A method of manufacturing an autonomous cart is provided. The method includes determining a mission type for the autonomous cart and determining a power system for powering the autonomous cart based on the mission type. The method further includes determining a drive system suitable for converting a power delivered by the power system into motive power suitable for moving the autonomous cart based on the power system and the mission type. The method further includes installing the power system onto a chassis of the autonomous cart and installing the drive system onto the chassis of the autonomous cart, wherein the autonomous cart comprises a control system configured to drive the autonomous cart autonomously via the power system and the drive system.

A method of manufacturing an autonomous cart is provided. The method includes determining a mission type for the autonomous cart and determining a power system for powering the autonomous cart based on the mission type. The method further includes determining a drive system suitable for converting a power delivered by the power system into motive power suitable for moving the autonomous cart based on the power system and the mission type. The method further includes installing the power system onto a chassis of the autonomous cart and installing the drive system onto the chassis of the autonomous cart, wherein the autonomous cart comprises a control system configured to drive the autonomous cart autonomously via the power system and the drive system.

An autonomous self-propelled mowing vehicle includes a frame fitted with a drive mechanism, a mowing device for mowing plants, a bumper device, and a control unit. The bumper device includes a first and a second impact detector. The first impact detector is depressible up to a stop and is provided with a first switch which emits a first signal to the control unit at a first switching point, if the first impact detector is depressed beyond the switching point. The second impact detector is deformable and locally depressible, and is provided with a second switch which emits a second signal to the control unit if the second impact detector is depressed at least beyond a predetermined depression threshold. The control unit is configured to stop the drive mechanism upon receiving the second signal, and to regulate the drive mechanism in such a way that the speed of the mowing vehicle is reduced to a lower mowing speed upon receiving the first signal without receiving the second signal. This prevents plants to be mowed from pushing the bumper away across the bumper width beyond the switching point of the first impact detector, without losing its long depressibility, because the second impact detector, which itself has a much smaller depressibility, detects obstacles at the lower (mowing) speed by being depressed itself.

An autonomous self-propelled mowing vehicle includes a frame fitted with a drive mechanism, a mowing device for mowing plants, a bumper device, and a control unit. The bumper device includes a first and a second impact detector. The first impact detector is depressible up to a stop and is provided with a first switch which emits a first signal to the control unit at a first switching point, if the first impact detector is depressed beyond the switching point. The second impact detector is deformable and locally depressible, and is provided with a second switch which emits a second signal to the control unit if the second impact detector is depressed at least beyond a predetermined depression threshold. The control unit is configured to stop the drive mechanism upon receiving the second signal, and to regulate the drive mechanism in such a way that the speed of the mowing vehicle is reduced to a lower mowing speed upon receiving the first signal without receiving the second signal. This prevents plants to be mowed from pushing the bumper away across the bumper width beyond the switching point of the first impact detector, without losing its long depressibility, because the second impact detector, which itself has a much smaller depressibility, detects obstacles at the lower (mowing) speed by being depressed itself.

A method (2000) of operating on crops (14) in a target area (20), comprising: using one or more sensors (1306), capturing (2200) data related to crops in a target area; mapping (2400) locations of the crops in the target area using the captured sensor data; generating (2600) one or more routes between at least some of the crops in the target area based on the mapped locations; and routing (2800) one or more operating units (1200) along the one or more routes thereby to operate on at least one of the crops.

A method (2000) of operating on crops (14) in a target area (20), comprising: using one or more sensors (1306), capturing (2200) data related to crops in a target area; mapping (2400) locations of the crops in the target area using the captured sensor data; generating (2600) one or more routes between at least some of the crops in the target area based on the mapped locations; and routing (2800) one or more operating units (1200) along the one or more routes thereby to operate on at least one of the crops.

An agricultural system includes a carrier configured to transport an agricultural cart to a position proximate to or within an agricultural field. The carrier includes a rotatable base and is configured to receive the agricultural cart on the rotatable base in a docking position. The carrier is configured to move the agricultural cart from the docking position to an unloading position to unload agricultural product from within the agricultural cart to a storage bin via rotation of the rotatable base.

An agricultural system includes a carrier configured to transport an agricultural cart to a position proximate to or within an agricultural field. The carrier includes a rotatable base and is configured to receive the agricultural cart on the rotatable base in a docking position. The carrier is configured to move the agricultural cart from the docking position to an unloading position to unload agricultural product from within the agricultural cart to a storage bin via rotation of the rotatable base.

An autonomous grain cart includes a width less than or equal to a distance from an end of the header of an agricultural vehicle to a lateral side of the agricultural vehicle, wherein the end and the lateral side are on a same longitudinal side of a lateral centerline of the agricultural vehicle, wherein the autonomous grain cart is configured to receive grain from the agricultural vehicle. The autonomous grain cart also includes a controller, comprising a processor and a memory. The autonomous grain cart further includes a drive system communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the drive system to propel the autonomous grain cart. The autonomous grain cart also includes a steering system communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the steering system to steer the autonomous grain cart.

An autonomous grain cart includes a width less than or equal to a distance from an end of the header of an agricultural vehicle to a lateral side of the agricultural vehicle, wherein the end and the lateral side are on a same longitudinal side of a lateral centerline of the agricultural vehicle, wherein the autonomous grain cart is configured to receive grain from the agricultural vehicle. The autonomous grain cart also includes a controller, comprising a processor and a memory. The autonomous grain cart further includes a drive system communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the drive system to propel the autonomous grain cart. The autonomous grain cart also includes a steering system communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the steering system to steer the autonomous grain cart.