U.S. patent application number 10/104092 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-08 for agricultural product applicator implement.
This patent application is currently assigned to Flexicoil Ltd.. Invention is credited to Benneweis, Robert K..
Application Number | 20020107609 10/104092 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24558576 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020107609 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Benneweis, Robert K. |
August 8, 2002 |
Agricultural product applicator implement
Abstract
A control system is disclosed for an agricultural implement,
such as an agricultural sprayer, used to dispense a product to the
ground wherein the dispensing units for the product are provided
with control valves that can reduce the flow rate of product
through selected dispensing units to zero. By controlling the rate
of flow through the dispensing units, overlap of the application of
the product to the ground can be substantially eliminated. In
alternative embodiments of the invention, the control mechanism can
receive data from a remote source, such as a central controller or
another implement operating in the field, to define where the
product needs to be applied to the ground. The application of the
product can also be controlled through or in conjunction with a
prescription map. Preferably, each dispensing unit is provided with
a control valve operably associated with the control system so that
each dispensing unit can be independently controlled to provide a
variable flow rate of the product to the ground.
Inventors: |
Benneweis, Robert K.;
(Saskatoon, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LARRY W. MILLER
NEW HOLLAND NORTH AMERICA , INC.
P.O. BOX 1895
NEW HOLLAND
PA
17557
US
|
Assignee: |
Flexicoil Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
24558576 |
Appl. No.: |
10/104092 |
Filed: |
March 22, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10104092 |
Mar 22, 2002 |
|
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|
09638083 |
Aug 14, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/231 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01C 21/005 20130101;
A01B 79/005 20130101; Y02A 40/12 20180101; Y02A 40/10 20180101;
A01C 23/047 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/231 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/00 |
Claims
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
1. In an agricultural implement for dispensing agricultural product
to the ground through a plurality of product dispensing units, the
improvement comprising: a control system for controlling a rate of
flow of said agricultural product from at least a portion of said
product dispensing units in response to data received by said
control system relating to a prior application of said agricultural
product.
2. The agricultural implement of claim 1 wherein said data relating
to a prior application of said agricultural product identifies an
application of said agricultural product made in a previous path of
said agricultural implement so that said control system can reduce
said rate of flow of said agricultural product from at least one of
said product dispensing units to prevent overlap in the application
of said agricultural product.
3. The agricultural implement of claim 2 wherein each of said
product dispensing units are independently controlled by said
control system so that any of said product dispensing units being
positioned over a portion of the ground having said agricultural
product dispensed in a previous pass of said implement can be
turned off to prevent duplicative application of said agricultural
product.
4. The agricultural implement of claim 3 wherein said control
system is in communication with corresponding control systems of
other similar agricultural implements operating in cooperation
therewith for the application of said agricultural product to the
ground, said control system being operable to control the flow rate
of said product dispensing units to prevent a duplicative
application of said agricultural product relative to a previous
pass made by one of said other similar agricultural implements.
5. The agricultural implement of claim 2 wherein each said product
dispensing unit is provided with a control valve operable to
control the rate of flow of said agricultural product through the
corresponding said product dispensing unit in a variable
manner.
6. The agricultural implement of claim 5 wherein said control
system is operable to control the rate of flow of said agricultural
product in response to a prescription map requiring variable
application of said agricultural product to the ground.
7. In a control system for an agricultural implement for applying
agricultural product to the ground thorough product dispensing
units, the improvement comprising: said control system being
operable to control a rate at which said agricultural product is
being dispensed from each of said product dispensing units in
response to data received by said control system relating to a
prior application of at least one agricultural product to the
ground.
8. The control system of claim 7 wherein said data is stored on a
non-volatile At storage medium.
9. The control system of claim 8 wherein said non-volatile storage
medium is a PCcard.
10. The control system of claim 8 wherein said data includes
information from one or more of: a location at which the product is
applied; a width dimension of said agricultural implement; and a
time differential factor relating to the delivery of the
agricultural product.
11. The control system of claim 10 further including a GPS
positioning system with which the location corresponding to the
application of said agricultural product is tracked.
12. The control system of claim 11 further including a receiver in
communication with corresponding control systems of other similar
agricultural implements operating in cooperation therewith for the
application of said agricultural product to the ground, said
control system being operable to control the flow rate of said
product dispensing units to prevent a duplicative application of
said agricultural product relative to a previous pass made by one
of said other similar agricultural implements.
