# How Farm Vehicles Plant Evenly in Odd-Shaped Fields > This patent describes a smart system for farm vehicles that plans planting paths in fields with non-parallel sides, automatically turning off parts of the planter to avoid wasting seeds by replanting. - **Patent:** US 8296052 - **Original title:** Method for avoiding point rows for quadrilateral fields using autoguidance - **Owner:** CNH Amercia - **Granted:** 2012 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 9 - **Field:** agriculture, software, automotive, automation, telecommunications ## What it does The patent details a method for a "work vehicle" (like a tractor) to plant crops in a field that isn't a perfect rectangle, specifically one with "divergent" side boundaries. A computer in the vehicle's "control system" calculates a "swath pattern" (the path the vehicle will take) by determining the number of "swaths" (rows) and their widths (Claim 1). Crucially, it adjusts the width of "side by side individual swaths" by "disabling one or more individual rows of an implement" (the planting tool) to prevent "re-planting of a portion of an overlapped adjacent swath" (Claim 1). For example, if a field narrows, the system can turn off some planter sections to ensure seeds are only placed in unplanted areas. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover fields that are not described as having at least four boundaries, including two "divergently" extending side boundaries. - Does not cover systems that adjust swath width without "disabling individual output controllable rows" of the implement. - Does not cover manual guidance systems where an operator entirely controls the vehicle's path and implement row activation. - Does not cover swath patterns where the "centerlines of the side by side swaths" do not "diverge uniformly" between the end boundaries. - Does not cover methods that do not calculate swath width as a function of "overlap of existing planted areas." ## The clever bit The novelty lies in generating a swath pattern with uniformly diverging centerlines across a non-rectangular field, combined with the dynamic ability to disable specific rows of the implement to prevent wasteful replanting in overlapped areas. This ensures efficient coverage without gaps or double-planting. ## Real-world examples 1. John Deere AutoTrac systems 2. Case IH AFS AccuGuide 3. Trimble Autosteer systems 4. Precision planting equipment with section control 5. Modern agricultural guidance systems ## Why it matters This technology is vital for precision agriculture, allowing farmers to maximize efficiency and minimize waste. By precisely planning paths and adjusting implements, it helps conserve expensive resources like seeds, fertilizer, and fuel. It enables farming of irregularly shaped fields with the same precision as rectangular ones, which is common in many agricultural regions. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How Farm Vehicles Plant Evenly in Odd-Shaped Fields cover? This patent describes a smart system for farm vehicles that plans planting paths in fields with non-parallel sides, automatically turning off parts of the planter to avoid wasting seeds by replanting. ### Who owns patent US 8296052? CNH Amercia owns this patent, granted in 2012. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on April 8, 2029, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 8296052 cited by? This patent has been cited by 9 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This technology is vital for precision agriculture, allowing farmers to maximize efficiency and minimize waste. By precisely planning paths and adjusting implements, it helps conserve expensive resources like seeds, fertilizer, and fuel. It enables farming of irregularly shaped fields with the same precision as rectangular ones, which is common in many agricultural regions. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover fields that are not described as having at least four boundaries, including two "divergently" extending side boundaries. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8296052/method-for-avoiding-point-rows-for-quadrilateral-fields-using-autoguidance **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US8296052 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How a Drone Can Fly Ahead of a Moving Vehicle](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10133281/leading-drone-system) — This patent describes a system where a drone flies a non-linear path, deliberately spaced from a moving ground or water vehicle, using the vehicle's future path information to stay ahead or in a specific relative position. - [How Self-Driving Cars Find Clear Paths Between Objects](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10733420/systems-and-methods-for-free-space-inference-to-break-apart-clustered-objects-in) — This patent describes a method for vehicles, especially self-driving ones, to use lidar data and a 3D grid to precisely identify open spaces between obstacles, helping them navigate safely. - [How a Drone Flies Ahead of a Moving Ground or Water Vehicle](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20180321681/leading-drone-method) — This patent describes a method where an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flies ahead of a mobile base station, like a boat or ground vehicle, by predicting the base station's future path and scouting the area in advance. - [How Car Factories Calibrate LIDAR Sensors for Self-Driving Cars](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11391826/vehicle-lidar-sensor-calibration-system) — This patent describes a system for car factories to precisely adjust a vehicle's LIDAR sensors using special floor and wall targets, ensuring they accurately map the world for features like self-driving. - [How Airport Vehicles Automatically Park Safely Next to Airplanes](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11932418/starship-propellant-transfer) — A smart navigation system that helps airport service vehicles like catering trucks park safely at aircraft doors by identifying targets and avoiding restricted zones.