Autonomous systems, methods, and apparatus for AG based operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10104824-B2
Application number	US-201414513411-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2014
Priority date	Oct 14, 2013
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

The use of self-powered, autonomous vehicles in agricultural and other domestic applications is provided. The vehicles include a self-propelled drive system, tracks or wheels operatively connected to the drive system, a power supply operatively connected to the drive system, an attachment mechanism for attaching equipment to the vehicle, and an intelligent control operatively connected to the drive system, power supply, and attachment mechanism. The vehicle is configured to connect to the equipment to perform agricultural operations based upon the equipment. Multiple vehicles can be used in a field at the same time. Furthermore, the invention includes the ability to move one or more of the autonomous vehicles from field to field, home to field, or from generally any first location to a second location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An autonomous vehicle for performing agricultural based operations, the vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a self-propelled drive system coupled to the frame and connected to a power source for driving a plurality of wheels or tracks;
an intelligent control electrically connected to a plurality of information transmitting and receiving devices and configurable to identify an implement and possible agricultural based operations associated therewith, to autonomously perform a plurality of agricultural based operations each associated with one of a plurality of implements removably connectable to the autonomous vehicle;
a plurality of sensors operatively connected to the intelligent control and configured to detect one or more agricultural characteristics;
wherein the autonomous vehicle is configured to actively adjust the one of the plurality of implements while autonomously performing the plurality of agricultural based operations based, at least in part, on the detected one or more agricultural characteristics; and
wherein the autonomous vehicle is connected to the one of the plurality of implements, and configured to autonomously perform a selected one of the plurality of agricultural based operations from the group consisting of a. planting; b. tilling; c. baling; d. harvesting; e. spraying; f transporting; and g. cultivating, and
wherein the autonomous vehicle performs the selected one of the plurality of agricultural based operations with the one of the plurality of implements.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the one of the plurality of implements comprises:
a. a grain cart;
b. a planter;
c. a tiller;
d. a sprayer;
e. a combine; or
f. a second vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle receives information from the one of the plurality of implements during performance of the selected one of the plurality of agricultural based operations via one or more of the plurality of information transmitting and receiving devices.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an attachment mechanism coupled to the frame of the vehicle for at least temporarily connecting the one of the plurality of implements, wherein the intelligent control autonomously connects the one of the plurality of implements and the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises:
a. an arm;
b. a three-point hitch;
c. a power takeoff;
d. a flatbed; or
e. a cable lift.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the attachment mechanism is positioned at one end of the frame.

7. The vehicle of claim 5 further comprising another attachment mechanism positioned on the frame opposite the attachment mechanism.

8. The vehicle of claim 5 further comprising modular motors or power supplies on the vehicle configured to operate components associated with the one of the plurality of implements.

9. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the attachment mechanism further comprises at least one sensor for automatically aligning the vehicle with the one of the plurality of implements.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the at least one sensor comprises an image device, proximity sensor, or gyroscope.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the intelligent control is configured to simultaneously control the performance of at least two of the plurality of agricultural based operations.

12. An autonomous vehicle and implement combination for performing agricultural operations, comprising:
a frame;
a self-propelled drive system coupled to the frame and connected to a power source for driving a plurality of wheels or tracks;
a first implement mounted on the front end of the frame, the first implement configured to perform a first agricultural operation;
a second implement mounted on the rear end of the frame opposite the first implement, the second implement configured to perform a second, different agricultural operation;
a plurality of modules associated with the first implement or the second implement for obtaining information related to one or more agricultural characteristics in order to perform the agricultural operations autonomously; and
an intelligent control to identify and select implements and possible agricultural based operations associated therewith and selected from the group consisting of: a. planting; b. tilling; c. baling; d. harvesting; e. spraying; f transporting; and g. cultivating,
wherein said intelligent control is electrically connected to the plurality of modules, drive system, and the first and second implements for receiving the obtained information to autonomously move the combination and perform the agricultural operations;
wherein the first or second implements may be actively adjusted while performing the agricultural operations based, at least in part, on the information related to one or more agricultural characteristics obtained from the plurality of modules associated with the first or the second implement.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the agricultural characteristics are one or more of the following:
a. moisture content;
b. compaction;
c. temperature;
d. slope of terrain; or
e. soil composition.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein the plurality of modules comprise sensors, location determining devices, image devices, communication devices, or some combination thereof.

15. A combination vehicle for autonomously performing at least one agricultural operation, the combination vehicle comprising:
a first autonomous vehicle comprising a frame, a power source, and a drive system for operating wheels or tracks in a self-propelled and autonomous manner;
a second autonomous vehicle attached to the rear end of the first autonomous vehicle and comprising a frame, a power source, a drive system for operating wheels or tracks in a self-propelled and autonomous manner, and an intelligent control configurable to identify an implement and possible agricultural based operations associated therewith and to autonomously perform a plurality of agricultural based operations selected from the group consisting of: a. planting; b. tilling; c. baling; d. harvesting; e. spraying; f. transporting; and g. cultivating;
wherein each selected agricultural based operation associated with an implement is removably connectable to the first autonomous vehicle or the second autonomous vehicle;
a plurality of sensors electrically connected to the intelligent control and configured to detect one or more agricultural characteristics;
wherein the intelligent control is configured to autonomously perform the plurality of agricultural based operations based, at least in part, on the detected one or more agricultural characteristics;
wherein the implement is attached to the rear end of the second autonomous vehicle and the implement is actively adjusted while autonomously performing the plurality of agricultural based operations based on the one or more agricultural characteristics detected by the plurality of sensors; and
said implement being towed by the combined power of both the first and second autonomous vehicles.

16. The combination vehicle of claim 15 wherein the first and second autonomous vehicles are connected in-line with an attachment mechanism and control box.

17. The combination vehicle of claim 16 wherein the control box includes an intelligent control to receive information from the first autonomous vehicle, said information comprising speed, turning, stopping, delegation of power, and wherein the first and second autonomous vehicles operate substantially in tandem with one another.

Assignees

• Kinze Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Blackwell Robert
• Schildroth Rhett
• Myers Michael J
• Rolffs Merlan J
• Becker Derrick

Classifications

• A01B69/004 Primary

  automatic · CPC title

• A01B59/002 Primary

  Details, component parts · CPC title

• A01B69/008

  automatic · CPC title

• A01B79/00

  Methods for working soil · CPC title

• A01D41/1278

  for automatic steering · CPC title