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.

A crop harvesting system for reducing compaction includes a dump mule and a trailer. The dump mule is an autonomous vehicle configured to automatically hook and drop the trailer. The mule includes one or more wheels and a conveyor system configured to transport crops from the trailer into an auger for loading. The trailer includes a set of automatic landing gear, one or more hoppers, an automatic tarp system, and two or more retractable wheels. In an example use case, the mule commands the trailer to raise the landing gear as the mule positions underneath the trailer. In one embodiment, once the trailer is properly positioned on the mule, the mule commands the trailer to raise the wheels. At this stage, the mule bears the full weight of the trailer. From here, the mule transports the trailer to a crop storage system to empty the trailer via the auger.

A crop harvesting system for reducing compaction includes a dump mule and a trailer. The dump mule is an autonomous vehicle configured to automatically hook and drop the trailer. The mule includes one or more wheels and a conveyor system configured to transport crops from the trailer into an auger for loading. The trailer includes a set of automatic landing gear, one or more hoppers, an automatic tarp system, and two or more retractable wheels. In an example use case, the mule commands the trailer to raise the landing gear as the mule positions underneath the trailer. In one embodiment, once the trailer is properly positioned on the mule, the mule commands the trailer to raise the wheels. At this stage, the mule bears the full weight of the trailer. From here, the mule transports the trailer to a crop storage system to empty the trailer via the auger.

A hay bale fork assembly includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders that is each connected to a rear end of a tractor. A pair of mounting brackets is each pivotally coupled to a respective first lateral side and a second lateral side of the tractor having each of the mounting brackets extending away from the rear end of the tractor. Each of the mounting brackets is pivotally attached to a respective one of the hydraulic cylinders for urging the mounting brackets between a lifted position and a lowered position. A lifting fork is coupled between each of the mounting brackets. The lifting fork has a first tine that is disposed on the lifting fork to penetrate a first hay bale. The lifting fork has a pair of second tines each being disposed on the lifting fork to penetrate a second hay bale.

A hay bale fork assembly includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders that is each connected to a rear end of a tractor. A pair of mounting brackets is each pivotally coupled to a respective first lateral side and a second lateral side of the tractor having each of the mounting brackets extending away from the rear end of the tractor. Each of the mounting brackets is pivotally attached to a respective one of the hydraulic cylinders for urging the mounting brackets between a lifted position and a lowered position. A lifting fork is coupled between each of the mounting brackets. The lifting fork has a first tine that is disposed on the lifting fork to penetrate a first hay bale. The lifting fork has a pair of second tines each being disposed on the lifting fork to penetrate a second hay bale.

An autonomous self-propelled grain cart for short-coupled operation with a grain harvesting combine includes a frame and an operator's cab affixed to the frame. The operator's cab includes interactive controls for steering, regulating propulsion, and utility operation by an operator. A plurality of drive units propel the cart over the surface of an agricultural field. A grain hopper includes a grain bin and an unloading apparatus. A power system is electrically communicative with the drive units and the grain hopper unloading apparatus. The grain cart also includes a position sensing system, and a control system. The control system includes a central processing unit having an associated memory, a display, a user input device, and an instruction set resident in the memory. The instruction set, when executed and integrated with the position sensing system, functions to autonomously maintain a close-coupled position with respect to an operating combine.

A crop harvesting system for reducing crop unloading times. The system includes a real-time job market for crop load delivery. The system further includes a depot for crop drop off. In one example, a farmer transfers harvested crops into a trailer, a driver is notified via an app of a load meeting a predefined criteria, the trailer is transported to the depot and dropped off by the driver, a dump mule picks up the trailer, and the dump mule transfers the trailer to a storage container where the crop is stored.

A crop harvesting system for reducing crop unloading times. The system includes a real-time job market for crop load delivery. The system further includes a depot for crop drop off. In one example, a farmer transfers harvested crops into a trailer, a driver is notified via an app of a load meeting a predefined criteria, the trailer is transported to the depot and dropped off by the driver, a dump mule picks up the trailer, and the dump mule transfers the trailer to a storage container where the crop is stored.

A system, apparatus and method are provided for robotically assisting the harvest of a crop. Instrumented picker carts include sensors for detecting amounts of harvested crop (e.g., fill ratios) of containers carried by the carts, communication modules for communicating their locations and detected crop amounts to a field computer, and components for signaling for robotic service. The field computer predicts when a cart that requests service will have a full container and where it will be located at that time, then decides whether to approve the request. If the request is approved, a robot is assigned and is given (or generates) a path to the cart's predicted location, and begins moving toward the location so as to arrive near (and preferably before) the predicted time. Robots include means for moving (e.g., wheels, motors, steering components, power sources), navigation modules, computing components for controlling their movement, and communication modules.