JP7183124B2 - variable fertilizer applicator - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a variable fertilizer applicator .

Patent Document 1 discloses a fertilization map generation system including a developer terminal PC, a GIS server connected to the developer terminal PC, and a farmer terminal PC connected to the GIS server via the Internet. there is
In the fertilization map generation system described in Patent Literature 1, a developer terminal PC creates a hot water extractable nitrogen map based on field remote sensing data and field soil sampling data. The GIS server calculates the fertilizer application amount for each mesh in the field based on information such as crops, fertilizer names, fertilizer ingredients, etc. obtained from the farm terminal PC, and the hot water extractable nitrogen map, etc. obtained from the developer terminal PC. to create a fertilization map. The fertilization map created by the GIS server is provided to the farm terminal PC by being downloaded to the farm terminal PC.

JP 2011-254711 A

Normally, a farmer records the fertilization map provided to the farmer's terminal PC in a USB memory (portable memory), and transfers the fertilization map from the USB memory to the internal memory provided in the variable fertilizer applicator. The variable fertilization machine uses the fertilization map transferred to the internal memory to perform variable fertilization work.
A large-scale farmer who owns many fields usually has multiple variable fertilizer applicators. Also, in large-scale farms, there are many cases where there are multiple operators of the variable fertilizer applicator. In such a large-scale farm, a fertilization map for a certain field stored in a USB memory is transferred to a variable fertilizer, and after variable fertilization work is performed, another operator operates another variable fertilizer. It is possible that the fertilization map for the same field is transferred from the same USB memory to each other. If so, there is a risk that the variable fertilization work will be performed redundantly on the same field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a variable fertilizing machine capable of suppressing redundant variable fertilizing operations on the same field.

One embodiment of the present invention includes a controller and an internal memory wherein one or more fertilization map data are transferred from a portable memory in which one or more fertilization map data are stored to the internal memory. A fertilizing machine, wherein when certain fertilization map data is transferred from the portable memory to the internal memory, transferred information indicating that the fertilization map data has been transferred is associated with the fertilization map data. and a management table for storing in the portable memory, and when the portable memory is connected to the variable fertilizer applicator, the control device, based on the management table in the portable memory a determination unit for determining whether or not fertilization map data transferred to an internal memory of the variable fertilizer applicator or another variable fertilizer exists in the portable memory; a suppressing unit that suppresses transfer of transferred fertilization map data to an internal memory of the variable fertilizer when it is determined that the fertilization map data exists in the memory; a writing unit for writing, when certain fertilization map data is transferred to the internal memory of the portable memory, transfer completion information indicating that the fertilization map data has been transferred to the management table in the portable memory. Provide a variable fertilizer applicator.

With this configuration, when trying to transfer the fertilization map data from the portable memory to the internal memory of the variable fertilizer, the fertilization map data already transferred to the variable fertilizer or another variable fertilizer is transferred to the variable fertilizer. can be suppressed from being transferred to the internal memory of the As a result, it is possible to prevent the variable fertilization work from being performed redundantly on the same field.
In one embodiment of the present invention, when it is determined that transfer-completed fertilization map data exists in the portable memory, the suppressing unit performs , only non-transferred fertilization map data are displayed in a list, and based on the list display, the user can select fertilization map data to be transferred to the internal memory in the variable fertilizer.

In one embodiment of the present invention, when it is determined that the transferred fertilization map data exists in the portable memory, the suppressing unit stores the transferred fertilization map data existing in the portable memory. Data and non-transferred fertilization map data are displayed in an identifiable list, and based on the list display, the fertilization map data to be transferred to the internal memory in the variable fertilizer applicator is configured to be selected by the user. .

