Patent Description:
Agricultural machines are utilized for a wide variety of agricultural operations. For instance, agricultural machines can be utilized to plant crops, provide crop care operations (spraying, watering, fertilizing, etc.), harvesting operations, to name a few. In traditional agricultural operations, an agricultural machine includes or otherwise supports an agricultural implement such as tools for operation such as tillage, planting, spraying, baling, reaping, etc..

In many agricultural systems it is often desirable to determine the characteristics of the area for which an operation is to be performed and generate site-specific recommendations. Some work has been done in sensing characteristics of a field and tagging the sensed characteristic with a geographic location, to generate maps or other geo-referenced data between the sensed characteristics and their location within the field. Some systems sense characteristics in a field using images that a can be captured and processed to obtain relevant data.

<CIT> describes a planter with a seed orientation device. A map with desired seed orientations according to a prescription is stored, seed is deposited in a furrow and the orientation of the seed is altered if the orientation does not confirm to the desired orientation. The seed can in particular be planted such that leaves of corn plants have longitudinal axes in a direction transverse to a row.

The detailed description of the drawings refers to the accompanying figures in which:.

With respect to emergence, it is known that significant yield loss can occur when emergence of plants within a stand are delayed. See, e.g., <NPL>; <NPL>; and <NPL>. Thus, controlling the operation of an agricultural process by utilizing site specific data for the area being planted allows for certain early season benefits in terms of time to emergence and light capture. For example, with respect to the process of planting seeds in an agricultural field, seeds placed in a desired planted orientation will impact later developing features of the plant such as leaf, root and grain orientation. Optimizing the desired planted orientation of the seed in a seedbed, and then ensuring the actual planted seed orientation corresponds to the desired planted orientation, allows for optimal contact with the soil, uniform emergence and plant growth, optimal and uniform utilization of inputs such as light, water and nutrients, and avoiding other causes of yield loss such as soil compaction or machine contact with the plant or grain.

For example, leaf orientation relative to neighboring plants can impact light intercepted by the leaves and plant behaviors such as shade avoidance. Additionally, by increasing the amount of shade through leaf orientation, weed presence and pressure may be reduced. Similarly, root orientation can impact a plant's ability to locate applied nutrients or impact competition between plants and weeds for nutrients. Finally, the grain, flower, fruit or ear orientation - and specifically corn ears - produced by the plant may be located on a stalk/stem relative to as-planted seed orientation. Ensuring the corn ears are in series within a row (e.g., row <NUM> best seen in <FIG>) can help minimize in-season contact between the grain with machinery and reduce grain loss at harvest. However, it can be appreciated by one ordinary skill that row <NUM> may not be a conventional series of parallel rows but can include any number of patterns to aid in the growth of the crop. Some crops or crop varieties have an initial leaf and/or root orientation relative to the orientation of the seed. For example, with kernels planted tip down, the first leaves of the corn plant generally emerge parallel to the germ. Similarly, other features should be optimized including topography (sunlight capture, heat, water); row direction (soil compaction, machinery contact, harvest); prevailing winds (seedling "helicoptering", pollination, mildew prevention, etc.); and future equipment paths or tramline proximity (soil compaction, machinery contact, sunlight).

<FIG> shows a block diagram of an exemplary site-specific seed orientation system <NUM>. The system <NUM> operates in a worksite (e.g., agricultural field) <NUM> comprising some number of seedbeds <NUM> such as crop rows <NUM> (best seen by the dashed lines in <FIG>). In one example, using position data corresponding to the position and heading of an agricultural tractor and/or implement within an agricultural field, the system <NUM> comprising at least one seed orienter <NUM>, each seed orienter <NUM> having an associated seedbed maker <NUM> plants seeds <NUM> at a given position within the agricultural field according to a seed orientation instruction <NUM>. In one example, the seed orientation instruction has a desired planted orientation <NUM> which includes multi-dimensional position information of the seed relative to the surface plane (i.e., ground level), seed planting depth and crop row for a given position within the agricultural field <NUM>. In one example, multi-dimensional position information is provided such that seed has a position (e.g., within row <NUM>) and/or an orientation in three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates (X, Y, and Z) at that position. In this example, the Cartesian coordinates would have an origin corresponding to some point on the seed and then X, Y, and Z axis lines. The seed orienter <NUM> would then be configured to adjust the pitch, roll and yaw (orthogonal axes and resulting coordinates) of the seed using the multi-dimensional position information.