13. The control system of claim 12 wherein each said product
dispensing unit is provided with a control valve operable to
control the rate of flow of said agricultural product through the
corresponding said product dispensing unit in a variable
manner.
14. The control system of claim 13 wherein said control system is
operable to control the rate of flow of said agricultural product
in response to a prescription map requiring variable application of
said agricultural product to the ground.
15. The control system of claim 12 wherein said receiver is in
communication with a central master control system which transmits
data to said control system to provide information relating to a
previous application of said agricultural product.
16. An agricultural product applicator implement comprising: a
plurality of dispensing units for dispensing a product to a field;
a flow control device associated with each respective said
dispensing unit to control the rate of flow through each dispensing
unit independently; control system operatively associated with said
flow control devices to control the rate of flow through each
corresponding said dispensing unit such that any one said
dispensing unit can have a flow rate of said product therethrough
at a rate which is different than any other of said dispensing
units.
17. The implement of claim 16 wherein said control system is
selectively operable to reduce said flow rate variably from a
maximum flow rate to zero.
18. The implement of claim 17 wherein said control system is
operable to reduce said flow rate to zero for any of said
dispensing units overlapping a previous dispensing of said product
by one or more of the dispense units.
19. The implement of claim 18 in which the control system includes
storage for storing information of where product was previously
dispensed.
20. The implement of claim 19 in which said control system receives
information from a remote control that includes storage for
information of where product was previously dispensed.
21. The implement of claim 19 in which the control system adds
information to the storage of where product is dispensed by the
implement.
22. A method of applying agricultural product to the ground from an
agricultural implement having a plurality of transversely oriented
product dispensing units from which said agricultural product is
dispensed and a control system for controlling a rate of product
flow through said product dispensing units, comprising the steps
of: controlling the rate of product flow through at least one of
said product dispensing units corresponding to data received by
said control system relating to a prior application of at least one
agricultural product to the ground.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein said controlling step includes
the step of reducing said rate of product flow to zero for any of
said product dispensing units that overlap a path of product on the
ground that had been previously dispensed.
24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of:
receiving data indicative of prior application of said product to
the ground from a remote source.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein said remote source is a second
agricultural implement working in conjunction with said first
agricultural implement.
26. The method of claim 23 wherein said data is obtained from a
prescription map inputted into said control system.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein said prescription map is
received by said control system from a remote source.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is related to precision farming in which
agricultural implements apply products to a field in a location
specific manner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The benefits of site specific product application control
are well known in the industry. Some product application variables
that may be controlled according to location within a field may
include product type and product rate. The product rate may be
related to an amount in weight per unit area, or to a spacing
between units such as individual seeds. The product type and rate
prescribed for an area may be dependent on factors such as soil
type, historic yield data, and historic or expected precipitation.
It has been found that application of agricultural products in such
a prescribed manner can increase yields and/or reduce farming input
costs to improve overall profits. Implements that use this type of
technology include seeding, planting, fertilizing, and spraying
equipment. On other equipment, such as harvest equipment, there may
be data collection systems to collect data to be used with a
prescription farming system. The prescription farming system
generally includes some device for tracking location within a
field, such as GPS, and a mechanism to control the product rate,
type, or other parameters to be controlled according to a
prescription which is commonly recorded on a prescription map
corresponding to the area of the field.
[0003] An implement configured for prescription farming typically
has a control system in which the prescription map is stored, or
capable of reading prescription map data stored on a device such as
a disk or PCcard. The map can be displayed for the operator to view
in the operator's cab. Commonly color coding may be used on the map
to illustrate differences in product rate or type corresponding to
different areas of the field.
[0004] Critical farming operations such as seeding or planting must
typically be performed within a short window of time in order for
the crop to mature within the growing season and for best yield
amount and quality. Since speed and efficiency are important in
farming operations, there may be more than one implement operating
in a field at one time. A problem arises when each such implement
is using independent precision farming systems, whereby each
implement system operates without the knowledge of the other
implement's operation. Two or more of the implements may apply
product to the same location, or the implements may altogether miss
a location resulting in zero product being applied to that
location, each of which could adversely affect yield.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The limitations and disadvantages of the prior art are
overcome by a control system for controlling the dispensing of
agricultural crop products to a field.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
control system for the application of agricultural products, which
aids in preventing the missed application of products or the
duplicate application of products to locations within a field.
[0007] It is a feature of this invention that the operator of a
crop product applicator implement can be guided to appropriate
locations for the dispensing of crop products, depending on
information about whether there were prior applications of a crop
product at those locations.
[0008] It is another object of this invention to provide a control
system for controlling or guiding the application of one or more
agricultural products by a product applicator implement dependent
on information about one or more products that have previously been
applied.
[0009] It is an advantage of this invention that the agricultural
products being applied to the field may be the same as or may be
different than those being presently applied by other implements at
a rate that is dependent on the information about the previously
applied products.
[0010] It is another feature of this invention that the product
application information may include for each previously applied
product, one or more of: location previously applied, rate
previously applied, type previously applied, date previously
applied, or other such information as may be useful in determining
optimum rates for application of a product presently being
applied.
[0011] It is still another object of this invention to provide a
control system for controlling or guiding the application of
agricultural products by a product applicator implement which aids
in preventing the missed application of products or the duplicate
application of products to locations within a field.
[0012] It is another advantage of this invention that the product
application information can be related to the locations where
product was previously applied by this or another implement.
[0013] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a
control system to coordinate the operation of two or more crop
product applicators operating within a field to prevent the missed
application of products or the duplicate application of products to
locations within a field.
[0014] It is still another feature of this invention that the prior
application of products can be displayed for viewing by the
operator so that the operator can make decisions and provide
appropriate control actions for the present application of a
product within a field.
[0015] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a
control system that can automatically calculate and provide control
signals to the control system on a product applicator implement for
controlling the dispensing of a product within a field.
[0016] It is still another advantage of this invention that a
display monitor may also be provided with such a system for the
operator to observe and monitor the operation of the control
system, and to provide the operator information for the guidance of
the implement to appropriate locations within the field where
product application is required.
[0017] It is yet another feature of this invention that the control
system can control a plurality of dispense controls independently
to apply products at a first dispensing rate from a first
dispensing unit or group of units, and at a second dispensing rate
from a second dispensing unit or group of units.
[0018] It is a further advantage of this invention that the
independent control of a plurality of dispense controls can prevent
duplicate application of product to locations where the implement
may be overlapping locations where product has previously not been
applied and has been applied.
[0019] It is a further object of this invention to provide a
central control system for communicating with one or more control
systems of product applicator implements operating within a field
so that the operation of each of the implements within the filed is
coordinated to prevent the missed application of products or the
duplicate application of products to locations within a field.
[0020] It is a further feature of this invention that each product
applicator control system may be independently calculating product
dispensing rates for its location based on information being
communicated with the central control system, or the central
control system may be calculating and providing dispensing rate
information to each product applicator control system.
[0021] It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a
control system for each of two or more applicator implements
operating within a field, which includes a communication
transceiver for communicating information by which they are
coordinated so that the two or more implements may communicate such
information with each other or with a central control system as
described above.
[0022] These and other objects, features and advantages can be
accomplished by providing a control system for an agricultural
implement, such as an agricultural sprayer, used to dispense a
product to the ground wherein the dispensing units for the product
are provided with control valves that can reduce the flow rate of
product through selected dispensing units to zero. By controlling
the rate of flow through the dispensing units, overlap of the
application of the product to the ground can be substantially
eliminated. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the
control mechanism can receive data from a remote source, such as a
central controller or another implement operating in the field, to
define where the product needs to be applied to the ground. The
application of the product can also be controlled through or in
conjunction with a prescription map. Preferably, each dispensing
unit is provided with a control valve operably associated with the
control system so that each dispensing unit can be independently
controlled to provide a variable flow rate of the product to the
ground.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a product
application system with controls and an interfacing control system
incorporating the principles of the instant invention;
[0024] FIGS. 2a-c are diagrammatic illustrations of exemplary paths
that can be taken by a product application system in a field in
which the product application system overlaps areas where product
has been applied on a preceding path;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a logic flow diagram for a control algorithm by
which a precision farming control system of the present invention
may operate;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an agricultural sprayer
incorporating the principles of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial elevational view of a spray
boom of the sprayer shown in FIG. 4 to depict the booms;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a control system depicting
an embodiment of components that may be typically used for
operating the precision farming control system of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an alternative control
system depicting another embodiment of components that may be
typically used for operating the precision farming control system
of the present invention; and
[0030] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of another alternative
embodiment of a control system that may be typically used for
operating the precision farming control system of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Referring first to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, an agricultural product
applicator implement, depicted in the form of an agricultural
sprayer, incorporating the principles of the instant invention can
best be seen. Any left and right references are determined by
standing behind the implement and facing forwardly toward the
direction of travel. In the product application system shown in
FIG. 1 the product to be applied to the field is dispensed from the
sprayer heads 10 connected to a product distribution lines 13. A
product flow control 11 is provided for each dispense unit 10 to
control the product flow from the distribution line 13 to each
dispense unit 10. Each product flow control 11 is controlled by a
solenoid control 12.
[0032] The implement preferably includes 2 product distribution
lines 13, each with sprayer heads 10, flow controls 11, and
solenoid controls 12. The overall product flow to the distribution
lines is controlled by a flow control valve 14 in each distribution
line 13, and each flow control valve 14 is controlled by a solenoid
control 15. Control valves 14 provide the ability to shut off
operation of a corresponding distribution branch. Rates applied
from individual sprayer heads 10 may also be controlled by
corresponding control valves 11. This may simply be on/off control,
or can be variable control in a manner known in the art, such as by
cycling control valves 11 open and closed in pulses and controlling
rates by varying the pulse width and/or frequency. The frequency
control may be limited by the response limit of the valve.
Frequency and pulse width may also be controlled to maintain a
particular spray droplet size or spray pattern, while controlling
rates, as is well known in the art.
[0033] The product distribution lines 13 are connected to a main
distribution line 16 associated with a line pressure gage 30 and a
line pressure sensor 31. Also in this main distribution line 16
located upstream of the connection to the distribution lines 13 is
a line flow sensor 32. The main product distribution line 16 is
connected to a 3-way flow control valve 17 controlled by a
servo-actuator 18. Product flow is generated by a pump 20 and is
carried in the output line 19 into the 3-way control valve 17. A
bypass line 22 carries excess flow as controlled by the 3-way
control valve 17 back to the product supply tank 23. The pump 20
draws product from the product supply tank 20 through the pump
input line 21 for delivery through the output line 19.
[0034] In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the 3-way
control valve 17 controls the product total dispense rate for
product distributed to the sprayer heads 10. The flow rate is
measured by the flow sensor 32. The distribution line pressure is
also detected by pressure sensor 31. Having both these bits of
information allows the control system 100 to detect and warn of
potential errors in operation. Each sprayer head 10 dispenses
product at a dispense rate proportional to the distribution line
pressure. If the measured total flow is not equal to the total flow
expected, then it is likely that one or more sprayer heads are
worn, damaged, or plugged. The total flow rate however can be
controlled by the 3-way control valve 18 with flow rate feedback
from the sensor 32 so that even though nozzles may be worn, the
product application rate is properly controlled. The system can
continue to operated until a sudden change in pressure or flow
indicates a problem or until the measure and expected flow rates
are beyond a threshold of discrepancy.
[0035] A product application system as described above can be
configured on an implement 40 such as that shown in FIG. 4. This
implement includes left and right application booms 41 and 42
respectively. Each application boom may be configured with at least
one product distribution line 13 with product sprayer heads 10
evenly spaced along the length of the boom 41, 42 so that in the
field position shown in FIG. 4, they are spaced transverse to the
direction of travel to apply product in a wide path. Each boom of
this particular implement 40 includes a structural main boom 43 on
which is mounted a applicator boom 44. The distribution line 13
forms the actual applicator boom supported pivotally on the main
boom 43 by several arms 45. Alternatively, a dry boom may be used
for structure in place of the distribution line 13 as the
applicator boom 44, with the distribution line being supported
along the applicator boom 44. The elevation of the product sprayer
heads 10 relative to the field surface or crop top may be adjusted
by pivotally adjusting the applicator boom 44.