In one embodiment of the present invention, the transferred information is information representing the date and time when the fertilization map data was transferred from the portable memory to the internal memory of the variable fertilizer or identification information of the variable fertilizer.
An embodiment of the present invention is applied when the variable fertilizer applicator has a predetermined function, and is fertilization map data for transferring one or a plurality of fertilization map data held by itself to a portable memory. In the transfer device, when the portable memory storing one or a plurality of fertilization map data is connected to the variable fertilizer applicator, the predetermined function is to: Based on the management information, it is determined whether or not the fertilization map data transferred to the internal memory of the variable fertilizer or another variable fertilizer exists in the portable memory. If it is determined that the data exists in the portable memory, the transferred fertilization map data is suppressed from being transferred to the internal memory of the variable fertilizer applicator, A function that writes, as one piece of management information, transferred information indicating that the fertilization map data has been transferred to the management table in the portable memory when certain fertilization map data is transferred to the internal memory. When transferring the fertilization map data to the portable memory, the fertilization map data transfer device stores a management table for recording management information for each fertilization map data transferred to the portable memory. A fertilization map data transfer device configured to create in mold memory is provided.

With this configuration, when trying to transfer the fertilization map data from the portable memory to the internal memory of the variable fertilizer, the fertilization map data already transferred to the variable fertilizer or another variable fertilizer is transferred to the variable fertilizer. can be suppressed from being transferred to the internal memory of the As a result, it is possible to prevent the variable fertilization work from being performed redundantly on the same field.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a variable fertilizing system to which a variable fertilizing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the format of the fertilization map data downloaded from the server. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a management table created in a USB memory by a farm terminal. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the farm terminal and the variable fertilizer applicator. FIG. 5 shows the procedure of the first transfer control process executed by the transfer control unit of the farm terminal. FIG. 6 shows the procedure of the second transfer control process executed by the fertilizer applicator control device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Below, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a variable fertilizing system to which a variable fertilizing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.
The variable fertilization system 1 includes a server 2 , a farm terminal 3 , a variable fertilization machine 4 and a USB memory 5 . The farm terminal 3 is an example of the "fertilization map data transfer device" of the present invention. The USB memory 5 is an example of the "portable memory" of the present invention. The farm terminal 3 can communicate with the server 2 via the communication network 6 .

The server 2 creates fertilization map data for fields owned by farmers. The fertilization map data is map data in which the amount of fertilization is set for each mesh in the field. A mesh means an individual small area when a field is divided into a plurality of rectangular (square in this embodiment) small areas. More specifically, the fertilization map data includes position information for specifying the position of each mesh in the field and fertilization amount data for each mesh. The positional information for specifying the position of the mesh is, for example, the positional information of the four vertices of the mesh or the positional information of a pair of paired vertices among the four vertices. The positional information for specifying the position of the mesh may include the positional information of the center of the mesh.

The farm terminal 3 is a terminal device used by the farm.
The variable fertilizer 4 is a mobile body that performs variable fertilization work using fertilization map data. The variable fertilizer applicator 4 includes a working vehicle that performs variable fertilization work, a working aircraft that performs variable fertilization work, and the like. The work vehicle includes a work vehicle including a travel machine and a fertilizing work machine towed by the travel machine, and a work vehicle in which the travel machine and the fertilization work machine are integrated. The aircraft for work includes helicopters, multicopters, drones, and the like equipped with fertilizing machines.

In this embodiment, a case where the variable fertilizer applicator 4 is a work vehicle in which a travel machine and a fertilizer applicator are integrated will be mainly described. In other words, the variable fertilizer applicator 4 includes a running section for running the variable fertilizer applicator 4 and a fertilizing section for applying fertilizer. The fertilizer applicator includes, for example, a fertilizer storage tank, an electronic shutter provided at the bottom of the fertilizer storage tank, a fertilizer application amount control actuator for driving the electronic shutter, and the like.

The farmer uses the farmer's terminal 3 to download from the server 2 fertilization map data for a field that he owns and is scheduled to be fertilized in the near future. In this embodiment, it is assumed that fertilization map data for a plurality of fields have been downloaded to the farm terminal 3 . A plurality of fertilization maps downloaded to the farm terminal 3 are stored in the hard disk 36 of the farm terminal 3 (see FIG. 4).

Thereafter, the farmer transfers a plurality of fertilization map data stored in the hard disk 36 of the farmer terminal 3 to the USB memory 5 . In this embodiment, at this time, a management table 51 to be described later is created in the USB memory 5 by the farm terminal 3 .
Then, the operator of the variable fertilizer applicator 4 transfers predetermined fertilization map data among the plurality of fertilization maps stored in the USB memory 5 to the memory 40A (see FIG. 4) in the variable fertilizer 4. FIG. The variable fertilization machine 4 uses the fertilization map data stored in the memory 40A to perform variable fertilization work on the field corresponding to the fertilization map data.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the format of the fertilization map data downloaded from the server 2. As shown in FIG.
Fertilization map data consists of a header portion 11 and a data portion 12 . The header portion 11 includes attribute data such as "file name", "date of creation", "field number", "work identification information", "work name", and "expiration date". The data section 12 includes fertilization amount data for each mesh position information.

"File name" is the file name of the fertilization map data. The “creation date” is the date and time when the fertilization map data (fertilization map) was created by the server 2 . “Field number” is the number of the field to which the fertilization map data is applied.
The "work identification information" is identification information representing the type of fertilization work, and the "work name" is the name representing the type of fertilization work. The fertilization work includes basal fertilization work, lateral fertilization work, and additional fertilization work. "Expiration date" is the final date of the period during which the fertilization map data can be used.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a management table created in the USB memory 5 by the farm terminal 3. As shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, the management information stored in the management table 51 includes "file name", "expiration date", "writing date and time", "fertilizer transfer date and time", and "fertilizer ID".
In this embodiment, when the fertilization map data is transferred from the farm terminal 3 to the USB memory 5, a management table 51 is created in the USB memory 5, and the file name, expiration date, and writing date and time of the fertilization map data are stored. It is stored in the management table 51. The file name and expiration date are the file name and expiration date stored in the header section 11 of the fertilization map data. The date and time of writing is the date and time when the fertilization map data was transferred to the USB memory 5 .

When the fertilization map data is transferred from the farm terminal 3 to the USB memory 5, the transfer date and time of the fertilization machine transfer and the fertilization machine ID of the fertilization map data are not written.
When the fertilization map data stored in the USB memory 5 is transferred to the memory 40A (see FIG. 3) of the variable fertilization machine 4, the column corresponding to the file name of the fertilization map data in the management table 51 contains: The variable fertilizer applicator 4 writes the fertilizer applicator transfer date and time and the fertilizer applicator ID. The fertilizer transfer date and time is the date and time when the fertilization map data was transferred to the memory 40A of the variable fertilizer 4 . The fertilizer applicator ID is identification information for identifying the variable fertilizer applicator 4 . In this embodiment, the model and machine number of the variable fertilizer applicator 4 are used as the fertilizer applicator ID. Fertilizer transfer date and time or fertilizer applicator ID is an example of "transferred information" of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing electrical configurations of the farm terminal 3 and the variable fertilizer applicator 4. As shown in FIG.
The farm terminal 3 is composed of a personal computer (PC), and includes a terminal control device (PC main body) 31, a display 32, and operating devices 33 such as a mouse and a keyboard. The terminal control device 31 includes a CPU 34, a memory 35, a hard disk 36, and the like. The hard disk stores an operating system (OS), a browser for browsing web pages, programs such as a first map transfer program for transferring fertilization map data from the hard disk 36 to the USB memory 5, and other necessary programs. data is stored. A USB connector 37 for electrically connecting the USB memory 5 to the CPU 34 is connected to the terminal control device 31 .

The CPU 34 includes a transfer control section 34A as a functional processing section. The transfer control unit 24A performs a first transfer control process for transferring the fertilization map data stored in the hard disk 36 to the USB memory 5 based on the first map transfer program. The transfer control unit 34A also has a function of creating a management table 51. FIG.
The variable fertilizer applicator 4 includes a fertilizer applicator controller 40 . Fertilizer control device 40 is an example of the "control device" of the present invention. Fertilizer control device 40 includes a microcomputer having CPU and memory (volatile memory, non-volatile memory, etc.) 40A. The memory 40A stores a second map transfer program for transferring the fertilization map data from the USB memory 5 to the memory 40A. The model and machine number of the variable fertilizer applicator 4 are stored in the memory 40A.