Seedbed maker <NUM> may be a high-speed row unit as disclosed in <CIT>. In this example, seedbed maker <NUM> has disposed thereon a seedbed forming device (not shown) and a seed meter <NUM> which singulates seeds <NUM> from a seed reservoir <NUM> having a pool of seeds into a seed delivery system <NUM>. The seed delivery system <NUM> may be configured to convey the seed <NUM> some distance to the seedbed <NUM> while retaining the seed in its desired planted orientation <NUM>.

It can be appreciated by one ordinary skill that a seed <NUM> may be planted in a seedbed <NUM>, the seedbed <NUM> being formed in any number of ways such as a furrow, pocket, indentation, hole, opening or any other shape or position from which the seed <NUM> can grow to a plant. In one example, the seedbed <NUM> is formed with the seedbed forming device to create a conventional "V" shaped furrow. However, in another example, the seed <NUM> is not deposited in a "V" shaped furrow in conventional parallel rows. Instead, the seedbed maker <NUM> is an injection system whereby seed <NUM> is injected into uniquely shaped pockets in the soil <NUM> (best seen in <FIG>), the pockets being created in varying geometries and patterns within the worksite/field <NUM> such that the seed <NUM> is placed in optimal spacing and contact with the soil <NUM>. For example, the seedbed maker <NUM> may create a specific shape of seedbed <NUM> to be aid planting of the seed <NUM> in its desired planted orientation <NUM>. In can be appreciated then by one of ordinary skill that seedbed maker <NUM> may utilized any number of methods may be utilized to form different seedbed styles and shapes and plant the seed <NUM> in that seedbed <NUM>.

In one example, to achieve an actual planted seed orientation <NUM> which corresponds to the desired planted orientation <NUM>, seed orienter <NUM> further comprises a seedbed maker <NUM> to orient the seed <NUM> in the desired planted orientation <NUM> in seedbed <NUM>. In <FIG>, seed orienter <NUM> may include adjustment of the seed orientation in one or more of the X,Y and Z dimensions at one or more locations on the seedbed maker <NUM> including, for example, the seed meter <NUM>, seed delivery system <NUM>, or seed detector <NUM>. Seedbed maker <NUM> may include one or more components at various locations to adjust the seed orientation such as positioning device <NUM>, seed rotator <NUM> and/or seedbed closer <NUM>. In one example, seedbed maker <NUM> may be controlled by processor <NUM> based on a desired planted orientation <NUM>. Desired planted orientation <NUM> may be determined prior to planting of the seed <NUM> using the seed orientation instruction <NUM>, seedbed maker location <NUM> from a seedbed maker location sensor <NUM>, a seedbed maker heading <NUM> from a seedbed maker heading sensor <NUM>, other sensor data <NUM> and other sensors <NUM>.

Some existing components of seedbed maker <NUM> may provide initial orientation of the seed <NUM> before the seed <NUM> is planted. For example, the seed meter <NUM> may have a seed disk with seed indentations thereon to uniformly orient the seed. While this may provide some initial orientation, the seeds <NUM> may deviate from the desired planted orientation <NUM> as they travel towards the seedbed <NUM>. For example, in a seedbed maker <NUM> with a conventional seed tube, the seed <NUM> may bounce off the sides of the tube as the seed freefalls to the seedbed <NUM>, resulting in a random seed orientation and failing to achieve, on its own, the necessary desired planted orientation <NUM>. In another example, it has been observed that seed delivery systems <NUM>, such as the John Deere ExactEmerge™ row units disclosed in<CIT>, may maintain the desired planted orientation <NUM> from seed meter <NUM> to seedbed <NUM> by, among other things, eliminating bouncing of the seed <NUM> in the seed tube. Still further, while the desired planted orientation <NUM> may be maintained all the way to seedbed <NUM>, the seed <NUM> may still be knocked out of desired planted orientation <NUM> after contacting the seedbed <NUM> and/or being covered with soil <NUM>.

Thus, additional seed orientation may be required to ensure the seed <NUM> is planted in the desired planted orientation <NUM>. In another example, the positioning device <NUM> and seed rotator <NUM> each interact with the seed at some point before the seed is contacted by soil <NUM> with seedbed closer <NUM>. For example, the positioning device <NUM> may be used to align the seed <NUM> in a first dimension or axis while the seed rotator <NUM> aligns the seed <NUM> in a second dimension or axis such that the seed is parallel to the row <NUM> with the caryopsis <NUM> is pointed down (as best seen in <FIG>). In one example, positioning device <NUM> and/or seed rotator <NUM> is a conventional seed firmer. Positioning device <NUM> and seed rotator <NUM> may include various other suitable structure for adjusting the orientation of the seed <NUM> before the seed <NUM> is contacted by soil <NUM>. As can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill, the positioning device <NUM> and seed rotator <NUM> may also be independent structures working in combination or independently and thus are not limited to a conventional seed firmer.

Seedbed closer <NUM> may then follow the positioning device <NUM> or seed rotator <NUM> and move soil <NUM> into optimal contact with the seed <NUM> while preserving the desired planted orientation <NUM>. In one example, seedbed closer <NUM> is a conventional closing wheel or drag chain to move soil <NUM> into contact with the seed <NUM>. However, as can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill, seedbed closer <NUM> is not limited to this example and may include other suitable structure to move soil <NUM> into contact with the seed. Thus, under the control of processor <NUM>, the positioning device <NUM>, seed rotator <NUM> and seedbed closer <NUM> may work in combination or independently with the seed meter <NUM>, seed delivery system <NUM> and a seed detector <NUM> to provide some initial seed orientation, detect the orientation of the seed <NUM> within the seedbed <NUM> and then orient the seed <NUM> to an actual planted seed orientation <NUM> which corresponds to the desired planted orientation <NUM>.

Accordingly, seed orienter <NUM> ensures that seeds are planted in the correct position within seedbed <NUM> of the row <NUM> and in the desired planted orientation <NUM>. Achievement of the desired planted orientation <NUM> may be done at any step between the seed reservoir <NUM> of seedbed maker <NUM> and the seedbed <NUM> or at some combination therebetween. For example, the seed orienter <NUM> may utilize the positioning device <NUM>, seed rotator <NUM> or seedbed closer <NUM> to correct the random orientation of the seed <NUM> due to seed tube bounce or movement within a seed delivery system <NUM> by rotating or flipping the seed <NUM> within a seedbed <NUM> prior to being covered with soil <NUM>. Under the control of processor <NUM>, the seed orienter <NUM> ensures that the seed <NUM> is planted in actual planted seed orientation <NUM> - i.e., singulated, dispensed and covered with soil <NUM> (e.g., with seedbed closer <NUM>) - that corresponds the desired planted orientation <NUM>.

In another example, the seed orienter <NUM> may act on a seed <NUM> that has been altered to form an altered seed and facilitate additional seed orientation. In one example, an altered seed may include placing or otherwise affixing a magnetic material on some portion of the seed <NUM>. A corresponding structure(s), such as a chamfer made of an appropriate material reactive (e.g., magnetic) to the altered seed, may be embedded or otherwise positioned near and/or along the seed path in one or segments or portions until the seed reaches the seedbed <NUM>. As the now magnetized seed passes the chamfer, the seed would gain additional seed orientation proximate to the seedbed <NUM> in a repeatable manner to aid in achieving the desired planted orientation <NUM>. In another example, the seed <NUM> is altered by marking the seed with a symbol or other designation representing the desired planted orientation <NUM> of the seed <NUM>. In one example, altered seeds - whether by marking or applying magnetic material - may be done either onboard or offboard an agricultural machine by a seed company, distributor, the seed grower or some combination thereof. In one example, the marking may be inside the visible spectrum, outside the visible spectrum (e.g., near or medium infrared) or some combination thereof. In this example, the marking (similarly applicable to a seed with magnetic material) would be detected and captured by a seed detector <NUM> and then a representative signal sent to processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> could then interpret the marking and send an instruction to seed orienter <NUM> to adjust the orientation of the seed <NUM> to the desired planted orientation <NUM>. The adjustment to the desired planted orientation <NUM> may take place prior to the seed <NUM> being placed in seedbed <NUM>, within the seedbed <NUM> or some combination thereof. As can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill, the altered seed and reactive corresponding structure is not limiting and other means and methods for altering a seed and/or adding seed orientation may be implemented.

