Autonomous systems, methods, and apparatus for AG based operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10130022-B2
Application number	US-201414513397-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2014
Priority date	Oct 14, 2013
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 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, comprising:
a frame;
one or more tracks or wheels coupled to the frame, said one or more tracks or wheels are coupled to the frame such that the width of the tracks or wheels of the vehicle is automatically adjustable based upon a field condition or a road condition while the vehicle is in a field use configuration and selectively adjustable by an operator of the vehicle while the vehicle is in a transport configuration;
a power source positioned on the frame;
a self-propelled drive system operatively connected to the power source and configured to drive the one or more tracks or wheels; and
an intelligent control on the autonomous vehicle electrically connected to the drive system and power source to aid in the self-propelling of the drive system;
wherein the intelligent control identifies the agricultural implement and possible agricultural operations associated therewith, instructs the drive system to position the autonomous vehicle relative to an agricultural implement to perform an agricultural operation with the agricultural implement, and selects the agricultural operation from the group consisting of: a. planting; b. tilling; c. baling; d. harvesting; e. spraying; f. transporting; and g. cultivating; and
wherein the agricultural operation is selected by information acquired by the intelligent control from the agricultural implement via one or more connections thereto and based upon the type of implement.

2. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of modules positioned thereon for obtaining information related to operation of the vehicle.

3. The autonomous vehicle of claim 2 wherein the plurality of modules comprise sensors and/or location determining devices.

4. The autonomous vehicle of claim 3 wherein the sensors comprise:
a. vision sensors,
b. radar sensors,
c. LIDAR sensors,
d. heat sensors,
e. moisture content sensors,
f. radio frequency sensors,
g. short-range radio,
h. long-range radio, or
i. antennas.

5. The autonomous vehicle of claim 3 wherein the location determining services comprise GPS, LIDAR, or radar.

6. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 wherein the intelligent control further comprises sensors and communication systems for sending information to one or more locations.

7. The autonomous vehicle of claim 6 wherein the communication systems comprise wireless technology with one of Wi-Fi™, radio frequency, radar, or Bluetooth®.

8. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 further comprising one or more modular outputs, wherein the modular outputs are positioned on the agricultural implement and powered by the power source of the autonomous vehicle.

9. The autonomous vehicle of claim 8 wherein the one or more modular outputs comprise power outlets, power takeoff outputs, motors, tanks, or row units.

10. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a cab, wherein the cab comprises a steering mechanism operatively connected to the drive system and tracks or wheels, and a rollover protection device.

11. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 further comprising at least one attachment mechanism, 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.

12. An autonomous vehicle for performing agricultural based operations, the vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a plurality of wheels or tracks coupled to the frame, said plurality of wheels or tracks are coupled to the frame such that the width of the tracks or wheels of the vehicle is automatically adjustable based, in part, upon a field condition or a road condition while the vehicle is in a field use configuration and selectively adjustable by an operator of the vehicle while the vehicle is in a transport configuration;
a power source coupled to a self-propelling drive source for driving the plurality of wheels or tracks without an operator;
a plurality of modules electrically connected to an intelligent control for obtaining information related to the operation of the vehicle;
wherein the intelligent control of the vehicle identifies an implement and possible agricultural operations associated therewith, coordinates the operation of the vehicle with the implement through, at least in part, wireless communication directly between the vehicle and the implement, and selects the possible agricultural operations from the group consisting of: a. planting; b. tilling; c. baling; d. harvesting; e. spraying; f. transporting; and g. cultivating, and wherein the operation of the vehicle and the implement is based on the type of implement;
an enclosure for covering at least a portion of the power source and drive source; and
at least one attachment mechanism connected to at least one of the ends of the frame.

13. The autonomous vehicle of claim 12 wherein the self-propelled drive system comprises:
a. an electric drive system;
b. a mechanical drive system;
c. a hydrostatic drive system;
d. an infinite variable transmission; or
e. a continuously variable transmission.

14. The autonomous vehicle of claim 12 wherein the plurality of wheels or tracks comprise multi-directional tread to allow the vehicle to travel in at least two directions.

15. The autonomous vehicle of claim 12 wherein the wheels or tracks are coupled to the frame such that the height of the vehicle is adjustable.

16. The autonomous vehicle of claim 12 wherein the plurality of modules comprises sensors, communication devices, location determination devices, or some combination thereof.

17. An agricultural vehicle, comprising:
a frame;
a power source positioned at an end of the frame and configured to drive a self-propelled drive system;
a plurality of wheels or tracks coupled to the frame and driven by the drive system;
sensors operatively attached to the drive system;
additional sensors electrically connected to an intelligent control to collect information used by the intelligent control to select one of a plurality of agricultural processes to perform from the group consisting of: a. planting; b. tilling; c. baling; d. harvesting; e. spraying; f. transporting; and g. cultivating;
said intelligent control capable of identifying an implement and the possible agricultural processes associated therewith; and
at least one attachment mechanism positioned at either or both of the ends of the frame for connecting the vehicle to the implement, and wherein the at least one attachment member configured to receive information from the implement to dictate the operation of the vehicle and implement combination;
wherein the plurality of wheels or tracks are coupled to the frame such that the width of the tracks or wheels of the vehicle is automatically adjustable based upon a field condition or a road condition while the vehicle is in a field use configuration and selectively adjustable by an operator of the vehicle while the vehicle is in a transport configuration.

18. The agricultural vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the agricultural vehicle stores data collected by the sensors.

19. The agricultural vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the stored data is continuously or randomly communicated to the other vehicles.

20. The agricultural vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the intelligent control references the stored data against a pre-programmed map to:
a. aid the vehicle in performing the one of a plurality of agricultural processes; or
b. aid in driving the vehicle such that the vehicle will avoid obstructions and

Assignees

• Kinze Mfg Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A01D41/1278

  for automatic steering · CPC title

• B60P3/22

  Tank vehicles ({vehicles convertible from transport of fluids to transport of other types of goods B60P3/426}; tank aspects B65D90/00, F17C) · CPC title

• A01B79/00

  Methods for working soil · CPC title

• A01B69/008

  automatic · CPC title

• A01B59/002 Primary

  Details, component parts · CPC title