IL296104A - Shading system for the vineyard - Google Patents

Description

44286/ - 1 - VINEYARD SHADING SYSTEM Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of viticulture. More particularly, the invention relates to a vineyard shading system. Background of the Invention Sunlight is the primary energy source plants use in photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars needed to produce and ripen grapes. Nevertheless an excessive amount of direct sunlight radiating on the grapes during low humidity conditions leads to tissue damage commonly referred to as sunburn. Sunburn damage to table grapes generally renders them unmarketable. Other undesirable results of excessive exposure to sunlight at a vineyard are increased water demand due to a corresponding increase in evapotranspiration, or water evaporating through the soil. Sunburn damage is able to be avoided by providing adequate shading at the vineyard to decrease the amount of direct sunlight to which the grapes are exposed. One attempt to provide shading at a vineyard involves the use of support structures that are supported above agricultural fields at heights that allow the passage of large mechanized farm equipment to pass beneath. An array of photovoltaic solar panels that shade the crops being grown therebelow and also generate electricity is supported by a platform from which downwardly extend a plurality of piles whose bottom ends are anchored into the underlying ground. Although the shading provided by the solar panels using these support structures significantly decreases the amount of direct sunlight to which the grapes are exposed, the arrangement of such support structures restricts the efficient harvesting of grapes and therefore is not practically implementable in a vineyard setting. 44286/ - 2 - Self-propelled mechanical harvesters such as the harvester 10 shown in Fig. 1 have been gaining popularity in recent years by being able to reduce the manpower that is needed to harvest a vineyard and to thereby significantly reduce costs while mitigating damage to the plants during harvest. A typical grape harvester 10 has a frame 5 that extends over a row 2 of grape vines with a U-shaped recess for receiving the vines during advancement of the harvester, and a set of wheels 3 adapted to advance over an inter-row clearance at a corresponding side of the row of grape vines. At least one device for separating the grapes from the plants is provided within the recess to facilitate automatic harvesting. However, advancement of grape harvester 10 within the vineyard is limited by the presence of the piles extending downwardly from the solar panel support structure and which are often anchored to the ground within the inter-row clearance at the side of a grape vine row 2. The time savings that is gained at most of the vineyard by grape harvester 10 is lost when having to access in a different direction the plants blocked by a pile or having to hand pick those blocked plants. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vineyard shading system that is configured without a supporting platform positioned above a vineyard having piles anchored within an inter-row clearance of the vineyard therebelow. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a vineyard shading system that promotes speedy mechanized harvesting of the grapes. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. Summary of the Invention A vineyard shading system usable in conjunction with a self-propelled agricultural equipment configured to advance through a clearance between two adjacent rows of grapevines, said shading system comprising a set of longitudinally spaced posts secured within a ground underlying the grapevines; one or more shade promoting panels mounted on apparatus that 44286/ - 3 - is angularly displaceable about a longitudinal axis located above a canopy of the grapevines; and rotation initiating apparatus operatively connected to said angularly displaceable apparatus and configured to set said one or more panels at a first angular disposition relative to a horizontal plane that is conducive to shading of the grapevines located below the longitudinal axis and at a second angular disposition relative to a horizontal plane for which said one or more panels are ensured of being spaced from the agricultural equipment in a contact-free manner upon advancement of the agricultural equipment through two adjacent rows of the grapevines. In one aspect, the angularly displaceable apparatus comprises a horizontal and rigid elongated element. In one aspect, the elongated element is a rod movably connected at a top region of each of the posts defining a same row. In one aspect, the rotation initiating apparatus is an electric motor provided with a speed reducer or a hand-manipulated crank. In one aspect, the shading system further comprises means for limiting an extreme angular disposition, or a range of angular displacement, of the one or more panels. The limiting means may comprise a physical abutment, electrical means or control means. In one aspect, the shading system further comprising a control system for automatically controlling angular displacement of the one or more panels during approach of the agricultural equipment, said control system comprising agricultural equipment, a mobile transmitting unit mounted on the agricultural equipment, and a receiving unit positioned on an element at a vineyard row that is configured to command operation of the motor upon receiving a signal from said transmitting unit when separated from said transmitting unit by less than a predetermined distance. 