Memory 40A is an example of the "internal memory" of the present invention. In this embodiment, the memory 40A provided in the fertilizer applicator control device 40 is used as the "internal memory" of the present invention. However, a storage device may be connected to the fertilizer applicator control device 40 and used as the "internal memory" of the present invention.
The fertilizer applicator control device 40 controls the running motion of the running portion (moving forward, backward, stopping, turning, etc.). Further, the fertilizer control device 40 performs a second transfer control process for transferring the fertilization map data stored in the USB memory 5 to the memory 40A based on the second map transfer program.

A plurality of traveling controllers 41 for controlling each section of the traveling section and a fertilizing controller 42 for controlling the fertilizing section are electrically connected to the fertilizer applicator control device 40 .
The plurality of travel controllers 41 include an engine controller that controls engine speed and the like, a vehicle speed controller that controls vehicle speed, a steering controller that controls the steering angle of the front wheels, and the like. The fertilization controller 42 controls, for example, a fertilization amount control actuator. More specifically, the fertilization controller 42 controls the fertilization amount control actuator based on the fertilization map data and positioning information described later.

Further, a position information calculation unit 43, a communication unit 44, a USB connector 45, a display unit 46, an operation unit 47, and the like are connected to the fertilizer applicator control unit 40. FIG.
A satellite signal reception antenna 48 is electrically connected to the position information calculation unit 43 . The satellite signal receiving antenna 48 receives signals from the positioning satellites 7 (see FIG. 1) that constitute the satellite positioning system. The satellite positioning system is, for example, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). The position information calculator 43 calculates the position of the variable fertilizer applicator 4 (more precisely, the satellite signal reception antenna 48) based on the positioning signal received by the satellite signal reception antenna 48. FIG. Specifically, the position information calculator 43 generates positioning information including time information and position information. The position information consists of, for example, latitude information and longitude information.

The communication unit 44 is a communication interface for the fertilizer applicator control device 40 to communicate with the server 2 via the communication network 6 . The USB connector 45 is a connector for electrically connecting the USB memory 5 to the fertilizer applicator control device 40 . The display unit 46 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display. The operation unit 47 is provided with a plurality of switches and the like.
Fertilizer control device 40 includes, as functional processing units for performing the second transfer control process, determining unit 40B, suppressing unit 40C, and writing unit 40D.

When the USB memory 5 is connected to the USB connector 45 of the variable fertilizer applicator 4, the determination unit 40B determines the memory 40A of the variable fertilizer applicator 4 or another variable fertilizer applicator 4 based on the management table in the USB memory 5. is stored in the USB memory 5 or not.
The suppression unit 40C suppresses transfer of the transferred fertilization map data to the memory 40A of the variable fertilizer applicator 4 when it is determined that the transferred fertilization map data is stored.

When certain fertilization map data is transferred from the USB memory 5 to the memory 40A of the variable fertilizer 4, the writing unit 40D stores the fertilization map data in the management table 51 in the USB memory 5. write management data including transferred information indicating In this embodiment, the transferred information is either or both of the fertilizer applicator transfer date and time and the fertilizer applicator ID.

FIG. 5 shows the procedure of the first transfer control process executed by the transfer control unit 34A of the farm terminal 3. As shown in FIG.
With the USB memory 5 connected to the USB connector 37 of the farm terminal 3, when the farm performs an operation (first activation operation) for starting the first map transfer program (step S1: YES), The transfer control unit 34A displays a fertilization map selection screen on the display 32 (step S2).

Specifically, the fertilization map selection screen displays a list of fertilization map data stored in the hard disk 36, a check box provided for each list, a selection completion button, and the like.
The list of fertilization map data may be a list in which part or all of the attribute data for each fertilization map data stored in the hard disk 36 is displayed. For example, the list of fertilization map data may be a list in which the file name, creation date, field number, work name and expiration date are displayed for each fertilization map data stored in the hard disk 36 .

