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Robotic platform and method for performing multiple functions in agricultural systems

  • US 9,288,938 B2
  • Filed: 03/15/2013
  • Issued: 03/22/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An autonomous vehicle platform system for selectively applying fertilizer in an agricultural field having adjacent rows of annual crops planted so as to provide a conventional annual crop row spacing between said adjacent rows of planted annual crops of not more than 36 inches, while self-navigating entirely within the space between adjacent rows of planted annual crops, comprising:

  • one or more unmanned, autonomous vehicle platforms, wherein each autonomous vehicle platform includes a base operably coupled to a plurality of ground engaging wheels, each autonomous vehicle platform having a first lateral side and a second lateral side, wherein the first and second lateral sides oppose one another and are separated by a distance defining the width of the autonomous vehicle platform, the width so dimensioned as to be receivable within said space between adjacent rows of planted annual crops as the autonomous vehicle platform transits along the space between adjacent rows of planted annual crops, wherein each autonomous vehicle platform is programmed with a self-direction program to autonomously navigate the autonomous vehicle platform between a pair of adjacent rows of annual crops, and to avoid other autonomous vehicle platforms, while selectively applying fertilizer within the agricultural field.

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