[0036] FIG. 1 also illustrates other control components used in
operating the precision farming control system of the present
invention. Various remote controls 33-37 are used to communicate
with the sensors and controllers to control product application
according to the invention. Each remote control 33-37 is connected
to a control communication bus 38, which allows various control
components to communicate with each other. A first remote control
33 gets signals from sensors 31 and 32 and controls servos 15 and
18. The first remote control 33 sends signals to and gets signals
from other components connected to the bus 38. These signals are
sent and received with an identifier, which specifically indicates
which remote they are sent from or are intended for. The message
carried by the signal includes information about which sensor the
signal is from or to which control the signal is for, and values
certain parameters. The remotes 33-37 are shown with connections to
sensors or controls in a combination up to six in total, but this
total may more commonly be up to twenty four connections, depending
on the electrical current required by each connection. A second
remote 34 is connected to six dispense unit solenoid controls 12
and provides these controls with signals communicated from the bus
and communicates status of these control 12 to the bus. Similarly
other remotes 35, 36, and 37, control and communicate the status of
solenoid controls 12.
[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment of some control
components in a control system 100 according to the invention. A
console 51 is a component by which an operator can input and
receive data about the operation of the control system. It is
connected in communication with the bus 38. A task controller 52
and differential corrected global positioning system (DGPS) 53, are
also connected to the control system bus 38. Alternate positioning
systems may be used to perform the invention, however DPGS is
currently the industry preferred positioning system. Control
calculations may be performed by one or more of the components in
the control system. In the preferred embodiments shown, the task
controller 52 performs rate calculations and generates values for
the control signals.
[0038] The preferred embodiment includes in the control system 100
the capability for prescription rate control. The desired
application rate of each product to be applied can be produced
using a GIS application software that produces a digital map of
each product's desired application rates. Location specific field
characteristics and prior yield data is typically used in producing
this map. These digital maps are communicated to the task
controller 52 on the seeding or spraying implement by means of a
prescription PCcard 54. Other means of configuring the control
system with prescription rate data are possible. Production and use
of product application prescription maps is well known in the
art.
[0039] For prescription rate control, the task controller 52
compares the present position of the implement 40, which is
provided by the DGPS receiver 53, to the same position in the
prescription map. The task controller 52 gets the application rate
for each product to be applied to that location from the
prescription map and then calculates a dispense rate value to apply
to the total flow rate control valve 17, or for more precise
control, to each solenoid control 12, based on the speed at which
the implement 40 is moving, and the area covered by each dispense
unit 10 that are controlled by that solenoid control 12, if more
than one are controlled by a single valve. The task controller 52
then communicates the desired dispense rate to the appropriate flow
control via the communication bus 38 and the implement's remote
controls 33-37. The dispense rates are controlled depending on the
application rate for the particular location as well as the speed
at which the implement is moving to achieve the appropriate
application rate.
[0040] The control system 100 may also include provision to
compensate for physical offsets and delays inherent in the product
application system. The GPS antenna may be located near the front
of the implement 40, or on a pulling vehicle such as a tractor (not
shown) used for pulling the implement 40. The sprayer heads 10 are
typically arranged along and/or about a line on the implement 40
that is transverse to the direction of travel and that is to the
rear of the GPS antenna relative to the direction of movement of
the implement in operation. Thus as the implement is moving across
the field there is a delay from the moment the GPS antenna reaches
a location to the moment the transverse line of sprayer heads 10
reaches that location, depending on the speed at which the
implement 40 is moving. Another possible delay to changing the
dispense rates would relate to the difference in time for the
product entering the distribution lines until the product reaches
the sprayer heads 10. A liquid sprayer for example may be of the
type that injects product into a water carrier at a location in the
distribution lines, such as near where the flow sensor 32 is shown
in FIG. 1. Thus, the product will not reach the dispense points
until a certain time expires during which the product concentration
or product type previously in the distribution lines has been
dispensed.
[0041] For agricultural sprayers, the time for spray to travel from
the sprayer head 10 to the target, e.g. the plant or the ground, is
also a significant delay. The target may be at the ground surface
or generally within the elevation of a crop canopy, and the sprayer
heads 10 may be set about 18 inches above that. Sprayer heads are
therefore controlled in advance of the target to compensate for the
distance it travels along with the applicator implement before it
reaches the target elevation. The compensation period depends on
the speed at which the agricultural sprayer is moving and the
distance above the target at which sprayer heads 10 are set.
