GLOBAL CONTROLLER AND DISTRIBUTED LOCAL CONTROLLER(S) FOR AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT

摘要

A control system (100) for agricultural implements (10) such as planters, conventional or air drills is disclosed herein. The implement (10) has a frame (12) with multiple sections (18, 20) and each section has a plurality of row units (14) to apply product to multiple rows in a field. The implement (10) is equipped with global output devices (e.g. lights (312), actuators for moving moveable frame members, actuators for moving markers (58)) to perform global implement functions in response to global control signals. Each section (18, 20) includes one or more local product metering devices for applying products at varying rates in response to local control signals. The products include seed, fertilizer, insecticide and herbicide. The control system (100) includes command sources (e.g., a lighting connector; an operator interface in the cab) to generate global commands for the global implement functions and to generate local rate commands for the metering devices.