In some examples, processor <NUM> utilizes an open or closed loop orientation control to provide an actual planted seed orientation <NUM> matching the desired planted orientation <NUM>. In this example, the processor <NUM> may utilize a seed detector <NUM>, such as a camera, to verify seed orientation by observing the planted seed orientation <NUM> and send a representative signal to the processor <NUM> for comparison against the desired planted orientation <NUM>. The verified seed orientation, the observed seed orientation and/or the comparison thereof may be further be stored in a database for later access. The seed detector <NUM> may be disposed in locations such as the seed meter <NUM>, the seed delivery system <NUM>, the seedbed <NUM> or at some other point prior to the seed <NUM> being covered by soil <NUM>. Upon comparing the actual planted seed orientation <NUM> to the desired planted orientation <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may initiate adjustments of the seed orienter <NUM> needed to bring the actual planted seed orientation <NUM> in line with the desired planted orientation <NUM>. These adjustments may be displayed to an operator on an associated display component (not shown) and may be implemented manually or automatically.

Referring further to <FIG>, processor <NUM> includes a receiver, transceiver, or other electronic component that receives the signal or signals from seedbed maker location sensor <NUM>, seedbed maker heading sensor <NUM> and other sensors <NUM> (which may include, in one example, a signal from seed detector <NUM> corresponding to detection of seeds). The processor <NUM> is configured to use the received signal or signals to determine information regarding the location, heading, placement and/or orientation of a seed <NUM> or seeds within the seedbed <NUM>. For example, in the illustrated example the processor <NUM> is coupled to a display component (not shown), which may display the seed orientation instruction <NUM> and/or display the location and actual planted seed orientation <NUM> of the seed <NUM> or seeds in the seedbed <NUM> to an operator. In some examples, one or both the processor <NUM> and the display component are disposed remotely. In some examples, the other sensors <NUM> themselves include a processor or other electronic component that calculates a position of the seed <NUM> or seeds in the seedbed <NUM>.

In some examples, a GPS (Global Positioning System) <NUM> unit is also connected to the processor <NUM> to enable correlation between other sensor data <NUM>, seed data <NUM>, seed orientation instruction <NUM> and/or a detected seed and GPS location, whether for storing on map, in a database, or in any other form. In some examples, the processor <NUM> analyzes the signal or signals from various sensors, including other sensors <NUM>, and determines measures of seed location and placement parameters such as desired planted orientation, seed spacing, percent good spacing, or a statistical measure of seed placement accuracy such as standard deviation of seed spacing or a coefficient of variation, etc. The display component may then display the measures of these seed placement parameters. Knowing the seed location and placement parameters may help an operator to understand, for example, what percentage of the seeds are within a desired tolerance range or threshold for desired planted orientation and/or spacing. The operator may then make corrections to the seedbed maker <NUM> as described in <CIT>, which discusses various types of seed placement and location parameters and measures of the seed placement parameters that may be determined by the processor <NUM>, as well as how those measures may be displayed (see, e.g., paragraphs [<NUM>] - [<NUM>]).

In some examples, processor <NUM> receives a seed orientation instruction <NUM> from a database maintained by the operator or an entity affiliated with the operator. Further, the seed orientation instruction <NUM> may be uploaded to the processor <NUM> over a wireless communication network and/or uploaded manually or automatically depending upon the operator's location or desired intention to plant an agricultural field <NUM>. In another example, the GPS receiver <NUM> unit is connected to the processor <NUM> to enable verification of a detected seed or planted seed orientation <NUM> (e.g., using a signal from seed detector <NUM>) and GPS location for comparison against the seed orientation instruction <NUM>. Seed orientation instruction <NUM> may be an priori seed orientation map, a seed orientation map per georeferenced seed location, a rule set, a formula, a vector map, a raster map or any suitable format determining a preferred orientation for a given seed or seeds at a given location(s). In some examples, the seed orientation instruction <NUM> is generated using a set of rules that use in situ data to calculate the orientation without using a map as an intermediate data structure. Additionally, the seed orientation instruction <NUM> may use data which is georeferenced (e.g., a topographical map) or which is not georeferenced (e.g., a compass). When the seed orientation instruction <NUM> is an a priori seed orientation map, the map may further have management zones for a particular agricultural field <NUM>. Each management zone in the map may have, without limitation, desired planted orientation <NUM> comprising orientation relative to the ground, orientation relative to North; orientation relative to direction of travel; and orientation such as pitch, roll, or yaw.

