The present invention relates to a weeding mechanism (1) for an autonomous weeding vehicle, and a weeding vehicle including the weeding mechanism. The weeding mechanism comprises a first shaft (3), a second shaft (5) arranged spaced apart from the first shaft (3), a first sledge (7) linearly movable along the first shaft (3), a second sledge (9) linearly movable along the second shaft (5), first and second actuators (11, 13) arranged to independently move the first and second sledges (7, 9) along the first and second shafts (3, 5) respectively, a first arm (15) pivotably connected to the first sledge (7), a second arm (17) pivotably connected to the second sledge (9) and pivotably connected to the first arm (15), and a weeding tool (2) operatively connected to at least one of the first and second arms (15, 17).

The present invention relates to a weeding mechanism (1) for an autonomous weeding vehicle, and a weeding vehicle including the weeding mechanism. The weeding mechanism comprises a first shaft (3), a second shaft (5) arranged spaced apart from the first shaft (3), a first sledge (7) linearly movable along the first shaft (3), a second sledge (9) linearly movable along the second shaft (5), first and second actuators (11, 13) arranged to independently move the first and second sledges (7, 9) along the first and second shafts (3, 5) respectively, a first arm (15) pivotably connected to the first sledge (7), a second arm (17) pivotably connected to the second sledge (9) and pivotably connected to the first arm (15), and a weeding tool (2) operatively connected to at least one of the first and second arms (15, 17).

A farming machine including a number of treatment mechanisms treats plants according to a treatment plan as the farming machine moves through the field. The control system of the farming machine executes a plant identification model configured to identify plants in the field for treatment. The control system generates a treatment map identifying which treatment mechanisms to actuate to treat the plants in the field. To generate a treatment map, the farming machine captures an image of plants, processes the image to identify plants, and generates a treatment map. The plant identification model can be a convolutional neural network having an input layer, an identification layer, and an output layer. The input layer has the dimensionality of the image, the identification layer has a greatly reduced dimensionality, and the output layer has the dimensionality of the treatment mechanisms.

A system (1) for displaying an optical image (2) by means of unmanned autonomous vehicles. Each vehicle has a display for displaying at least a part of the image (2) by way of stored or transmitted image information as well as a control unit (9). The control unit (9) is configured to control the image information and to move the vehicle using a drive unit (11) by means of stored or transmitted positon information. At least two vehicles are configured as land crafts (5), wherein the displays (3) of the land crafts (5) are oriented in parallel to a substantially horizontal image plane (6) and configured as displays (3) accessible by a human person.

System that automates crop maintenance activities, such as cultivating and weeding, with a device that intelligently and independently controls two blades that drag along either side of a crop row using sensors to repeatedly track the position of the blades and of the plants in the row. Blades may be moved in and out independently using an actuator for each blade to contour closely around the individual plants, even if plants or rows vary in their positions, and even if plant sizes and shapes differ. An illustrative system may use a single camera and a processor per crop row; the processor may analyze camera images to locate plant positions and shapes, to plan blade trajectories, and to control blade actuators. The processor may be able to control blade movement precisely to respond quickly to sensor input on changes in plant positions, shapes, and sizes along the row.

Some crops, such as soybeans, grow close to the ground, having a low canopy relative to that of weeds growing interspersed in the crop. A farm implement removes weed growth above the crop canopy. The implement has a chassis with at least three wheels connected to the chassis, a cutting mechanism, mounted at a front end of the chassis, a means for collecting weed growth cut by the cutting mechanism, mounted on the chassis, means for generating and selectively applying rotational torque to at least one of the at least three wheels and means for a user to guide the chassis down the rows in which the crop is grown.

Some crops, such as soybeans, grow close to the ground, having a low canopy relative to that of weeds growing interspersed in the crop. A farm implement removes weed growth above the crop canopy. The implement has a chassis with at least three wheels connected to the chassis, a cutting mechanism, mounted at a front end of the chassis, a means for collecting weed growth cut by the cutting mechanism, mounted on the chassis, means for generating and selectively applying rotational torque to at least one of the at least three wheels and means for a user to guide the chassis down the rows in which the crop is grown.

A method for weeding crops includes, at an autonomous machine: recording an image at the front of the autonomous machine; detecting a target plant and calculating an opening location for the target plant longitudinally offset and laterally aligned with the location of the first target plant; driving a weeding module to laterally align with the opening location; tracking the opening location relative to a longitudinal reference position of the weeding module; when the weeding module longitudinally aligns with the first opening location, actuating the blades of the first weeding module to an open position; recording an image proximal to the weeding module; and in response to detecting the blades of the weeding module in the open position: calculating an offset between the opening location and a reference position of the weeding module, based on the image; and updating successive opening locations calculated by the autonomous machine based on the offset.

The invention relates to an adjustable hoeing device (10) for removing weeds situated on a ground surface, the hoeing device (10) having a supporting frame (50), on which there is arranged at least one hoeing unit (100), which hoeing unit comprises the following:—at least one main bar (200) and at least two transverse bars (250) arranged parallel to one another, which transverse bars (250) are each mounted rotatably on the at least one main bar (200);—at least two connection bars (300), which run parallel to the at least one main bar (200) and which mechanically connect the at least two transverse bars (250) to one another;—at least two blades (500), wherein the blades (500) are arranged on the at least two transverse bars (250) at a normal distance from the main bar (200); and—at least one actuation device (400), which acts on at least two transverse bars (250) or a transverse bar (250) and the main bar (200) in order to rotate same by means of a linearly displaceable actuation arm.

The invention relates to an adjustable hoeing device (10) for removing weeds situated on a ground surface, the hoeing device (10) having a supporting frame (50), on which there is arranged at least one hoeing unit (100), which hoeing unit comprises the following:—at least one main bar (200) and at least two transverse bars (250) arranged parallel to one another, which transverse bars (250) are each mounted rotatably on the at least one main bar (200);—at least two connection bars (300), which run parallel to the at least one main bar (200) and which mechanically connect the at least two transverse bars (250) to one another;—at least two blades (500), wherein the blades (500) are arranged on the at least two transverse bars (250) at a normal distance from the main bar (200); and—at least one actuation device (400), which acts on at least two transverse bars (250) or a transverse bar (250) and the main bar (200) in order to rotate same by means of a linearly displaceable actuation arm.