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 autonomous vehicle platform for selectively planting seeds in an agricultural field while self-navigating between rows of planted crops, comprising:
a vehicle base having a length, width and height, the width so dimensioned as to be insertable through the space between two rows of planted crops coupled to at least a plurality of ground engaging wheels; at least one powertrain fixedly coupled to the vehicle base and operably coupled to at least one of the ground engaging wheels; a seeding structure including a ground engaging implement and mixer, the ground engaging implement configured to collect soil from the surface of the agricultural field, the mixer configured to mix seeds with the collected soil to create seed balls, and the seeding structure configured to distribute the seed balls in the agricultural field; a navigation module; and a microprocessor in communication the navigation module and programmed with a self-direction program to autonomously steer the autonomous vehicle platform while distributing the seed balls.