44286/ - 4 - In one aspect, the transmitting unit comprises a signal generator for generating a radio-frequency wireless activation signal, and a direction-sensitive short-range transmitter for transmitting the generated signal in a forward direction. In one aspect, the receiving unit comprises a receiver and a control module, said receiver being configured to be paired with the transmitter when separated therefrom by less than the predetermined distance and to transfer the received signal to said control module, and said control module being configured to command operation of the motor until the one or more panels are set at the second angular disposition. In one aspect, the control module is configured to command operation of the motor until the one or more panels are set at the first angular disposition when the receiver is separated from the transmitter by more than a predetermined short-range distance and becomes unpaired from the transmitter. In one aspect, the one or more panels are photovoltaic panels. The control module is additionally configured to control operation of the motor in a tracking mode so that the one or more panels will be incrementally or discretely angularly displaced in response to movement of the sun. In one aspect, the one or more panels are non-photovoltaic panels. In one aspect, the agricultural equipment is a grape harvester having a through-hole cavity within which each plant of a row of grapevines across which the harvester is able to advance and straddle during a harvesting operation is receivable, wherein a total height of one of the posts and of one of the panels set at the second angular disposition is less than a vertical dimension of the harvester cavity, and wherein the one or more panels are uninhibitedly receivable within the harvester cavity during a harvesting operation when set at the second angular disposition. 44286/ - 5 - Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings: - Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the front of a grape harvester during a prior art harvesting operation; - Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the front of an embodiment of a shading system, shown when a panel is set to a vertical orientation; - Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the shading system of Fig. 2, shown when a panel is set to an oblique orientation; - Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the side of the shading system of Fig. 2, shown when a panel is set to a vertical orientation; - Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration from the front of another embodiment of a shading system; - Fig. 6 is a perspective view from above of another embodiment of a shading system, shown when each of the panels is set to an oblique orientation; - Fig. 7 is a side view of one of the rows of the shading system of Fig. 6, schematically illustrating rotation related apparatus; - Fig. 8 is a perspective view from above of the shading system of Fig. 6, shown when each of the panels is set to a vertical orientation; - Fig. 9 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a control system for automatically controlling angular displacement of the panels; - Fig. 10 is a perspective view from the rear of a grape harvester during a harvesting operation in conjunction with apparatus of the invention; - Fig. 11 is a perspective view from the rear of a spraying machine that is operable in conjunction with apparatus of the invention; - Fig. 12 is a perspective view from the front of a trimming machine during a trimming operation in conjunction with apparatus of the invention; and - Fig. 13 is a perspective view from the side of a pruning machine during a pruning operation in conjunction with apparatus of the invention. Detailed Description of the Invention 44286/ - 6 - Rather than being attached to a support structure positioned above a vineyard and provided with downwardly extending thickened piles anchored to an inter-row clearance that interfere with the advancement of self-propelled agricultural equipment such as a grape harvester through the clearance between adjacent rows of grape vines, a shading promoting panel of the shading system is mounted onto a horizontal rigid elongated element extending between adjacent posts that have been anchored at the same side of a grape vine row. If the panel is found to laterally protrude into the clearance between adjacent rows of grape vines and to interfere with the advancing grape harvester, the supporting elongated element is suitably rotated to cause the panel to pivot or otherwise be angularly displaced until the protruding dimension of the panel is sufficiently reduced to allow unrestrained passage of the grape harvester between adjacent rows of grape vines. Figs. 2-4 illustrate shading system 15 according to one embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, shading system 15 comprises two longitudinally spaced posts 11, i.e. spaced along the long dimension of a vineyard row, which are secured within the ground underlying vineyard row 2 at a boundary region thereof proximate to the inter-row clearance 4. Posts 11 are generally made of aluminum due to its light weight and high strength, although other materials may be used as well. Since posts 11 are lighter and consequently thinner than the piles extending downwardly from a prior art solar panel support structure, the posts are advantageously able to be secured within the ground underlying vineyard row without interfering with the vines, rather than being secured within the ground underlying inter-row clearance 4 as practiced in the prior art due to the significantly larger thickness of the piles. The frame 37 of a photovoltaic solar panel 31 for generating electricity is rearwardly supported, i.e. at the shadable side thereof facing away from the solar cells, by two longitudinally