[0042] Rates at which the product is dispensed may be controlled by
a prescription rate control system, or may be set by the operator
and adjusted during operation, or may be left fixed during
operation. Whatever the case, the dispense rates may be further
controlled by a system that calculates dispense rates as described
above in accordance with the implement speed and set application
rates so that the proper application rate is achieved if the
implement speed varies as is well known in the art. For control of
the dispense rates and for the delay compensation control described
above, the implement controls also preferably include a speed
sensor 39. Preferably, the sensor 39 is configured to sense true
ground speed so that implement or pulling vehicle wheel slippage
does not introduce error as can occur with known systems that sense
wheel rotation. Preferably the ground speed sensor 39 is a radar
type sensor and the first remote 33 communicates signals from this
sensor 39 to the bus 38.
[0043] As the implement traverses the field, the task controller
makes a record of where product has been applied. This record may
also be in map format like that of the prescribed application rate
data, and be stored on an as applied PCcard 55. The invention
described below in more detail includes use of the data of prior
product application to reduce or eliminate duplicate
application.
[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates the preferred embodiment of a control
algorithm for controlling the operation of a control system
according to the invention. At an initializing step 60, the
operator sets various operating parameters for the operation of the
control system which may include the following: implement width;
implement position relative to DGPS antenna; delivery delay period;
and default rates.
[0045] The task controller 52 or other component in the control
system will have previously been initialized or become initialized
at startup with information about the number of and the location of
each of the sprayer heads 10 and to which control valves 11 and
solenoids 12 they correspond to. It calculates the width of the
area that each dispense unit 10 will cover in operation from the
implement width and number of sprayer heads found or entered by the
operator.
[0046] As the implement 40 traverses the field, the task controller
52, at step 61, establishes the location of the GPS antenna from
the signal provided by the DGPS system.At the next step 62 of the
operation, the control system 100 determines if the dispense rates
of the system are to be controlled by a prescription application
system and the dispense rate or rates are determined accordingly.
Prescription application control, however, is also not essential to
the operation of the invention but is preferred.
[0047] Step 63 effects coordination with other similar implements
that may be working in the same field, as will be noted in greater
detail below. At step 64, the control system determines from the as
applied data (PCcard 55) if product had been previously applied to
the locations for which dispense rates are currently being
calculated.
[0048] The dispense rates can be set to a reduced rate or to zero
at step 65 for those sprayer heads 10 that are so controlled. For
the type of control as illustrated in FIG. 1, the dispense unit
control valves 11 are positioned close to the sprayer heads 10 so
that for controlling the prevention of duplicate application of
product, there need not be any compensation for aid product
distribution delay, but perhaps preferably compensation would be
provided for positional differences between the GPS antenna and the
location of the sprayer heads relative to the antenna. This product
control system is also applicable for planters and airseeders. For
other systems such as airseeders and other granular applicator
implements that may have longer distribution lines between dispense
unit control valves 12 and sprayer heads 10, the dispense rates can
be predicted and set in advance to compensate for delays as noted
above so the product will be dispensed from the sprayer heads 10 at
rates which are appropriate for locations the sprayer heads 10 are
at. Several sprayer heads 10 may be controlled from a single
dispense unit control valve 12 or other metering or control
mechanism.
[0049] At step 66, the actual application rate from the sprayer
heads 10, or for less precisely controlled systems, from the total
flow sensor 32, or other detection mechanism, can be determined and
stored as "as applied data" corresponding to the location the
sprayer heads are currently dispensing from, or alternately but
less preferably, are expected to be dispensing from. This "as
applied data" may be stored in any conventional manner and
preferably on the as applied PCcard 55. This data may also have
other useful applications for which the PCcard 55 conveniently
stores the data.
[0050] FIG. 2 illustrates an area of a field in which the control
system according to the invention may operate. The width of the
path over which the product applicator implement 40 passes is shown
as lines that are parallel to path vectors 70 to 73. The implement
may take path vector 70 around a marsh area in the field. The next
path 71 taken can be a straight path as shown. As the implement 40
overlaps an area where product was previously applied, the product
dispense points, e.g. sprayer heads 10, located at the overlapping
areas can be set to a reduced or zero rate. The actual application
will occur in discrete or incremental steps according to the width
of area that each dispense unit 10 is configured to cover, as
opposed to the smooth path used for illustration. FIG. 5
illustrates more realistically the reduction in duplicate
application in increments as dispense points that cover at least
part of an area not previously applied to (not shown as hatched)
are left on at the set rate. Another path vector 72 may be the last
full application path for the field area, after which a path 73 may
be take to cover the remaining area and not duplicate product
application to the hatched area representing the previously applied
area. Likewise, all areas that are less than the full application
width of the implement may be treated using a control system
according to the present invention to reduce or eliminate duplicate
application.