In one example, the seed orientation instruction <NUM> initially includes a desired planted orientation <NUM> calculated with the processor <NUM> other sensor data <NUM> from other sensors <NUM> independently of or in combination with the seed detector <NUM>. Seed orientation instruction <NUM> may also later be updated with the planted seed orientation <NUM> determined and verified with the processor <NUM> and seed detector <NUM> For example, in some worksites, such as hilly worksites, pitch and roll data may be useful in fully controlling seed orientation. Other sensors <NUM> and sensor data <NUM> may be used to calculate planted seed orientation <NUM> without limitation.

Desired planted orientation <NUM> may also be calculated using seed data <NUM>. Seed data <NUM> may include without limitation the type of crop, type of seed including size and shape (e.g., predominately flat, predominately round, large round, large flat, medium round, medium flat, small flat, small round), crop variety, seed geometry, roots relative to seed orientation, leaves relative to seed orientation and grain relative to seed orientation, plant height, leaf size, quantity of leaves, quantity of agricultural product (e.g., corn ears, soybean pods, etc.), size of agricultural product (e.g., corn tassel length, ear length/size, soybean pod length/size, etc.), root lodging, quantity of agricultural products dropped to the ground from the plant (e.g., dropped corn ears, dropped soybean pods, etc.), stalk lodging, plant appearance, stay green rating, crop rot (e.g., ear rot, kernel rot, stalk rot, etc.), intactness, grain quality rating, agricultural product shape (e.g., corn ear shape, etc.), ear type (e.g., flex, semi-flex or fixed), husk cover, kernel depth, shank length, cob diameter, moisture percent, brittle snapping, tassel branch angle, days to silk, pollen shed, leaf sheath pubescence, quantity of leaves above top ear node, lateral tassel branches, number of ears per stalk husk color, leaf waves and creases, ear taper, length of internode, length of tassel, kernel rows, kernel length, kernel thickness, husk extension, position of ear, Goss' Wilt and Stewert's Wilt ratings, leaf blight, gray leaf spot rating, kernel pop score, southern rust rating, or any other agricultural characteristic.

While each seedbed maker <NUM> could have its own sensor suite, it is anticipated that in some example implementations, there are sensors providing data to several seedbed makers <NUM> over wired or wireless communications means such as CAN bus or Wi-Fi. Position and heading may come from a single global navigation system receiver located on agricultural vehicle (e.g., tractor) <NUM>, implement or both. Utilizing position and heading inputs, geometry techniques can be applied to determine the location and heading of a seedbed maker <NUM> on a towed toolbar. Heading and position inputs can, as described previously, may come from the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver <NUM> (e.g. GPS receiver) or any localization system reporting in any global or local coordinate system. In one example, heading may be obtained from an electronic compass and may be relative to true or magnetic north.

Similarly, processing may be done on a single processor <NUM> dedicated to a seedbed maker <NUM>, distributed to a single processor <NUM> dedicated to controlling multiple seedbed makers <NUM>, distributed across processors <NUM> on the agricultural vehicle <NUM>, on the implement, or in a remote location etc. While this description is focused on corn and singulated metering thereof, it may also be applied without limitation to other crops and other metering approaches such as volumetric metering, seed pick-and-place, a priori orientation on seed tape, plug metering, etc..

Referring now to <FIG>, a flow chart for exemplary method of use of the system is shown. In a first step, position data corresponding to at least one of the agricultural vehicle <NUM>, implement, seedbed maker location/position <NUM> and seedbed maker heading <NUM> is obtained. These inputs may be obtained from the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver <NUM> (e.g. GPS receiver) or any localization system reporting in any global or local coordinate system. Heading may be obtained from a GNSS receiver, electronic compass, etc. Heading may be relative to true or magnetic north.

