Monsanto Technology LLC

The Climate Corporation

Innoventor, Inc.

Eric L Borrowman

Jeffrey Lawrence Kohne

Govind Chaudhary

Brad D White

Jarrett R Ceglinski

Johnny J Kotyk

Justin L Koch

Phil D Baurer

Chi Zhang

Jason T Mitchell

Calden Nathaniel Carroll Stimpson

Andreas Markus Wenzel

Jordan Kusiek

Michael Gall

Michael H Malone

Nalini Gupta

Kevin Lee Deppermann

David J Baitinger

Andrew D Thielen

Charles K Johnson

Randall K Rader

Michael L Timmer

Payman Rassoolkhani

Joshua Allen Crews

Jeffrey Steven Morris

Louis M Pompe Van Meerdervoort

Leendert De Bruin

Amanuel G Ghebretinsae

Hsin-Chen Chen

Louis M Pompe Van Meerdevoort

J Edgar Biggs, Iii

Timothy P Garvin

Daniel Dillard

Christian A Saia

Ralph E Nothdurft

Alfred B Garson, Iii

Jerry Christopher

Xiaofei Fan

Adam M Barrick

Donald J Essner

Gretchen E Spiess

Diego Almeida Aguiar

Aldo Barbosa Lima

Diego Campos

Isaías Segovia

Chad A Heathcote

Antonio Carlos Santos

Jennifer L Becker

A seed sorting system for sorting seeds includes a seed transfer station configured to move seeds through the system. An imaging assembly includes a first camera mounted above the seed transfer station and configured to acquire images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system and a second camera mounted below the seed transfer station and configured to acquire images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system. A sorting assembly is configured to sort the seeds into separate bins based on the acquired images of the seeds.

Seed sorting

Provided herein are systems and methods for the automation of seed planting and analysis comprising automated planting of the seeds, germination, and analysis. The methods generally comprise conveying containers containing seeds to an automated seed planting station, wherein each container includes a machine-readable tag, planting at least some of the seeds in the container onto respective planting trays, wherein each planting tray includes a machine-readable tag, allowing the seeds to germinate, and analyzing the germinated seeds. The systems generally comprise a seed planting system and a planting verification and correction system. Also provided herein are backlit templates comprising a light source and a power interface configured to connect to a power source to power the light source.

Automated seed planting and evaluation

In an embodiment, an integrated sensor system with modular sensors and wireless connectivity components for monitoring properties of field soil is described. In an embodiment, an integrated sensor system comprises one or more sensors that are configured to determine one or more measures of at least one property of soil. The integrated sensor system also includes one or more processing units that are configured to receive, from the sensors, the measures of at least one property of soil and calculate soil property data based on the measures. The system further includes a transmitter that is configured to receive the soil property data from the processing units, establish a communications connection with at least one computer device, and automatically transmit the soil property data to the at least one computer device via the communications connection. In an embodiment, the communications connection is a wireless connection established between the transmitter and a smart hub or a LoRA-enabled device. In an embodiment, the computer sensors, the processors, and the transmitter are installed inside a portable probe.

In-ground sensor systems with modular sensors and wireless connectivity components

A seed sorting system for sorting seeds includes a seed transfer station configured to move seeds through the system. An imaging assembly includes an x-ray camera configured to acquire x-ray images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system. The x-ray camera is configured to produce high quality images at high line scan rates to accommodate a speed and width at which the seeds are moved by the seed transfer station through the system. A sorting assembly is configured to sort the seeds into separate bins based on the acquired x-ray images of the seeds.

A seed imaging system for imaging seeds includes a seed transfer station configured to move seeds through the system. An imaging assembly includes a first camera mounted relative to the seed transfer station and configured to acquire images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system. A second camera is mounted relative to the seed transfer station and is configured to acquire images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system. The second camera has an imaging modality different from an imaging modality of the first camera. First and second cameras may be disposed above and below the seed transfer stations, such as a transparent belt.