spaced, shortened rectangular mounting bars 14 in attached abutting relation, such as by welding, with the frame. Mounting bars 14 are perpendicularly attached such as by welding to a rail 16, e.g. a rectilinear rail, longitudinally extending between the two posts 44286/ - 7 - and preferably aligned with a centerline of panel 31. Although not shown, an additional solar panel is able to be mounted to two additional mounting bars 14 that are attached to rail 16. A horizontal plate 12 welded to the top of each post 11 is attached to a corresponding arcuate rod support 13, and a cylindrical rod 17 longitudinally extending from, and fixedly attached such as by welding to, each end of rail 16 is rotatably mounted in a corresponding support 13. When the rods 17 are rotated, such as manually or by means of a motor, rail and each panel 31 are similarly angularly displaced. Mounting bars 14 are preferably positioned, when vertically oriented, such that their bottom end is above the vine canopy 8. The grape vines are generally supported by one or more horizontal wires 7 connected below mounting bars 14 to ensure sufficient sunlight penetration to the vine, both when shaded and unshaded, as well as to promote good air circulation. Wires 7 may be made of galvanized wire to prevent damage to young vines. Fig. 3 illustrates panel 31 when angularly displaced. At the illustrated angular disposition, the oblique panel 31 laterally protrudes from posts 11 into inter-row clearance 4 by a protruding dimension P that is significantly greater than half the width of the cavity of a grape harvester, and is therefore not uninhibitedly receivable within the harvester cavity during a harvesting operation. Fig. 4 illustrates panel 31 when set to a minimal protruding dimension M, as measured from rod 17 constituting the pivot axis, while approximately half the height of the panel is located above rod 17. The vertically oriented or slightly angularly displaced panel 31 is shown to remain completely within canopy 8, and is uninhibitedly receivable within the cavity of an approaching grape harvester during a harvesting operation. In another embodiment, shading system 15 comprises a plurality of non-photovoltaic opaque or translucent panels for reducing the intensity of the incident solar radiation 44286/ - 8 - transmitted through the panels that are fixedly connected to mounting bars 14 and that are able to be angularly displaced. In shading system 45 schematically illustrated in Fig. 5, each pair of panels 31a and 31b are angularly displaced in unison by a common motor 42. Each of the panels in turn is pivotally connected to two trellis posts 47. Gearbox 44 is kinematically connected to motor 42, and a fixed joint 46 laterally protruding from the frame of a corresponding panel is aligned with the fixed joint of the other panel and is received in a corresponding socket of, and rotatably driven by, the gearbox. Although the schematically illustrated gearbox 44 is shown to be positioned proximate to panel 31a, it is appreciated that the gearbox is positioned between the two panels 31a-b. Upon activation of motor 42, panels 31a-b rotate simultaneously about the axis defined by the two joints 46. Alternatively, panels 31a and 31b are mounted with the mounting bar and rail arrangement shown in Fig. 2 and angularly displaced in unison by means of motor 42 and gearbox 44. Figs. 6-8 illustrate shading system 55 according to another embodiment. As shown in Fig. 6, shading system 55 comprises three rows 51-53 of longitudinally spaced and aligned trellis posts 47. A rod 48 is movably connected at a top region of each of the trellis posts 47 defining the same row. Each of the trellis posts 47 and rods 48 may be made of steel or other metallic material, or strong polymeric material such as PVC and polyethylene. One or more wires for supporting the grape vines are connected to the trellis posts 47 below rod 48. Two, or any other number of, photovoltaic solar panels 31 for generating electricity are fixedly connected to rod 48 at each region thereof which is located between two adjacent trellis posts 47. A meter for measuring the DC output and an inverter for feeding the DC output to the AC power grid via a rod-connected cable may be provided at the output of each panel 31 or at the end of each rod 28 when the panels are serially connected. The cable 44286/ - 9 - may be loosely or flexibly connected to rod 48 to allow for rotation of the rod without causing the cable to be overly tensioned, such as by the formation of a loop. Each solar panel has an opaque or translucent layer for reducing the intensity of the incident solar radiation that is transmitted through the panel, so that the risk of sunburn damage to the grapes being grown therebelow is likewise reduced. All solar panels 31 connected to the same rod 48 are shown to be aligned, but it will be appreciated that each panel may be angularly spaced one from the other, for example to provide an improved shading effect. In another embodiment, shading system 55 may comprise a plurality of non-photovoltaic opaque or translucent panels for reducing the intensity of the incident solar radiation transmitted through the panel that are fixedly connected to rod 48. As shown in Fig. 7, rod 48 on the periphery of which a fixture supporting panel 31 is connected, or panel 31 is directly connected, is rotatably mounted within annular element 59, e.g. a bearing. Upon rotation of rod 48, the angular disposition of each panel 31 mounted thereto changes, in order to reduce the intensity of solar radiation that impinges upon the plants. Rod 48 may rotate at a constant rate, or may be selectively rotated. In order to facilitate rotation of rod 48, a rotation initiating apparatus 62, such as a hand-manipulated crank or an electric motor provided with a geared speed reducer, is operatively connected to the rod, usually at its end. The rotation initiating apparatus 62 may be provided with means for limiting the extreme angular disposition, or a range of angular displacement, of the panel to ensure unrestrained passage of the grape harvester through the clearance between adjacent rows of grape vines. Limiting means 63 may be a physical abutment or may be electrical means, such as control means. The plants 64 are preferably trellised at such a height on the trellis posts 47, such as by supporting wires, to ensure that the plants will not interfere with the pivoting panels 31, yet will benefit from the shading effect provided by the panels. 