# US 10,765,056 B2 · System and method for controlling an agricultural system based on soil analysis

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- Number: US 10,765,056 B2
- Document ID: US10765056B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/357,809
- Filed: 2016-11-21
- Published: 2017-03-09
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-25
- Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC
- Applicants: CNH Industrial America LLC
- Inventors: Robert A. Zemenchik
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765056B2

## CPC

- A01B 79/005: {Precision agriculture}
- A01B 63/32: operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means {without automatic control}
- A01B 67/00: Devices for controlling the tractor motor by resistance of tools
- A01B 71/02: Setting or adjusting mechanisms
- A01B 76/00: Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for in groups A01B51/00 - A01B75/00
- A01C 7/102: {Regulating or controlling the seed rate}
- A01C 21/005: {Following a specific plan, e.g. pattern}
- A01C 21/007: {Determining fertilization requirements}
- G01N 27/028: {Circuits therefor (measuring impedance per se G01R27/02)}
- G01N 33/24: Earth materials (G01N33/42 takes precedence)
- G01S 15/88: Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications (seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00)
- A01G 25/167: {Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors}
- G01N 33/245: {for agricultural purposes}
- G01V 3/15: specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat
- Y02P 60/21: Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures
- A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21)
- A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)
- G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02)
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

An agricultural system includes an agricultural soil analyzer positioned forward of a ground engaging tool relative to a direction of travel of the agricultural system. The agricultural soil analyzer is configured to output a first signal indicative of a parameter of soil forward of the soil conditioner relative to the direction of travel. The agricultural system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the agricultural soil analyzer. The controller is configured to receive the first signal from the agricultural soil analyzer. Furthermore, the controller is configured to determine a target parameter of the agricultural system based on the first signal and to output a second signal indicative of the target parameter.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of controlling an agricultural system, comprising:
receiving a first signal from a soil analyzer indicative of a surface roughness of soil forward of a soil conditioner relative to a direction of travel of the agricultural system, wherein the soil conditioner is configured to apply a pressure to a surface of a field;
determining a target pressure of the soil conditioner based on the first signal;
determining a target speed of a tow vehicle of the agricultural system based on the first signal and a target depth of the soil conditioner based on the first signal;
outputting a second signal to a soil conditioner controller indicative of the target pressure, wherein the soil conditioner controller is configured to adjust the pressure of the soil conditioner based on the target pressure; and
outputting a third signal to a tow vehicle controller and a fourth signal to the soil conditioner controller, wherein the third signal is indicative of the target speed, the fourth signal is indicative of the target depth, the tow vehicle controller is configured is configured to adjust a speed of the tow vehicle of the agricultural system based on the target speed, and the soil conditioner controller is configured to adjust a depth of the soil conditioner based on the target depth.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising positioning the soil analyzer forward of the soil conditioner relative to the direction of travel of the agricultural system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the pressure of the soil conditioner comprises adjusting a fluid pressure to a hydraulic cylinder coupled to a rolling basket.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising outputting the first signal to a remote server.

### Claim 5

An agricultural system, comprising:
a soil conditioner configured to engage an agricultural field;
an agricultural soil analyzer positioned forward of the soil conditioner relative to a direction of travel of the agricultural system, wherein the agricultural soil analyzer is configured to output a first signal indicative of a surface roughness of soil forward of the soil conditioner relative to the direction of travel; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the agricultural soil analyzer, wherein the controller is configured to receive the first signal from the agricultural soil analyzer, to determine a target pressure of the soil conditioner based on the first signal, to determine a target speed of a tow vehicle of the agricultural system based on the first signal and a target depth of the soil conditioner based on the first signal, to output a second signal indicative of the target pressure to the soil conditioner, and to output a third signal indicative of the target speed and a fourth signal indicative of the target depth.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The agricultural system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a fluid pressure to a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the soil conditioner, such that a pressure of the soil conditioner reaches the target pressure.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The agricultural system of claim 5, wherein the agricultural soil analyzer is coupled to the soil conditioner via a mounting assembly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The agricultural system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to send a fifth signal to an actuator of the mounting assembly configured to control a position of the soil conditioner relative to the agricultural field, such that the soil conditioner moves from a stored position to an operational position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The agricultural system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to send the fifth signal upon receiving a sixth signal from a user interface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The agricultural system of claim 5, comprising the tow vehicle configured to move the agricultural system in the direction of travel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The agricultural system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to output the third signal indicative of the target speed to a controller of the tow vehicle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 5)

The agricultural system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to send a fifth signal indicative of the surface roughness of the soil forward of the soil conditioner from an interface module to the remote server.