Seed imaging

A pollinating device for pollinating crop plants includes a base mountable on a carriage. At least one pollination unit is mounted on the base and includes a pollen-releasing apparatus configured to release pollen from male flowers of the plants and at least one nozzle for directing fluid along a flow path for delivering at least some of the released pollen to the pollen-receiving rows of crop plants. Certain pollinating devices include multiple pollination units spaced apart along a width of the base. Some pollination units include at least two opposing nozzles. Plants are pollinated by driving the carriage along a field and directing air from the nozzles over the pollen born by some plants to deliver the pollen to female flowers of other plants in the field.

Device and method for pollinating plants

A cabinet x-ray device for imaging seeds includes an x-ray source configured to transmit an x-ray beam along a beam path. A seed holder is configured to hold seeds and be selectively positioned in the x-ray device such that the beam path crosses the seed holder and the x-ray beam passes through at least some of the seeds. An x-ray detector is configured to detect the x-ray beam after passing through the seeds such that one or more x-ray images of the seeds can be formed. Self-supporting x-ray shielding can extend circumferentially around the x-ray beam to mitigate x-ray transmission outside the device. A drive mechanism can automatically move the seed holder so that discrete x-ray images of subsets of seeds are taken in an automatic seed imaging operation. Various seed evaluations and seed process evaluations can be made using the device.

X-ray seed imaging system, cabinet x-ray device, and methods of evaluating seeds

A seed meter comprising a seed handler comprising a cylinder comprising a plurality of seed chambers. The seed handler rotates the cylinder to sequentially position each seed chamber in a 'loading' position wherein each seed chamber receives a sets of seeds, a 'planting' position wherein seeds from each seed set are parsed, and an &#x2018;evacuation&#x2019; position wherein any seeds remaining in each chamber are evacuated from each chamber. The seed meter additionally comprises a seed separator comprising a seed disc. The seed disc rotates, parses seed from each seed chamber, and transports the seeds to the exit chute. Importantly, the seed meter is structured and operable to substantially simultaneously, receive the sets of seed in the respective chamber positioned in the &#x2018;loading&#x2019; position, parse the seeds from the respective chamber positioned in the &#x2018;planting&#x2019; position, and evacuate the remaining seed from the respective chamber positioned in the &#x2018;evacuation&#x2019; position.

Crop input variety selection systems, methods, and apparatus

Systems and methods are provided for tying material into a bow around an object. The system includes a tying assembly for tying the material around the object into the bow and a jig assembly moveable relative to the tying assembly for positioning the material relative to the tying assembly. The tying assembly includes a first loop gripper and a second loop gripper configured to grip respective first and second portions of the material. The first loop gripper is configured to pull the first portion of the material through the second portion of the material. The second loop gripper is configured to pull the second portion of the material through the first portion of the material. A first tail gripper and a second tail gripper are provided to grip respective first and second ends of the material. The jig assembly includes a first jig half and a second jig half that are each rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the first jig half and the second jig half. The jig assembly also includes a trolley assembly for moving said first jig half and said second jig half with respect to said tying assembly.

Systems and methods for tying a bow around an object

An automated removal and insertion machine for mold drawers operable with a molding machine is described. The machine includes a frame, a plurality of actuators mounted within the frame, a plurality of encoders, a plurality of electromagnetic effectors, and a controller. The actuators are operable in a substantially horizontal direction for removal and insertion of molds with respect to the molding machine, and movable within the frame in a substantially vertical direction. At least one of the encoders is operably attached to each of the actuators for providing data indicative of a position of the respective said actuators. At least one electromagnetic effector is attached to a terminal end of each of the actuators for engagement with a respective mold. The controller is operable to control movement of the actuators in the substantially horizontal direction and further operable for controlling power applied to the electromagnetic effectors.

Apparatus and methods for automating movement of mold drawers

Growing community of inventors

St. Peters, MO, United States of America

Eric L Borrowman