The farmer selects one or a plurality of fertilization map data to be transferred to the USB memory 5 based on the fertilization map selection screen, and then operates the selection completion button.
When the selection completion button is operated (step S3: YES), the transfer control unit 34A creates the management table 51 in the USB memory 5 based on the attribute data of the fertilization map data selected by the farmer (step S4). .

In this embodiment, the transfer control unit 34A creates the management table 51 in the USB memory 5 as described with reference to FIG. Therefore, the transfer control unit 34A creates a management table 51 in the USB memory 5 in which the file name, expiration date, and date and time of writing are stored for each fertilization map data to be transferred to the USB memory 5 . At this time point, the management table 51 does not store the transfer date and time of the fertilizer applicator and the fertilizer applicator ID.

Next, the transfer control unit 34A transfers the fertilization map data selected by the farmer to the USB memory 5 (step S5). Then, the transfer control unit 34A ends the current transfer control process.
FIG. 6 shows the procedure of the second transfer control process executed by the fertilizer applicator control device 40. As shown in FIG.

With the USB memory 5 connected to the USB connector 45 of the variable fertilizer applicator 4, when the operator of the variable fertilizer applicator 4 performs an operation (second start operation) for starting the second map transfer program (step S11). : YES), the determination unit 40B proceeds to step S12.
In step S<b>12 , the determination unit 40</b>B determines whether or not fertilization map data whose expiration date has not expired exists in the USB memory 5 based on the management table 51 in the USB memory 5 .

If the fertilization map data whose expiration date has not expired exists in the USB memory 5 (step S12: YES), the determination unit 40B determines the data in the USB memory 5 based on the management table 51 in the (step S13).
Specifically, the determination unit 40B determines whether or not the fertilizer applicator transfer date and time or the fertilizer applicator ID has already been written for each fertilization map data. Then, if there is fertilization map data in which the fertilization machine transfer date and time or the fertilization machine ID has already been written, the determination unit 40B identifies the fertilization map data as transferred fertilization map data. In this manner, the determination unit 40B determines whether or not the transferred fertilization map data exists in the USB memory 5 or not.

If it is determined that transferred fertilization map data exists (step S13: YES), the determination unit 40B determines whether the fertilization map data has not expired and has not been transferred (non-transferred data). Fertilization map data) exists in the USB memory 5 (step S14).
If the expiration date has not expired and non-transferred fertilization map data exists in the USB memory 5 (step S14: YES), the suppression unit 40C displays the first fertilization map selection screen on the display unit 46. (step S15). The first fertilization map selection screen includes a list of fertilization map data stored in the USB memory 5 that has not expired and has not been transferred, and a check box provided for each list. , a selection completion button or the like is displayed.

The list of fertilization map data may be a list in which a part or all of the attribute data is displayed for each fertilization map data to be listed. For example, the list of fertilization map data may be a list in which the file name, creation date, field number, work name and expiration date are displayed for each fertilization map data to be listed.
On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no transferred fertilization map data (step S13: NO), the control unit 40C displays a second fertilization map selection screen on the display unit 46 (step S16). The second fertilization map selection screen includes a list of fertilization map data whose expiration date is not expired among the fertilization map data stored in the USB memory 5, a check box provided for each list, a selection completion button, and the like. is displayed.

The list of fertilization map data may be a list in which a part or all of the attribute data is displayed for each fertilization map data to be listed. For example, the list of fertilization map data may be a list in which the file name, creation date, field number, work name and expiration date are displayed for each fertilization map data to be listed. Hereinafter, the first fertilization map selection screen and the second fertilization map selection screen will be collectively referred to as the fertilization map selection screen.

When the fertilization map selection screen is displayed in step S15 or step S16, the operator selects one or a plurality of fertilization map data to be transferred to the memory 40A in the variable fertilizer applicator 4 based on the fertilization map selection screen. , operate the selection completion button.
When the selection completion button is operated (step S17: YES), the control unit 40C transfers the fertilization map data selected by the operator to the memory 40A in the variable fertilizer 4 (step S18).

