Robotic platform and method for performing multiple functions in agricultural systems
AssigneeRowBot Systems LLC
InventorKent Cavender-Bares
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An autonomous vehicle platform and system for selectively performing an in-season management task in an agricultural field while self-navigating between rows of planted crops, the autonomous vehicle platform having a vehicle base with a width so dimensioned as to be insertable through the space between two rows of planted crops, the vehicle base having an in-season task management structure configured to perform various tasks, including selectively applying fertilizer, mapping growth zones and seeding cover crop within an agricultural field.
Claims30
An agricultural robot configured to perform one or more in-season management task on an agricultural field while autonomously navigating between adjacent rows of planted crops, based at least in part on an increased data collection range of one or more aerial navigation sensors, the agricultural robot comprising:
- an unmanned mobile vehicle platform dimensioned so as to enable the platform to traverse between adjacent rows of planted crops on an agricultural field;
- an extendable mast coupled to the platform and configured to selectively extend generally upward, away from a surface of the agricultural field;
- one or more aerial navigation sensors coupled to the extendable mast, such that when the mast is extended generally upward, the increased distance from the surface of the agricultural field enables an increased data collection range;
- and
- a navigation module in communication with the one or more aerial navigation sensors, the navigation module configured to receive the data collected by the one or more aerial navigation sensors for aid in at least one of navigating the agricultural robot between adjacent rows of planted crops and avoiding obstacles, while performing the one or more in-season management task.
An agricultural mobile system configured to perform one or more in-season management task on an agricultural field while autonomously navigating between adjacent rows of planted crops, based at least in part on an increased data collection range of one or more aerial navigation sensors, the agricultural mobile system comprising:
- an unmanned mobile vehicle platform dimensioned so as to enable traversal between adjacent rows of planted crops on an agricultural field, the unmanned mobile vehicle platform including a navigation module configured to receive data collected by one or more external aerial navigation sensors for aid in at least one of navigating the agricultural robot between adjacent rows of planted crops and avoiding obstacles, while performing the one or more in-season management task;
- and
- an aerial vehicle comprising the one or more external aerial navigation sensors and configured to collect a range of data related to the navigational condition of the agricultural field.
A method for autonomous navigation an agricultural robot, the method comprising:
- delivering an agricultural robot to an agricultural field, wherein the agricultural robot is programmed with a self-direction program;
- activating the self-direction program to autonomously navigate the agricultural robot within the agricultural field while performing one or more in-season management tasks on the agricultural field;
- detecting an obstacle within the agricultural field during autonomous navigation;
- suspending autonomous navigation in response to the detected obstacle;
- deploying one or more aerial navigation sensors to collect navigational data related to the detected obstacle;
- and
- transmitting the navigational data collected from the one or more aerial navigation sensors to a processing unit for further processing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.