Mobile Station for an Unmanned Vehicle

Abstract

A mobile station for an unmanned vehicle comprises a vehicular storage area for storing a vehicle during transit or at rest. A first wireless transceiver communicates a status or command between the vehicle and the mobile station during at least one of vehicular deployment and rest. A station controller manages a management plan of the vehicle comprising at least one of retooling the vehicle, loading a payload on the vehicle, and recharging or refueling of the vehicle.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for operating an unmanned vehicle, the method comprising
 storing an unmanned vehicle in a mobile station during transit or at rest;   communicating a status or command between the unmanned vehicle and the mobile station during at least one of vehicular deployment and rest; and   the mobile station managing an integral management plan of the unmanned vehicle comprising at least one of retooling the unmanned vehicle, loading a payload on the unmanned vehicle, and recharging or refueling of the unmanned vehicle.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  further comprising:
 managing coupling and decoupling of at least one implement to the vehicle within the mobile station to perform a particular task consistent with an agricultural management plan. 
 
     
     
         20 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 18  further comprising recharging the vehicle with electrical energy. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 18  further comprising securing the vehicle to an interior portion of the mobile station and shipping the mobile station via freight at an end of a growing season. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 18  further comprising:
 transmitting the integral management plan to the unmanned vehicle. 
 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the agricultural management plan comprises at least one of applying irrigation to compensate for a detected water deficiency, applying a nutrient to compensate for a detected nutrient deficiency, applying a microbicide or fungicide to treat a detected plant disease or pathogen, and applying an insecticide to treat a detected infestation of harmful insects attacking a crop.