44286/ - 10 - Fig. 8 illustrates shading system 55 when each panel 31 is angularly displaced to a minimal protruding dimension M in conjunction with the rotation initiating mechanism. Panel 31 is shown to be vertically oriented, and the minimal protruding dimension M from rod 48, or the suitable pivot axis, for this illustrated orientation is 0. A control system 70 for automatically controlling angular displacement of the panels during approach of self-propelled agricultural equipment such as a grape harvester is schematically illustrated in Fig. 9. Control system 70 comprises mobile transmitting unit mounted on grape harvester 71, and receiving unit 85 positioned at a vineyard row. While a grape harvester 71 is illustrated in Fig. 9, and the corresponding description relates to a harvesting operation and a harvesting mode, it will be appreciated that control system 70 is similarly applicable to any other self-propelled agricultural equipment well known to those skilled in the art and to a corresponding agricultural operation and operational mode, to ensure that each panel will be able to reliably achieve a minimally protruding dimension. Transmitting unit 75 is equipped with an RF signal generator 74 for generating an RF signal S and a direction-sensitive short-range transmitter 76 for transmitting the generated signal S in a forward direction, i.e. in the same direction as the advancement of the grape harvester through the clearance between adjacent rows of the vineyard. Signal S may be any suitable wireless signal, such as a Bluetooth or a Wi-Fi signal, and is generally indicative of an activation signal, such that receipt thereof causes activation of the motor suitable for use in the arrangement of Fig. 5 or Fig. 7, although signal S may also be indicative of a control signal for updating motor-relevant control parameters. Signal generator 74 and transmitter 76 may operate continuously or periodically. Receiving unit 85 comprises receiver 83 and control module 87. Receiver 83 is configured to be paired with transmitter 76 when in range R of the advancing grape harvester 61 and to transfer the received signal S to control module 87. Control module 87 in turn transmits signal S or processed information related to signal S to the driver 89 of motor 82, whereupon motor 82 is activated and panel 31 is caused to be angularly displaced until achieving a 44286/ - 11 - minimally protruding dimension. Two or more spaced receiving units 85 may be deployed along a vineyard row that is relatively long to ensure that all panels located along the same row will be set to the minimally protruding dimension for an efficient harvesting operation. Control module 87 is also operable in a tracking mode, when out of range of transmitter 76, whereby motor 82 is suitably operated so that panel 31 will be incrementally or discretely angularly displaced in response to movement of the sun. To properly control operation of motor 82 in the tracking mode, control module 87 may be programmed with astronomical data, including time of sunrise and sunset, and meteorological data. Thus, for example, control module 87 may disable operation of the motor if the meteorological data is indicative of such inclement weather that causes blocking of a significant amount, or all, of the sunlight. Of course, control module 87 will readjust operation of motor 82 in a harvesting mode to set the panels to the minimally protruding dimension. When receiver 83 is separated from transmitter 76 by more than a predetermined short-range distance, it becomes unpaired from transmitter 75. In response, control module 87 is configured to transmit signal T to motor driver 89, whether a wired or a wireless signal, causing motor 82 to be activated and panel 31 to be angularly displaced from the minimally protruding disposition to a shading-promoting disposition. The shading-promoting disposition may be fixed in a shading mode or may be variable in a tracking mode. Fig. 10 illustrates grape harvester 71 when engaged in a harvesting operation. Grape harvester 71 is the type of self-propelled mechanized harvester that has a through-hole internal cavity 94 formed in frame 98 which is sized to receive each plant 64 of a row of grapevines across which the harvester is advancing and straddling. Cavity 94 is defined by two laterally spaced partitions 91 and 92, e.g. mutually parallel partitions, which may be adjustable, at the bottom by a catch floor 95 for intercepting mechanically harvested and gravitated clusters of grapes, and by a frame-defined top 99. Partitions 91 and 92 may be made of stainless steel in order to be readily cleaned, and are able to be removed from harvester 71. Although not shown, a plurality of striking fingers 97 are attached, e.g. flexibly 44286/ - 12 - or pivotally attached, to each of partitions 91 and 92, and are adapted to cause detachment of the clusters of grapes from the vine during advancement of harvester 71 and the resulting contact