AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR AG BASED OPERATIONS
First Claim
1. A method of attaching at least one autonomous vehicle including a frame, a power source, and a drive system for operating wheels or tracks in a self-propelled and autonomous manner to an implement capable of performing at least one agricultural operation, the method comprising:
- obtaining information with at least one module operatively connected to the autonomous vehicle;
using the obtained information to substantially align at least one attachment mechanism of the autonomous vehicle with a portion of the implement; and
attaching the at least one attachment mechanism of the autonomous vehicle to the implement to allow the vehicle and implement combination to autonomously perform at least one agricultural operation.
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Accused Products
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.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of attaching at least one autonomous vehicle including a frame, a power source, and a drive system for operating wheels or tracks in a self-propelled and autonomous manner to an implement capable of performing at least one agricultural operation, the method comprising:
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obtaining information with at least one module operatively connected to the autonomous vehicle; using the obtained information to substantially align at least one attachment mechanism of the autonomous vehicle with a portion of the implement; and attaching the at least one attachment mechanism of the autonomous vehicle to the implement to allow the vehicle and implement combination to autonomously perform at least one agricultural operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of performing at least one agricultural operation in an autonomous manner, the method comprising:
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attaching at least one autonomous vehicle to an implement; providing power to the implement from the at least one autonomous vehicle; using the combined autonomous vehicle and implement to autonomously perform at least one agricultural operation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An autonomous vehicle for attaching to at least one implement for performing one or more agricultural operations, the vehicle comprising:
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a frame supporting a power source and an autonomous drive system operatively connected to wheels or tracks; and an attachment system for attaching to the at least one implement, comprising; an intelligent control; a plurality of modules operatively connected to the intelligent control and comprising one or more information obtaining devices; and an attachment device for attaching the vehicle to the implement; said attachment device aligning with the implement based upon information obtained by the modules and at least partly controlled by the intelligent control. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification