Autonomous integrated farming system

{
  "publication_number": "US10721857B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Autonomous integrated farming system",
  "abstract": "A farming system includes a field engagement unit. The field engagement unit includes a support assembly. The support assembly includes one or more work tool rail assemblies. The field engagement unit additionally includes one or more propulsion units which provide omnidirectional control of the field engagement unit. The field engagement unit additionally includes one or more work tool assemblies. The one or more work tool assemblies are actuatable along the one or more work tool rail assemblies. The farming system additionally includes a local controller. The local controller includes one or more processors configured to execute a set of program instructions stored in memory. The program instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to control one or more components of the field engagement unit.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A farming system comprising: a field engagement unit comprising: a support assembly comprising: a support frame; one or more work tool rail assemblies; and one or more support structures; one or more propulsion units, wherein the one or more propulsion units are configured to provide omnidirectional control of the field engagement unit; one or more work tool assemblies, wherein the one or more work tool rail assemblies are positioned such that the one or more work tool assemblies are actuatable along the one or more work tool rail assemblies so to provide one or more work tool attachments of the one or more work tool assemblies selective access to one or more regions located beneath the support frame; and a controller, wherein the controller includes one or more processors configured to execute a set of program instructions stored in memory, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to control a position of the one or more work tool assemblies along the one or more work tool rail assemblies.",
    "2. The system in claim 1, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to autonomously control the one or more propulsion units of the field engagement unit to provide omnidirectional and autonomous positioning control of the field engagement unit based on one or more measured characteristics.",
    "3. The system in claim 1, further comprising: one or more material storage containers.",
    "4. The system in claim 3, wherein the one or more material storage containers are disposed onboard of the support assembly.",
    "5. The system in claim 4, wherein the one or more material storage containers are coupled to at least one of the one or more support structures, the support frame, or the one or more work tool assemblies.",
    "6. The system in claim 3, further comprising: one or more assemblies configured to distribute one or more materials stored in the one or more material storage containers to one or more components of the field engagement unit.",
    "7. The system in claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises: a truss.",
    "8. The system in claim 1, wherein the support assembly comprises an adjustable support assembly.",
    "9. The system in claim 1, wherein the one or more support structures are actuatable to adjust the elevation of the support assembly.",
    "10. The system in claim 1, wherein the one or more propulsion units include one or more drive wheels.",
    "11. The system in claim 1, wherein the one or more propulsion units include one or more tracks.",
    "12. The system in claim 1, wherein the one or more propulsion units are mechanically coupled to the support assembly via one or more steering assemblies.",
    "13. The system in claim 1, wherein at least a first propulsion unit of the one or more propulsion units is configured for actuation independently from at least a second propulsion unit of the one or more propulsion units.",
    "14. The system in claim 1, wherein two propulsion units are configured for simultaneous actuation.",
    "15. The system in claim 1, wherein the one or more work tool attachments comprise: at least one of a plant phenotyping attachment, an agronomy imaging attachment, a weeding attachment, a nutrient application attachment, a fertilizer application attachment, a combination nutrient and fertilizer application attachment, a spraying attachment, a soil coring attachment, a soil measurement attachment, a combination soil coring and soil measurement attachment, a planting attachment, a detasseling attachment, an irrigation attachment, a harvesting attachment, or a biomass collection attachment.",
    "16. The system in claim 1, further comprising: one or more power sources.",
    "17. The system in claim 1, further comprising: a server, wherein the server is communicatively coupled to the controller and is accessible by a user controller.",
    "18. The system in claim 17, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to: receive one or more sets of information; analyze the one or more sets of information; select one or more responses based on the analyzed one or more sets of information; and transmit the one or more responses to one or more components of the field engagement unit.",
    "19. The system in claim 18, wherein the one or more sets of information are received from at least one of one or more in-field sensors, one or more sensors on the one or more components of the field engagement unit, the server, or the user controller.",
    "20. The system in claim 18, wherein the one or more sets of information include one or more operational parameters for the one or more components of the field engagement unit.",
    "21. The system in claim 18, wherein the one or more responses include one or more operational parameters for the controlled one or more components of the field engagement unit.",
    "22. The system in claim 1, wherein the field engagement unit is configured for self-transportation from a first field to a second field.",