Next, the writing unit 40D writes the machine transfer date and time and the fertilizer ID into the fields corresponding to the fertilization map data transferred to the memory 40A among the fields of the management table in the USB memory 5 (step S19). The fertilizer applicator ID consists of the model and machine number of the variable fertilizer applicator. Then, the current transfer control process ends.
If it is determined in step S12 that the USB memory 5 does not store fertilization map data whose expiration date has not expired (step S12: NO), or in step S14, the expiration date has not expired and the data has not been transferred. When it is determined that the fertilization map data does not exist in the USB memory 5 (step S14: NO), the determining section 40B proceeds to step S20.

In step S<b>20 , the determination unit 40</b>B displays on the display unit 46 that transferable fertilization map data does not exist in the USB memory 5 . Then, the determination unit 40B terminates the current process.
In the above-described embodiment, when the fertilization map data is to be transferred from the USB memory 5 to the variable fertilizer applicator 4, the fertilization map data already transferred to the variable fertilizer applicator 4 or another variable fertilizer applicator 4 is transferred to the variable Transfer to the fertilizer applicator 4 can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent the variable fertilization work from being performed redundantly on the same field.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when trying to transfer the fertilization map data from the USB memory 5 to the variable fertilizer 4, the fertilization map data whose expiration date has expired is prevented from being transferred to the variable fertilizer 4. can. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent variable fertilization work from being performed based on expired fertilization map data.
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can also be implemented in other forms. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the suppression unit 40C in the fertilizer applicator control device 40 causes the display unit 44 to display a fertilization map selection screen in which only non-transferred fertilization map data is listed. I have to. In other words, the suppression unit 40C prevents the already transferred fertilization map data from being listed on the fertilization map selection screen.

However, the suppressing unit 40C may list the transferred fertilization map data and the non-transferred fertilization map data in a identifiable manner on the fertilization map selection screen. For example, the suppression unit 40C may list the transferred fertilization map data and the non-transferred fertilization map data in different colors.
Further, when transferring the fertilization map data to the USB memory 5, the transfer control unit 34A of the farm terminal 3 writes the "work identification information" of the fertilization map data into the management table 5A as one piece of management information. may In this case, when transferring the fertilization map data from the USB memory 5 to the variable fertilizer 4, the fertilizer controller 40 of the variable fertilizer 4 may perform the following processing.

That is, based on the "work identification information" of the management table 5A in the USB memory 5, the determination unit 40B determines the fertilization map data corresponding to the work that the variable fertilizer applicator 4 cannot perform (hereinafter, "work-impossible fertilization map data"). ) exists in the USB memory 5 or not. When the fertilization map data that cannot be worked exists in the USB memory 5, the determining unit 40B does not display the list of the fertilization map data that cannot be worked on the fertilization map selection screen.

When the fertilizer application map data is transferred from the USB memory 5 to the memory 40A, the fertilizer application device control device 40 of the variable fertilizer application device 4 sends the file name of the fertilizer application map data transferred to the memory 40A to the server 2 together with the fertilizer application device ID. may be sent to In this way, the server 2 can manage when and to which variable fertilizer applicator 4 the fertilization map data was transferred.

In the above-described embodiment, when transferring a plurality of fertilization map data stored in the hard disk 36 of the farm terminal 3 to the USB memory 5, the transfer control unit 34A of the farm terminal 3 stores the management table in the USB memory 5. 51 have been created. However, the management table 51 may be created by the fertilizer applicator control device 40 . In this case, the transfer control unit 34A does not create the management table 51 in the USB memory 5. FIG.

