ROBOTIC PLATFORM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS IN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS

摘要

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.

主权项

1. 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.