between a finger 94 and the rachis normally connecting the cluster to a shoot. Catch floor 95 generally is configured with a central opening to permit the posts 47 and panels 31 supported thereby to pass therethrough as harvester 71 advances along the row, and is sufficiently resilient to yield upwardly while being contacted by the plant 64. The central opening is sufficiently narrow to minimize the loss of detached grapes falling towards the catch floor, yet is sufficiently wide to permit the passage therethrough of the posts and of the trunk and cordon of the plant. Harvester 71 has to accurately navigate the row of grave vines to ensure that cavity 94, and particularly the catch floor opening, will be aligned with posts 47. To maintain an efficient harvesting operation, harvester 71 may be equipped with a readjustable electronic alignment system. The frame 98 of harvester 71 is vertically displaceable by a plurality of hydraulically extendable rods 93 in order to accommodate the increased-height panel post 47 as a result of the mounting thereon of the minimally protruding panel 31. Even though the minimally protruding panel 31 is illustrated to be in a vertical disposition, it will be appreciated that panel 31 may be angularly displaced by control system 70 (Fig. 9) in the harvesting mode, or may be angularly displaced manually, to other minimally protruding dispositions, as long as the protruding dimension is less than half of the width of cavity 94. The ability of panel 31 to be angularly displaced to a non-vertical protruding disposition is beneficial during occurrence of an unforeseen malfunction or mechanical limitation that prevents achievement of the essentially vertical disposition without disruption of the harvesting operation. The minimal laterally protruding dimension M' of panel 31 that is able to be achieved in the shading mode without contacting any of partitions 91 and 92, as measured from rod 48, or from the suitable pivot axis, corresponds to a maximal angle ranging from 0-8 degrees of the 44286/ - 13 - panel relative to a vertical plane. For example, for a cavity height of 5 m and a cavity width of cm, the maximal angle between the panel and the vertical plane is approximately degrees as tan4 is equal to the ratio of 5/0.35. Fig. 11 illustrates another type of agricultural equipment with which control system 70 (Fig. 9) is able to be implemented. As shown, an agricultural spray machine 101 for spraying fertilizer in many directions simultaneously comprises a central fertilizer tank 104 mounted onto the propulsion unit that is sized to pass through the clearance between two grapevine rows 2b and 2c, an overhead high-clearance boom 107 and a plurality of vertical posts 1connected to fertilizer tank 104 for supporting boom 107. Four vertically oriented and laterally spaced distributors 112a-d extending downwardly from, and secured to, boom 1are each equipped with a plurality of vertically spaced nozzles 114, through each of which fertilizer is able to be emitted and sprayed. A fertilizer solution is delivered by a hose 1that is secured to boom 107, from fertilizer tank 104 to the corresponding distributor 112. The nozzles 114 of two adjacent distributors, for example distributors 112a-b, point in opposite directions and are adapted to spray the grapevines of rows 2b and 2a, respectively. Each of the distributors is adapted to be positioned adjacent to a different one of the rows 2a-d at such a spacing therefrom that ensures contact-free advancement through the clearance between two adjacent rows with respect to the panels that have been set to the minimally protruding dimension. The electronic alignment system of spray machine 101 is configured to maintain the contact-free advancement. Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate other types of agricultural equipment with which control system (Fig. 9) is able to be implemented. Self-propelled trimming machine 121 shown in Fig. comprises two vertical and laterally spaced rotatable shafts 124 on each of which is mounted a plurality of radially protruding and vertically spaced cutters 127, some of which protrude by different dimensions. Trimming machine 121 ensures that branches of the grapevines will not protrude into the inter-row clearance, as well as contact-free advancement therethrough with respect to the panels that have been set to the minimally protruding 44286/ - 14 - dimension. A self-propelled pruning machine 131 for pruning the grapevines after harvest is shown in Fig. 13. Also, a self-propelled lopping machine for limiting the canopy height of the grapevine is also in the scope of the invention. All of these types of agricultural equipment are sized to accommodate the inter-row clearance and to advance therethrough without interfering with the panels, which are settable to the minimally protruding dimension in response to the approach of the agricultural equipment. When the panels are oriented at the shading-promoting disposition, interference between the agricultural equipment and the panels is inevitable. As can be appreciated from the foregoing description, the shading system of the present invention is advantageously able to increase vineyard profitability by reducing irrigation water evaporation and sunburn damage to grapes in the shading mode, providing a more efficient agricultural procedure by causing the panels to be set to a minimally protruding dimension in the operational mode, and generating electricity that is able to be sold to the electricity grid when the panels are photovoltaic panels both in the shading mode and tracking mode. While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried out with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims (16)

