Trimble Navigation Limited

Other

Russell J Keller

Arthur Francis Lange

Mark Edward Nichols

Gregory Robin Price

Robert William Petrie

Steven D Keller

Robert W Petrie

A system for creating a nitrate combined with a liquid. A corona discharge cell to generate an electrical field. The corona discharge cell further comprising a conduit to pass air through the electrical field to produce nitric oxide NO, wherein the air comprises a mixture of at least nitrogen Nand oxygen O, the conduit for combining the nitric oxide NO with the oxygen Oto form nitrogen dioxide NO. The corona discharge cell further comprising an injector for combining the nitrogen dioxide NOwith the liquid to generate nitric acid HNOwhich combines with the liquid to generate the nitrate comprised of nitrate radical NOmixed with the liquid.

In situ production of fertilizer

Plant vigor machines and methods for enhancing plant vigor are disclosed. The machine comprises a corona discharge cell to create an electrical discharge across an air gap. An electrode to generate copper ions. An air conveyance mechanism to pass air through the corona discharge cell to produce enriched air combined with the copper ions wherein the enriched air comprises oxygen Oand nitrogen dioxide NO. An air infuser mechanism to infuse water with the enriched air combined with the copper ions to create enriched water wherein the enriched water comprises the oxygen O, the copper ions, and nitrate radical NO. A water conveyance mechanism couple with the air infuser to convey the water to air infuser mechanism and to convey the enriched water away from the air infuser mechanism to a plant to enhance a vigor of the plant.

In situ plant vigor machine

In SITU production of fertilizer

Real time kinematic (RTK) global positioning system (GPS) technology is integrated with precision farming methodologies to provide highly accurate seeding, cultivating, planting and/or harvesting operations. RTK GPS systems are used to control fully or semi-autonomous vehicles in these operations and may allow for precision planting of seeds (e.g., from a seeder equipped with an RTK GPS receiver and related equipment) and/or precision weed removal (e.g., using a vehicle fitted with weed eradication mechanisms such as augers and/or herbicide sprayers). Crop specific fertilizer/pesticide application is also enabled through the use of centimeter-level accurate positioning techniques.

Methods and apparatus for precision agriculture operations utilizing real time kinematic global positioning system systems

A first form line is defined using two or more terrestrial locations. The first form line may be predefined or may be defined by user during a spraying operation. A second form line is then computed using positioning data obtained while following the first form line and a swathing offset corresponding to the width of a spray pattern. The second form line is updated according to one or more deviations from the computed path. The deviations may correspond to operator inputted corrections which allow for obstacle avoidance, etc. The updating generally occurs by following the second form line as defined by the positioning data and the swathing offset and then deviating from the second form line to accommodate one or more terrain features. New GPS data is collected during these steps of following and deviating from the second form line and new positions are computed from the new GPS data. Finally, the updated second form line is defined using the new positions computed from the new GPS data. A further form line may then be defined using the updated second form line information and the swathing offset. A form line following apparatus may include a vehicle fitted with a GPS receiver configured to-receive GPS data and GPS correction information and to compute form line following information therefrom. The form line following apparatus may also include a display device configured to receive and display the, form line following information.

Form line following guidance system

A GPS (Global Positioning System) aircraft guidance system for use with circular cultivated agriculture fields. The system of the present invention includes a GPS receiver adapted to determine a present position, ground track, and ground speed of an aircraft. The GPS receiver is also adapted to store a configuration of a circular cultivated agricultural field and to compute a desired flight path for achieving an optimal coverage of the field. Deviations of the aircraft from the desired flight path are also determined. The GPS receiver is further adapted to generate a dispense signal which indicates when to dispense agricultural chemicals from the aircraft. A guidance indicator is coupled to the GPS receiver for providing guidance information to the pilot. The guidance indicator is adapted to indicate the aircraft's deviation from the desired flight path and indicate whether the dispense signal is asserted. This information aids the pilot in maintaining the desired flight path and achieving the optimal coverage of the circular cultivated agricultural field.

GPS guidance system for use with circular cultivated agricultural fields

A first form line is defined using two or more terrestrial locations. The first form line may be predefined or may be defined by user during a spraying operation. A second form line is then computed using positioning data obtained while following the first form line and a swathing offset corresponding to the width of a spray pattern. The second form line is updated according to one or more deviations from the computed path. The deviations may correspond to operator inputted corrections which allow for obstacle avoidance, etc. The updating generally occurs by following the second form line as defined by the positioning data and the swathing offset and then deviating from the second form line to accommodate one or more terrain features. New GPS data is collected during these steps of following and deviating from the second form line and new positions are computed from the new GPS data. Finally, the updated second form line is defined using the new positions computed from the new GPS data. A further form line may then be defined using the updated second form line information and the swathing offset. A form line following apparatus may include a vehicle fitted with a GPS receiver configured to receive GPS data and GPS correction information and to compute form line following information therefrom. The form line following apparatus may also include a display device configured to receive and display the form line following information.

A row crop cultivator has a plurality of domed discs suspended in pairs from a suspension system in which the discs are firmly restrained against lateral movement relative to the crop row being cultivated but are free to move vertically to adjust to uneven conditions or obstacles of the ground. A generally cylindrical band is fixed to one side of each disc and has a smaller diameter than the disc diameter defining a cylindrical surface which rides on the surface of the ground and permits the disc to penetrate the soil only to a predetermined depth. The cylindrical surface if of sufficient width that it supports the disc in a floating manner over the ground and a uniform depth of cultivation is achieved, whereby damage to crops from excessive disc penetration is avoided.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Russell J Keller