Trimble Navigation Limited

Trimble Inc.

Robert James Lindores

Morrison Ulman

Ted Mayfield

James M Janky

Shawn D Weisenburger

Arthur Francis Lange

Peter Glen France

Michael Cash

Jeffrey Allen Hamilton

Martin Clarence Bringuel

Katherine Sandford

Richard W Hilliker

In a method of for generating a crop recommendation, a plurality of data sets are received by a computer system from a plurality of disparate data sources, wherein each of said plurality of data sets describes a factor affecting a crop. A benchmark is created by the computer system for each of the data sets which describes how the factor affects the market value of the crop. A model is generated by the computer system which describes the crop based upon each of said benchmarks from the plurality of data sets. A report is then generated by the computer system comprising at least one recommendation to increase the market value of the crop.

Generating a crop recommendation

A method of exchanging water allocation credits comprises accessing data describing a water allocation credit reserved for a first user. An unused amount of the water allocation credit which will not be used by the first user is then determined. A sale is then brokered of the unused amount of the water allocation credit to another user.

Exchanging water allocation credits

A moisture sensing watering system comprising a central pivot, a water conveyance system, a plurality of wheels, a first at least one moisture sensor coupled with a first wheel, a second at least one moisture sensor coupled with a second wheel, a moisture information converter, and a moisture content provider. The first moisture sensor pierces the ground during each rotation of the first wheel and performs a first moisture sensing as a part of the piercing of the ground. The second moisture sensor pierces the ground during each rotation of the second wheel and performs a second moisture sensing as a part of the second moisture sensor piercing the ground. The moisture information converter receives the moisture sensing information and converts the moisture sensing information into a signal. The moisture content provider provides the signal in a user accessible format.

Moisture sensing watering system

In a method of ensuring crop treatment compatibility crop treatment information is received at a computer system. The crop treatment information comprises a real-time location of a crop treatment applicator and a description of a crop treatment resident in the crop treatment applicator. Planted crop treatment information is accessed for a planted field which encompasses the real-time location. The planted crop information comprises a description of a planted crop in the planted field. It is determined whether the crop treatment is compatible with application to the planted crop. In response to determining the crop treatment is not compatible with application to the planted crop, a crop treatment incompatibility action is initiated in real-time from the computer system.

Crop treatment compatibility

A method of automatic obstacle location mapping comprises receiving an indication of a feature to be identified in a defined area. An instance of the feature is found within an image. A report is then generated conveying the location of said feature.

Automatic obstacle location mapping

A moisture sensing water system comprising at least one moisture sensor coupled with at least one wheel coupled with a water conveyance system, the at least one moisture sensor pierces the ground during each rotation of the at least one wheel and performs a moisture sensing. A moisture information converter receives the moisture sensing information and converts the moisture sensing information into a signal indicative of the moisture content of the ground. A moisture content provider provides the signal indicative of the moisture content of the ground in a user accessible format to automatically control the amount of water disseminated by the moisture sensing watering system.

A system for agricultural monitoring and prediction comprises a first reporting agent a second reporting agent a database, and a processor. The first reporting agent is configured for reporting aerial data representing relative measurements of an agricultural metric in a geographic area, the relative measurements having an unknown bias. The second reporting is configured for reporting ground-based data representing absolute measurements of the agricultural metric for a portion of the geographic area. The database is configured for storing the absolute measurement data and the relative measurement data along with other farming data for a wide geographic area. The processor is configured for accessing the database and using the ground-based data for the portion of the geographic area to calibrate the aerial data, thereby synthesizing absolute measurements of the agricultural metric for the geographic area from the aerial data.

Wide-area agricultural monitoring and prediction

A system for estimating a crop characteristic comprises a database, a plant growth model correlator, and a crop characteristic estimator. The database includes plant growth models for a plurality of fields. The plant growth model correlator is communicatively coupled with the database. The plant growth model correlator is configured for determining at least one harvested field with a first plant growth model which correlates with a second plant growth model for at least a portion of an unharvested field. The crop characteristic estimator is configured for estimating a crop characteristic for the unharvested field based on actual crop characteristic data obtained from the at least one harvested field.

Crop characteristic estimation

A method of water erosion management comprises receiving a topographic datum indicating the topography of a defined area. Data is received indicating a soil composition found at the defined area. A model is created predicting a water runoff pattern for said defined area based upon the topography of the defined area and the soil composition of the defined area.

Water erosion management incorporating topography, soil type, and weather statistics

Ground-based measurements of agricultural metrics such as NDVI are used to calibrate wide-area aerial measurements of the same metrics. Calibrated wide-area data may then be used as an input to a field prescription processor.

Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for determining the path of a mobile machine. In one embodiment, a control component accesses a first path which comprises at least one curved portion. The control component then determines a second path which is substantially parallel with the first path and which comprises a second curved portion that corresponds to the at least one curved portion of the first path. The control component then amends said second path wherein a radius of the second curved portion is at least equal to a minimum turning radius of the mobile machine.

Growing community of inventors

Christchurch, New Zealand

Robert James Lindores