1. 44286/ - 15 - CLAIMS 1. A vineyard shading system usable in conjunction with self-propelled agricultural equipment configured to advance through a clearance between two adjacent rows of grapevines, said shading system comprising: a) a set of longitudinally spaced posts secured within a ground underlying the grapevines; b) one or more shade promoting panels mounted on apparatus that is angularly displaceable about a longitudinal axis located above a canopy of the grapevines; and c) rotation initiating apparatus operatively connected to said angularly displaceable apparatus and configured to set said one or more panels at a first angular disposition relative to a horizontal plane that is conducive to shading of the grapevines located below the longitudinal axis and at a second angular disposition relative to a horizontal plane for which said one or more panels are ensured of being spaced from the agricultural equipment in a contact-free manner upon advancement of the agricultural equipment through two adjacent rows of the grapevines.

2. The shading system according to claim 1, wherein the angularly displaceable apparatus comprises a horizontal and rigid elongated element.

3. The shading system according to claim 2, further comprising means for limiting an extreme angular disposition, or a range of angular displacement, of the one or more panels.

4. The shading system according to claim 3, wherein the limiting means comprises a physical abutment.

5. The shading system according to claim 4, wherein the rotation initiating apparatus is a hand-manipulated crank.

6. The shading system according to claim 3, wherein the limiting means comprises electrical means or control means. 44286/ - 16 -

7. The shading system according to claim 6, wherein the rotation initiating apparatus is an electric motor provided with a speed reducer.

8. The shading system according to claim 7, further comprising a control system for automatically controlling angular displacement of the one or more panels during approach of the agricultural equipment, said control system comprising the agricultural equipment, a mobile transmitting unit mounted on the agricultural equipment, and a receiving unit positioned on an element at a vineyard row that is configured to command operation of the motor upon receiving a signal from said transmitting unit when separated from said transmitting unit by less than a predetermined distance.

9. The shading system according to claim 8, wherein the transmitting unit comprises a signal generator for generating a radio-frequency wireless activation signal, and a direction-sensitive short-range transmitter for transmitting the generated signal in a forward direction.

10. The shading system according to claim 9, wherein the receiving unit comprises a receiver and a control module, said receiver being configured to be paired with the transmitter when separated therefrom by less than the predetermined distance and to transfer the received signal to said control module, and said control module being configured to command operation of the motor until the one or more panels are set at the second angular disposition.

11. The shading system according to claim 10, wherein the control module is configured to command operation of the motor until the one or more panels are set at the first angular disposition when the receiver is separated from the transmitter by more than a predetermined short-range distance and becomes unpaired from the transmitter.

12. The shading system according to claim 11, wherein the control module is additionally configured to control operation of the motor in a tracking mode so that the one or more 44286/ - 17 - panels will be incrementally or discretely angularly displaced in response to movement of the sun.

13. The shading system according to claim 12, wherein the one or more panels are photovoltaic panels.

14. The shading system according to claim 2, wherein the elongated element is a rod movably connected at a top region of each of the posts defining a same row.

15. The shading system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more panels are non-photovoltaic panels.

16. The shading system according to claim 8, wherein the agricultural equipment is a grape harvester having a through-hole cavity within which each plant of a row of grapevines across which the harvester is able to advance and straddle during a harvesting operation is receivable, wherein a total height of one of the posts and of one of the panels set at the second angular disposition is less than a vertical dimension of the harvester cavity, and wherein the one or more panels are uninhibitedly receivable within the harvester cavity during a harvesting operation when set at the second angular disposition.