In a second step, desired planted orientation <NUM> is obtained from a seed orientation instruction <NUM> based on seedbed maker location <NUM> determined in the previous step. Again, a seed orientation instruction <NUM> may be an a priori seed orientation map, a seed orientation map per georeferenced seed location, a rule set, a formula, a vector map, a raster map or any suitable format determining a preferred orientation for a given seed or seeds at a given location(s). In some examples, the seed orientation instruction <NUM> is generated using a set of rules that use in situ data to calculate the orientation without using a map as an intermediate data structure. Additionally, the seed orientation instruction <NUM> may use data which is georeferenced (e.g., a topographical map) or which is not georeferenced (e.g., a compass). When the seed orientation instruction <NUM> is an a priori seed orientation map, the map may further have management zones for a particular agricultural field <NUM>. Each management zone in the map may have, without limitation, desired planted orientation information such as: orientation relative to North; orientation relative to direction of travel; and orientation such as pitch, roll, or yaw.

In a third step, desired planted orientation <NUM> is determined from the seed orientation instruction <NUM>, seedbed maker location <NUM> from the seedbed maker location sensor <NUM>, seedbed maker heading <NUM> from the seedbed maker heading sensor <NUM>, other sensor data <NUM> and other sensors <NUM>. With respect to step <NUM>, the seed <NUM> may be oriented with seed orienter <NUM> to the desired planted orientation. As previously described, seed orienter <NUM> may include adjustment of the seed orientation at one or more locations on the seedbed maker <NUM> including, for example, the seed meter <NUM>, seed delivery system <NUM>, or seed detector <NUM>. Seedbed maker <NUM> may include one or more components at various locations such as positioning device <NUM>, seed rotator <NUM> and/or seedbed closer <NUM> to further adjust orientation of the seed relative to the desired planted orientation <NUM>.

In other examples, additional steps may be provided and include seed orientation using an open or closed loop control on processor <NUM>. The open and closed control loop orientation control may utilize a seed detector <NUM>, such as a camera, to verify seed orientation by observing actual planted seed orientation <NUM> and sending a representative signal to the processor <NUM> for comparison against the desired planted orientation <NUM>. The seed detector <NUM> may be disposed in locations such as the seed meter <NUM>, the seed delivery system <NUM>, the seedbed <NUM> or at some other point prior to the seed <NUM> being covered by soil <NUM>. Upon comparing the actual planted seed orientation <NUM> to the desired planted orientation <NUM> and, if applicable, determining that a tolerance or threshold has been exceeded, the processor <NUM> may initiate adjustments of the seed orienter <NUM> needed to bring the actual planted seed orientation <NUM> in line with the desired planted orientation <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, an agricultural vehicle (e.g., tractor) <NUM> is shown pulling a planter <NUM> having a main frame with a plurality of seedbed makers <NUM> in a direction of travel <NUM>. In one example, the seedbed makers <NUM> are coupled (e.g., mounted) on a front or rear portion of the main frame, such that the they are pulled over the surface of soil <NUM> in the agricultural field <NUM>. Seed sources, such as storage tanks <NUM>, are coupled to the main frame, and hold seed <NUM> that is delivered, e.g., pneumatically or in any other suitable manner, to a mini-hopper (not shown) associated with each seedbed maker <NUM>. The storage tanks <NUM> are coupled to the mini-hoppers by way of conduits, such as hoses, and a pressurized delivery apparatus (not shown). Each storage tank <NUM> may contain the same or different varieties of seed <NUM> to be planted in the soil <NUM>. Each seedbed maker <NUM> is connected to a conduit such that it is in communication with a storage tank <NUM> to receive seed. As illustrated by way of example only in <FIG>, each seedbed maker <NUM> further includes its own sub-frame to which the various components (e.g., seed meter <NUM>, seed delivery system <NUM>, seed detector <NUM>, positioning device <NUM>, seed rotator <NUM>, seedbed closer <NUM>, etc.) are mounted.

As shown in <FIG>, the agricultural vehicle <NUM> follows one or more generated or programmed guidance lines <NUM> using receiver <NUM>, the guidance lines further allowing for the creation and visualization of the one or more rows <NUM> along which seed orienter <NUM>, specifically seedbed maker <NUM>, will plant seed <NUM>. The guidance line <NUM> can thus be used to guide agricultural vehicle <NUM> and planter <NUM> to, among other things, minimize compaction and reduce product application overlapping. In one example, <FIG> may further represent a seed orientation instruction <NUM> shown on a display component and visually representing a map by which the agricultural vehicle <NUM> and the seedbed maker <NUM> will plant seed. In this example, the rows <NUM> are dashed lines, each dash representing a potential location of a seed in a desired planted orientation.