Specifically, in a state where the USB memory 5 is connected to the USB connector 45 of the variable fertilizer applicator 4, when the operator of the variable fertilizer applicator 4 performs the second activation operation (see step S11 in FIG. 6), the fertilizer applicator The control device 40 determines whether or not the management table 51 has been created in the USB memory 5 .
Then, when the management table 51 is not created in the USB memory 5, the fertilizer applicator control device 40 stores the management table 51 in the USB memory 5 based on the attribute data of the fertilization map data stored in the USB memory 5. to create Specifically, a management table storing a file name and an expiration date is created in the USB memory 5 for each fertilization map data stored in the USB memory 5 . The management table 51 does not have an area for storing "write date and time", but has an area for storing "fertilizer transfer date and time" and "fertilizer ID". However, when the management table 51 is created by the fertilizer applicator control device 40 , the fertilizer applicator transfer date and time and the fertilizer applicator ID are not stored in the management table 51 . After that, the fertilizer applicator control device 40 may proceed to step S12 in FIG.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the management table 51 has been created, the fertilizer applicator control device 40 proceeds to step S12 in FIG. 6 without creating the management table 51 in the USB memory 5 .
In the above-described embodiments, the case where the portable memory is a USB memory has been described as an example, but the portable memory may be a storage device other than the USB memory as long as it is a portable storage device.

In the above-described embodiment, the farm terminal 3 downloads the fertilization map data from the server 2 and the farm terminal 3 transfers the fertilization map data to the USB memory 5 . However, the server 2 may transfer the fertilization map data to the USB memory 5 and provide the USB memory 5 to the farm terminal 3 . In this case, the above-described first map transfer program is stored on the server 2 side, and when the fertilization map data is transferred from the server 2 to the USB memory 5, the server 2 executes the above-described first transfer control process. You should do it. In this case, the server 2 corresponds to the "fertilization map data transfer device" of the present invention.

Various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

1 Variable Fertilization System 2 Server 3 Farmer Terminal 4 Variable Fertilizer 5 USB Memory 6 Communication Network 7 Positioning Satellite 11 Header Section 12 Data Section 31 Terminal Control Device (PC Body)
32 display 33 operation device 34 CPU
34A Transfer control unit 35 Memory 36 Hard disk 37 USB connector 40 Fertilizer control device 40A Memory 40B Discrimination unit 40C Suppression unit 40D Writing unit 41 Travel controller 42 Fertilizer application controller 43 Position information calculation unit 44 Communication unit 45 USB connector 46 Display unit 47 Operation unit 48 Antenna for satellite signal reception

Claims (4)

A variable fertilization machine comprising a controller and an internal memory, wherein one or more fertilization map data are transferred from a portable memory in which one or more fertilization map data are stored to the internal memory,
When certain fertilization map data is transferred from the portable memory to the internal memory, transferred information indicating that the fertilization map data has been transferred is stored in the portable memory in association with the fertilization map data. A management table is provided for storing
The control device is
When the portable memory is connected to the variable fertilizer applicator, the fertilization map data already transferred to the internal memory of the variable fertilizer applicator or another variable fertilizer applicator is transferred to the variable fertilizer applicator based on the management table in the portable memory. a determination unit that determines whether or not the data exists in the portable memory;
a suppression unit that suppresses transfer of the transferred fertilization map data to an internal memory of the variable fertilizer when it is determined that the transferred fertilization map data exists in the portable memory; ,
Transfer completed information indicating that the fertilization map data has been transferred to the management table in the portable memory when the fertilization map data has been transferred from the portable memory to the internal memory of the variable fertilizer. A variable fertilizer applicator, comprising a writing unit that writes a When it is determined that transfer-completed fertilization map data exists in the portable memory, the suppression unit selects non-transferred fertilization map data among the fertilization map data existing in the portable memory. 2. The variable fertilizer applicator according to claim 1, configured to display only a list and allow the user to select the fertilization map data to be transferred to the internal memory in the variable fertilizer applicator based on the list display. When it is determined that the transferred fertilization map data exists in the portable memory, the suppressing unit controls the transferred fertilization map data existing in the portable memory and the non-transferred fertilization map data. 2. The variable fertilizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fertilizing map data to be transferred to the internal memory of the variable fertilizing machine is configured to be displayed in a list in an identifiable manner, and based on the list display, the user can select fertilization map data to be transferred to the internal memory in the variable fertilizing machine. machine. 4. The transfer completion information is information indicating the date and time when the fertilization map data was transferred from the portable memory to the internal memory of the variable fertilizer or identification information of the variable fertilizer. A variable fertilizer applicator as described above.

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