    "23. The system in claim 1, wherein the field engagement unit is configured for transportation via at least one of a flatbed trailer, a drop deck trailer, an enclosed trailer, or a shipping container.",
    "24. The system in claim 1, further comprising: a docking station, wherein the field engagement unit is reversibly couplable to the docking station, wherein the docking station is configured to perform at least one of a transfer of one or more materials from the docking station to the one or more material storage containers of the field engagement unit or a charge of one or more energy storage devices on-board the field engagement unit.",
    "25. A farming system comprising: a field engagement unit; a docking station, wherein the field engagement unit is reversibly couplable to the docking station, wherein the docking station is configured to perform at least one of a transfer of one or more materials from the docking station to one or more material storage containers of the field engagement unit or a charge of one or more energy storage devices on-board the field engagement unit; and a controller, wherein the controller includes one or more processors configured to execute a set of program instructions stored in memory, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to cause the field engagement unit to travel to the docking station for docking with the docking station.",
    "26. A farming system comprising: a plurality of field engagement units, wherein the plurality of field engagement units each comprise a local controller, wherein a particular local controller includes one or more local processors configured to execute a set of program instructions stored in local memory, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the one or more local processors to control one or more components of a particular field engagement unit of the plurality of field engagement units; and a central controller, wherein the central controller includes one or more processors configured to execute a set of program instructions stored in memory, wherein the central controller is communicatively coupled to each of the local controllers of the plurality of field engagement units, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to coordinate one or more actions of two or more of the plurality of field engagement units.",
    "27. A livestock processing system comprising: an engagement unit comprising: a support assembly, wherein the support assembly includes one or more work tool rail assemblies, one or more support structures, and a support frame; one or more propulsion units; one or more work tool assemblies, wherein the one or more work tool rail assemblies are positioned parallel to the support frame such that the one or more work tool assemblies are actuatable along the one or more work tool rail assemblies so to provide one or more work tool attachments of the one or more work tool assemblies selective access to one or more regions of a livestock enclosure located beneath the support frame; and a controller, wherein the controller includes one or more processors configured to execute a set of program instructions stored in memory, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to control a position of the one or more work tool assemblies along the one or more work tool rail assemblies so to actuate the one or more work tool assemblies to a selected position within the livestock enclosure."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention generally relates to a self-propelled farming system, and, in particular, to an autonomous farming system capable of carrying out various farming activities.\n\nSelf-propelled irrigation systems, including center-pivot and lateral-move systems, have irrigation towers wheels that are driven by drive motors mechanically coupled to gearboxes and/or drivelines. While cost effective, these propulsion systems are complex, utilizing a large number of components that result in low reliability. The large number of components add weight to the propulsion system, and thus to the self-propelled irrigation system, which cause the irrigation system to use more energy to propel the irrigation system than necessary. Additionally, a heavy irrigation system often creates deep ruts in the ground along each path traveled by the irrigation tower wheels. When these ruts form on hills, the ruts form channels for water to move, facilitating erosion processes. Additionally, ruts also cause damage to agricultural equipment that drive over them during field operation.\n\nFurther, the technology in the self-propelled propulsion systems is generally suitable only for use in irrigation applications. For example, the self-propelled irrigation system propulsion systems are designed to move at a speed usable only for irrigation. By way of another example, the guidance technology of the propulsion systems implements a set of limit switches.",
  "cpc": [
    "A01B 39/06",
    "A01B 3/50",
    "A01B 35/32",
    "A01B 5/16",
    "A01B 51/02",
    "A01B 69/00",
    "A01B 69/008",
    "A01B 71/02",
    "A01B 76/00",
    "A01B 79/02",
    "A01C 21/005",
    "A01G 22/00",
    "A01G 25/09"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A01B 3/50",
    "A01B 35/32",
    "A01B 39/06",
    "A01B 5/16",
    "A01B 51/02",
    "A01B 69/00",
    "A01B 69/04",
    "A01B 71/02",
    "A01B 76/00",
    "A01B 79/02",
    "A01C 21/00",
    "A01G 22/00",
    "A01G 25/09"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Realmfive Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Steve R. Tippery",
    "Brant Burkey",
    "Kyle Gerber",
    "Heath Roehr",
    "Tim Adkins"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-12-10",
  "publication_date": "2020-07-28",
  "grant_date": "2020-07-28",
  "priority_date": "2015-12-18",
  "application_number": "US-201816215008-A",
  "family_id": "59057699",
  "cited_by_count": 7,
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}