “produce”, “predict”, “receive”, “report”, “retrieve”, “send”, “detect”, “store”, “transform”, “update”, “use”, “validate” or other similar forms of combination of these terms and similar terms, refer to to the actions and processes of a computer system or computing element (or part thereof), such as, but not limited to, one or more or some combination of: a visual organizing system,A request generator, an internet-attached computing device, a computer server, etc. In one example, the computer system and / or computing element can manipulate and transform information and / or data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system and / or processor(s), register(s), and / or memory(ies) of the computing element into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system and / or memory(ies) of the computing element, register(s), and / or other similar components for storing, processing, transmitting, and / or displaying information of the computer system(s), computing element(s), and / or other electronic computing device(s). Under the direction of computer-readable instructions, the computer system(s) and / or computing element(s) can perform operations of one or more of the processes, methods, and / or, Petition 870250066736, dated 07 / 31 / 2025, page 36 / 91 / 28 functionalities of the present description.
[0046] Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common practice in the art to implement apparatus and / or devices and / or processes and / or systems in the form(s) set forth herein and subsequently use engineering and / or business practices to integrate such implemented apparatus and / or devices and / or processes and / or systems into more comprehensive apparatus and / or devices and / or processes and / or systems. That is, at least some of the apparatus and / or devices and / or processes and / or systems described in this document may be integrated into comprehensive apparatus and / or devices and / or processes and / or systems through a reasonable amount of experimentation.
[0047] Although the present description has been described in terms of specific embodiments and applications, persons skilled in the art may, by considering this teaching, generate additional embodiments without exceeding the scope or departing from the spirit of the present description as described herein. Therefore, it should be understood that the drawings and description in this description are offered to facilitate understanding of the present description and should not be construed as limiting its scope.
[0048] As used herein, unless otherwise limited or modified, lists with elements that are separated by conjunctive terms (e.g., “and”) and that are also preceded by the expression “one or more of” or “at least one of” indicate configurations or arrangements that potentially include individual elements of the list, or any combination thereof. For example, “at least one of A, B, and C” or “one or more of A, B, and C” indicates the possibilities of only A, only B, only C, or any combination of two or more of A, B, and C (e.g., A and B; B and C; A and C; or A, B, and C).
Claims
1. Method for planting a seed (124) in an agricultural field (90), the method comprising: determining a site-specific seed orientation instruction for the agricultural field (90); determining, with a processor (140), a position of a seed guide (120) within the agricultural field (90) using position data from at least one of a planter (302) or an agricultural vehicle (300); determining, with the processor (140), a desired planting orientation corresponding to the position of the seed guide (120) within the agricultural field (90) from the seed orientation instruction, the seed orientation instruction being stored in the processor (140) or transmitted to the processor (140) before planting the seed according to the desired planting orientation; and planting the seed (124) within the agricultural field (90) according to the desired planting orientation with the seed guide (120);characterized by the fact that the seed orientation instruction is generated using at least one of the following: topography, prevailing winds, future equipment paths, and proximity of rows.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the seed orientation instruction comprises three-dimensional positions of the seed (124) in relation to at least one of a surface plane of the agricultural field (90), a planting depth and a crop row within the agricultural field (90).
3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the seed orientation instruction contains a three-dimensional position of the seed (124) in a perpendicular position relative to the crop line or in a parallel position relative to the crop line or in a position between parallel and perpendicular relative to the crop line.
4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the position data are determined from a position sensor associated with the planter (302) or from a position sensor associated with a seed guide (120) on the planter (302) or from a position sensor associated with a seedbed former (130) on the planter (302) or from a position sensor associated with the agricultural vehicle (300).
5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the position sensor is at least one of a GPS receiver (150) or a location system reporting on any global or local coordinates and configured to generate position data.
6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the seed guide (120) further comprises a seedbed former (130), the seedbed former (130) further comprising a seed metering device (122), a seed distribution system (126), a seed detector (132), a positioning device and a seedbed closer (138), the seedbed former (130) configured to plant the seed (124) within a seedbed (105) according to the desired planting orientation.
7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the seedbed (105) comprises at least one of a furrow, a pouch, an opening, a hole or a cutout within which the seed (124) can be deposited and covered with soil.