Referring now to <FIG>, many possible desired planted orientations <NUM> are shown. In this example, the desired planted orientations <NUM> correspond to possible orientations of a corn seed <NUM>. In this example, the seed <NUM> may be oriented in three dimensions (X,Y and Z) and in any amount relative the ground including: <NUM>) on its side with the embryo (not shown) pointed down or upwards relative to the soil surface or <NUM>) with the caryopsis <NUM> of the seed <NUM> pointed down or upwards relative to the surface of soil <NUM>. Additionally, the seed 124a may be oriented perpendicular to a crop row <NUM> or the seed 124b may be oriented parallel to the crop row <NUM>. In one example, as shown in <FIG>, the seed 124a is oriented with the its caryopsis <NUM> pointed down and at an angle substantially parallel to the crop row <NUM> and surrounded by soil <NUM>. When the caryposis <NUM> is pointed down within soil <NUM> and the seed 124a is parallel to the row <NUM>, it can be expected with reasonable certainty the plant will emerge uniformly and grow with its leaves perpendicular to the row <NUM>. This is best demonstrated by the corn plant <NUM> depicted in <FIG>. In this position, the plant will be in optimal contact with the soil <NUM> and allowing for uniform emergence and plant growth, optimal and uniform utilization of inputs such as light, water and nutrients, and avoiding other causes of yield loss such as soil compaction or machine contact with the plant or grain. In another example, when the caryopsis <NUM> is pointed down within soil <NUM> but the seed 124b is perpendicular to the row <NUM>, it can be expected with reasonable certainty the plant will emerge and grow with its leaves parallel to the row <NUM>. This is best demonstrated by the corn plant <NUM> depicted in <FIG>.

However, it can be appreciated that one or more desired planted orientations <NUM> of a crop seed may be necessary to achieve optimal spacing and orientation to maximize a crop yield in an agricultural field <NUM>. For example, in some agricultural fields, such as those with hills, terraces or other natural or manmade features, it may be desirable to utilize multiple planted orientations or desired planted orientations <NUM> based on topography to optimally capture sunlight or precipitation. In another example, the desired planted orientation <NUM> may change according to the type of crop (e.g., soybean, sugar beets, sunflowers, oats, sorghum, wheat) being planted and be altogether different or some combination of the desired planted orientations <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In still yet another example, the desired planted orientation <NUM> may change according to the type of seed (e.g., flat or round corn seed) being planted, thus requiring one or more different desired planted orientations. Thus, as can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill, the desired planted orientations <NUM> as shown in <FIG> are illustrative only and do not include all the desired planted orientations <NUM> which may be utilized for optimally planting and growing a crop in an agricultural field <NUM>.

In one example, the processor <NUM> may be comprised of one or more of software and/or hardware in any proportion. In such an example, the processor <NUM> may reside on a computer-based platform such as, for example, a server or set of servers. Any such server or servers may be a physical server(s) or a virtual machine(s) executing on another hardware platform or platforms. Any server, or for that matter any computer-based system, systems or elements described herein, will be generally characterized by one or more processors and associated processing elements and storage devices communicatively interconnected to one another by one or more busses or other communication mechanism for communicating information or data. In one example, storage within such devices may include a main memory such as, for example, a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage devices, for storing information and instructions to be executed by the processor(s) and for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during the use of the system and computing element described herein.

In one example, the processor <NUM> may also include a static storage device such as, for example, read only memory (ROM), for storing static information and instructions for the processor(s). In one example, the processor <NUM> may include a storage device such as, for example, a hard disk or solid state memory, for storing information and instructions. Such storing information and instructions may include, but not be limited to, instructions to compute, which may include, but not be limited to processing and analyzing agronomic data or information of all types. Such data or information may pertain to, but not be limited to, weather, soil, water, crop growth stage, pest or disease infestation data, historical data, future forecast data, economic data associated with agronomics or any other type of agronomic data or information.

