The use of self-powered, autonomous vehicles in agricultural and other domestic applications is provided. The vehicles include a self-propelled drive system, tracks or wheels operatively connected to the drive system, a power supply operatively connected to the drive system, an attachment mechanism for attaching equipment to the vehicle, and an intelligent control operatively connected to the drive system, power supply, and attachment mechanism. The vehicle is configured to connect to the equipment to perform agricultural operations based upon the equipment. Multiple vehicles can be used in a field at the same time. Furthermore, the invention includes the ability to move one or more of the autonomous vehicles from field to field, home to field, or from generally any first location to a second location.

A steerable cart or trailer is towed by another vehicle. A reverse linkage made up of arms that crisscross one another extends between the tow vehicle and the steerable trailer. The linkage arms are parallel a distance from the tow vehicle before crisscrossing with one another towards the trailer. The linkage arms are rotatable at each end. This allows the arms to rotate in a manner in which the trailer will more closely follow the path of the tow vehicle, especially when the tow vehicle is in the process of turning. The trailer will follow in a manner that reduces compaction and provides a simpler overall operation of equipment.

An apparatus for connecting an implement to a three point hitch of mobile machinery comprises two frameworks, a first framework and a second framework. The first framework is disposed in a first plane and comprises at least two parallel, vertically-spaced apart, laterally extending rails. There are three attachments supported by the first framework for attachment to the three-point hitch. The second framework is slidable generally in the plane of the first framework and is mounted on the rails to slide laterally along the rails. At least two connectors are supported by the slidable second framework for connecting the second framework to an implement that can be pulled or pushed by the mobile machinery. A driver is connected to the first framework and connected to the second framework for driving the second framework laterally back and forth along the rails of the first framework.

A locking mechanism includes a lock housing and an activation shaft. The lock housing defines first and second axes, each being different than the other. The lock housing includes an inner mechanism housing wall, a hollow conduit defined by the inner mechanism housing wall, and a channel. The channel is defined by a portion of the inner mechanism housing wall and has first and second portions, where the first portion extends along the first axis and the second portion extends along the second axis. The activation shaft is at least partially surrounded by the hollow conduit and includes a shoulder protruding from the activation shaft towards the channel of the inner mechanism housing wall. In an unlock position, the shoulder is freely manipulatable within the first portion of the channel along the first axis, and in a lock position the shoulder is prevented from moving along the first axis.

A header is removably attached to lift arms of an agricultural harvester and by a tilt cylinder pivotable about an axis A between an elevated installation position and a lower operational position. A perch assembly including a perch is positioned adjacent axis A to remotely pivot the tilt cylinder between the installation and operating positions and a downwardly facing hook shaped latching device is mounted on the tilt cylinder to engage and attach to a mounting pin on the header.

A pivoting hose support system for use with an agricultural implement is provided that includes a guide through which a hose(s) extends and that is arranged to pivot at an articulation point defined at connections between components that are movable through relatively large ranges of motion with respect to each other. The guide and the movable component may pivot about a common rotational axis and may be arranged upon different portions of a common pivot pin to which the guide may be axially fixed.

During coordinated operation of multiple different modular traction power units (MPUs), a desired change in relative tractive effort contributed by each of the MPUs is identified. Relative distances between a connection point for each MPU and an implement hitch point is determined, in order to identify a hitch bar target position that will achieve the identified relative tractive effort contribution. The hitch bar is adjusted to make distance adjustments, based on the target position, to achieve the identified relative tractive effort for the MPUs.

Embodiments relate to apparatuses, methods and computer programs for controlling a machine. The apparatus is suitable for a mobile communication device for providing a sensor input signal to a machine control entity to control a machine. The apparatus comprises one or more sensor modules for providing first user input sensor data and second user input sensor data. The apparatus further comprises a control module configured to determine the sensor input signal based on the first user input sensor data and the second user input sensor data. The control module is further configured to provide the sensor input signal for sensor data processing to the machine control entity to control the machine via an interface.

In one aspect, a system for monitoring a level of hydraulic fluid in an agricultural sprayer includes a drive system, a hydraulic fluid system, and a fill level sensor. The system also includes a computing system communicatively coupled to both the drive system and the fill level sensor. The computing system is configured to monitor the level of hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic fluid reservoir based on data received from the fill level sensor. The computing system is further configured to detect a leak condition in the hydraulic fluid system based at least in part on the monitored level of the hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic fluid reservoir and control an operation of the drive system to reduce the ground speed of the agricultural sprayer in response to detecting the leak condition.

An agricultural implement includes a frame and an adjustment system on the frame. The adjustment system includes a first component and a second component connected by a trunnion connection. The trunnion connection includes first and second opposed confronting trunnion blocks, each defining a hole therethrough, the holes being aligned one with the other. A trunnion shaft is disposed in the holes of the trunnion blocks and has ends extending beyond outer surfaces of the trunnion blocks. At least one end of the trunnion shaft defines an opening therethrough. End stops are provided at each end of the trunnion shaft, at least one of the end stops having a portion insertable into the opening. The end stops are larger than the aligned holes to prevent withdrawal of the trunnion shaft from the trunnion blocks.