[0051] If multiple implements are simultaneously working in a
field, it is desirable that each will be able to avoid duplicate
application, even to areas where the other implement has applied
product. One preferred manner in which this may be done is by
having each implement 40 provided with a communicator, such as a
radio transceiver 56, with which the implements operating at the
same time may get "as applied data" from each other.
[0052] In step 63, in the control algorithm depicted in FIG. 3
includes getting "as applied data" from other implements performing
the same type of operation in the same field at the same time. If
operation of one implement is interrupted, the "as applied data"
may be stored on the as applied PCcard 55 for use later or for use
by other implements.
[0053] FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment in which more than
one implement 40 may be performing like operations at the same
time. In FIG. 7, the control system 100 for an implement is
illustrated wherein the task controller 52 is associated with a
central controller system 57 at a remote location. Such a central
task controller system may include the ability to communicate other
messages to the implement 40 for display to the implement operator,
and be updated in real time. The central task controller 57 would
compare the implement's location with the same location in the
centrally stored digital map of application rates and transmit the
desired application rate back to the implement 40 for that
location. The central controller has the current location stored
and compares the current location with each location message
provided by the GPS receiver. The central controller 57 would
transmit this differential position data provided by the central
GPS receiver and any required rate changes. The implement 40 would
provide this received differential correction data to its' GPS
receiver and the receiver would correct its' location message
provide to the implement. The implement's remote controller would
also transmits its' real time as applied data back to the central
controller for recording in the fields as applied database. This
information would be used to determine if another implement has
traversed a previously applied location. If so the central task
controller would communicate to the second implement not to apply
any product. Other implement data, such as implement speed, engine
rpm, actuator drive signals, temperature and others, could also be
communicated back to the central task controller for recording in a
database.
[0054] After the completion of the application of products to the
field by the implements, the central task controller 57 can
determine if any part of the field has not traversed from the
communicated as applied data. If this occurs, the central task
controller can communicate to the operator to proceed to the
specific field location to apply the missing products. When the
implement traverses the missed location, the required application
rate data is communicated to the implement remote controller. As an
enhancement of the operator interface console 51, the map of the
field can be communicated to each implement indicating which parts
of the field has be traversed. This would provide information to
the operators of the parts of the field that have not been
traversed.
[0055] Another alternative embodiment of the control system 100 is
shown in FIG. 8 in which multiple implements 40 are in
communication with a central control system 57 via each of their
radio transceivers 56. The central control system may include a
task controller 52 by which each of the multiple implements are
controlled, or each implement may be equipped with its own task
controller and be able to get updated "as applied data" for the
product as applied by the multiple implements in real time, along
with other messages.
[0056] The invention may not include delay compensation control, or
variable rate control in which case it may not include a ground
speed sensor, such that the application control will be enhanced by
the invention but less precise than with the preferred embodiments.
The dispense rates may be set according to user controlled rates
and the implement will need to be operated at a proper speed of
movement to achieved the desired application rate. Sprayer heads 10
will be controlled on, off, or at an alternate rate, according to
the invention.
[0057] All the sprayer heads 10 may be controlled by the precision
control system, or alternatively only a certain number of sprayer
heads inward from the ends of each left and right outer ends of the
product application booms 41 and 42, which may be sufficient for
controlling prevention of duplicate application.
[0058] Alternately in other embodiments such as for airseeder
implements, product may be controlled to groups of product dispense
points with control provided to vary the rate or allow on/off
control of the group of product dispense points. An airseeder, for
example, may have sprayer heads connected by branch lines to a
common product distribution line. The airseeder may control
metering to one or more of these common product distribution
lines.
[0059] While the embodiments illustrated and described above are
presently preferred, one skilled in the art will understand that
these embodiments are offered by way of example only, and that the
invention disclosed herein may be modified for use on other
implements, such that the invention is not intended to be limited
to any particular embodiment, but is intended to extend to
modifications that fall within the scope of the claims.
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