Seeding robot
AssigneeAGCO International GmbH
InventorJohannes Utz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A seeding robot includes a power supply, a frame, an opening device for creating a trench, a seed reservoir, and a seed dispensing apparatus configured to deposit seed in the trench from a dispense point. A pair of driven leading wheels are laterally offset to opposite sides of the dispense point. A trailing wheel is positioned behind, and aligned on a longitudinal axis with, the dispense point. The trailing wheel may serve a pressing function behind the seeding operation. Methods of autonomous seeding with such a robot are also disclosed.
Claims16
A seeding robot configured to move at least in a forward direction, the seeding robot comprising:
- a power supply;
- a frame;
- an opening device for creating a trench;
- a seed reservoir;
- a seed dispensing apparatus configured to deposit seed in the trench from a dispense point;
- a pair of driven leading wheels which are laterally offset to opposite sides of the dispense point;
- a steerable trailing wheel positioned behind, and aligned on a longitudinal axis with, the dispense point when the seeding robot moves in the forward direction;
- and
- a steering actuator for controlling a steering angle of the steerable trailing wheel with respect to the frame.
A seeding robot configured to move at least in a forward direction, the seeding robot comprising:
- a power supply;
- a frame;
- an opening device for creating a trench;
- a seed reservoir;
- a seed dispensing apparatus configured to deposit seed in the trench from a dispense point;
- a pair of driven leading wheels which are laterally offset to opposite sides of the dispense point;
- and
- a steerable trailing wheel positioned behind, and aligned on a longitudinal axis with, the dispense point when the seeding robot moves in the forward direction;
- a steering actuator for controlling a steering angle of the steerable trailing wheel with respect to the frame;
- wherein the seeding robot is alternatively operable in a first steering mode and a second steering mode, wherein the steering angle in the first steering mode is restricted within a first steering angle range in which a footprint of the trailing wheel coincides with seed deposited from the dispense point, and wherein the steering angle in the second steering mode is not restricted within the first steering angle range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.