In one example, the processing and analyzing of data by the processor <NUM> may pertain to processing and analyzing agronomic factors obtained from externally gathered image data, and issue alerts if so required based on pre-defined acceptability parameters. RAMs, ROMs, hard disks, solid state memories, and the like, are all examples of tangible computer readable media, which may be used to store instructions which comprise processes, methods and functionalities of the present disclosure. Exemplary processes, methods and functionalities of the processor <NUM> may include determining a necessity for generating and presenting alerts in accordance with examples of the present disclosure. Execution of such instructions causes the various computer-based elements of processor <NUM> to perform the processes, methods, functionalities, operations, etc., described herein. In some examples, the processor <NUM> of the present disclosure may include hard-wired circuitry to be used in place of or in combination with, in any proportion, such computer-readable instructions to implement the disclosure.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the art has progressed to the point where there is little distinction left between hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; the use of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardware and software can become significant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologies described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles by which the systems, methods, processes, apparatuses and/or devices and/or other technologies described herein may be effected, none of which is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the systems, apparatuses, devices, methods and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, schematics, flowcharts, examples and/or functional language. Insofar as such block diagrams, schematics, flowcharts, examples and/or functional language contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understood by those within the art that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, schematics, flowcharts, examples or functional language can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one example, several portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill of a skilled artisan in light of this disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies regardless of the type of signal bearing medium used to carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing medium include, but are not limited to, the following: an edge computing module or device; a computer readable memory medium such as a magnetic medium like a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, and magnetic tape; an optical medium like a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD), and a Blu-ray Disc; computer memory like random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and read only memory (ROM); and a transmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analog communication medium like a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, and a wireless communication link.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components associated with, comprised of, contained within or connected with different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. Hence, any two or more components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermediate components. Likewise, any two or more components so associated can also be viewed as being "operably connected", or "operably coupled", to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two or more components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being "operably couplable", to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include, but are not limited to, physically mateable and/or physically interacting components, and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components, and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable components.

Unless specifically stated otherwise or as apparent from the description herein, it is appreciated that throughout the present disclosure, discussions utilizing terms such as "accessing," "aggregating," "analyzing," "applying," "brokering," "calibrating," "checking," "combining," "communicating," "comparing," "conveying," "converting," "correlating," "creating," "defining," "deriving," "detecting," "disabling," "determining," "enabling," "estimating," "filtering," "finding," "generating," "identifying," "incorporating," "initiating," "locating," "modifying," "obtaining," "outputting," "predicting," "receiving," "reporting," "retrieving," "sending," "sensing," "storing," "transforming," "updating," "using," "validating," or the like, or other conjugation forms of these terms and like terms, refer to the actions and processes of a computer system or computing element (or portion thereof) such as, but not limited to, one or more or some combination of: a visual organizer system, a request generator, an Internet coupled computing device, a computer server, etc. In one example, the computer system and/or the computing element may manipulate and transform information and/or data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's and/or computing element's processor(s), register(s), and/or memory(ies) into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system's and/or computing element's memory(ies), register(s) and/or other such information storage, processing, transmission, and/or display components of the computer system(s), computing element(s) and/or other electronic computing device(s). Under the direction of computer-readable instructions, the computer system(s) and/or computing element(s) may carry out operations of one or more of the processes, methods and/or functionalities of the present disclosure.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the art to implement apparatuses and/or devices and/or processes and/or systems in the fashion(s) set forth herein, and thereafter use engineering and/or business practices to integrate such implemented apparatuses and/or devices and/or processes and/or systems into more comprehensive apparatuses and/or devices and/or processes and/or systems. That is, at least a portion of the apparatuses and/or devices and/or processes and/or systems described herein can be integrated into comprehensive apparatuses and/or devices and/or processes and/or systems via a reasonable amount of experimentation.

Claim 1:
A method for planting a seed (<NUM>) in an agricultural field (<NUM>), the method comprising:
determining a site-specific seed orientation instruction for the agricultural field (<NUM>);
determining, with a processor (<NUM>), a position of a seed orienter (<NUM>) within the agricultural field (<NUM>) using position data from at least one of a planter (<NUM>) or an agricultural vehicle (<NUM>);
determining, with the processor (<NUM>), a desired planted orientation corresponding to the position of the seed orienter (<NUM>) within the agricultural field (<NUM>) from the seed orientation instruction, the seed orientation instruction being stored on the processor (<NUM>) or transmitted to the processor (<NUM>) prior to planting the seed according to the desired planted orientation; and
planting the seed (<NUM>) within the agricultural field (<NUM>) according to the desired planted orientation with the seed orienter (<NUM>);
characterized in that the seed orientation instruction is generated using at least one of topography, prevailing winds, future equipment paths and tramline proximity.