Robotic irrigation system and devices

Abstract

A robotic irrigation system enables autonomous control and manipulation of irrigation systems to eliminate the need to manually reconfigure and move the elements of the irrigation systems. In some embodiments, the system may include a robotic-enhanced coupling and valve assembly (RECVS) and a robotic assisted movement platform (RAMP) having a robotic appendage control module (RACM), a robotic object lifting appendage (ROLA), a robotic object manipulation appendage (ROMA). The RECVS may comprise one or more valves which may be manipulated by the RAMP to control the supply of water to the lateral move irrigation system via the ROLA and ROMA of the RAMP. Additionally, the ROLA and ROMA may enable the RAMP to connect, disconnect, and move one or more sections of a lateral move irrigation system thereby allowing the irrigation system to be reconfigured for different areas of a property or location that the irrigation system is positioned on.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A robotic irrigation system for use with a lateral move irrigation system having an irrigation system mover unit, a water supply line, and a lateral move irrigation system section, the system comprising:
 a robotic assisted movement platform (RAMP) having a robotic appendage control module (RACM), a robotic object lifting appendage (ROLA), and a robotic object manipulation appendage (ROMA), wherein the RACM of the RAMP is configured to manipulate the lateral move irrigation system section via the ROLA and the ROMA;   a robotic-enhanced coupling and valve assembly (RECVS) in fluid communication with the water supply line and the lateral move irrigation system section, the RECVS having a valve configured to be manipulated by the ROLA and ROMA of the RAMP to govern the ability of water to pass through the lateral move irrigation system section from the water supply line; and   a system mover control module (SMCM) in communication with both the irrigation system mover unit and the RAMP, wherein the SMCM directs the movement of the irrigation system mover unit and communicates instructions to the RAMP describing how the RAMP is to manipulate the lateral move irrigation system section.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a Robot launch and recovery platform (RLRP). 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a central control server (CCS), wherein the CCS communicates a movement schedule for the lateral move irrigation system to the SMCM. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the RAMP comprises an air transportation conveyance configured to enable the RAMP to fly to a destination. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the RAMP comprises a ground transportation conveyance configured to enable the RAMP to move across a ground surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the RAMP is reconfigurable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the first configuration comprises an air transportation conveyance configured to enable the RAMP to fly to a destination, and wherein the second configuration comprises a ground transportation conveyance configured to enable the RAMP to move across a ground surface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the RAMP comprises a power source. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the RAMP is configured to replenish the power source via the ROLA and ROMA. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the RAMP is configured to replace the power source via the ROLA and ROMA. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the RAMP is in communication with a client device via a wireless control network. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the RAMP comprises a machine intelligence sensor module (MISM) having a proximity sensor configured to describe a distance between the RAMP and an object that the proximity sensor is directed towards, and wherein the MISM communicates the distance to the SMCM. 
     
     
         12 . A robotic irrigation system for use with a lateral move irrigation system having an irrigation system mover unit, a water supply line, and a lateral move irrigation system section, the system comprising:
 a robotic assisted movement platform (RAMP) having a robotic appendage control module (RACM), a robotic object lifting appendage (ROLA), and a robotic object manipulation appendage (ROMA), wherein the RACM of the RAMP is configured to manipulate the lateral move irrigation system section via the ROLA and the ROMA;   a robotic-enhanced coupling and valve assembly (RECVS) in fluid communication with the water supply line and the lateral move irrigation system section, the RECVS having a valve configured to be manipulated by the ROLA and ROMA of the RAMP to govern the ability of water to pass through the lateral move irrigation system section from the water supply line;   a system mover control module (SMCM) in communication with both the irrigation system mover unit and the RAMP, wherein the SMCM directs the movement of the irrigation system mover unit and communicates instructions to the RAMP describing how the RAMP is to manipulate the lateral move irrigation system section; and   a central control server (CCS), wherein the CCS communicates a movement schedule for the lateral move irrigation system to the SMCM.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the RAMP comprises a power source, further comprising a Robot launch and recovery platform (RLRP). 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the RAMP comprises an air transportation conveyance configured to enable the RAMP to fly to a destination. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the RAMP comprises a ground transportation conveyance configured to enable the RAMP to move across a ground surface. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the RAMP is reconfigurable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the first configuration comprises an air transportation conveyance configured to enable the RAMP to fly to a destination, and wherein the second configuration comprises a ground transportation conveyance configured to enable the RAMP to move across a ground surface. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the RAMP comprises a power source, and wherein the RAMP is configured to replenish the power source via the ROLA and ROMA. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the RAMP comprises a power source, and wherein the RAMP is configured to replace the power source via the ROLA and ROMA. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the RAMP is in communication with a client device via a wireless control network. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the RAMP comprises a machine intelligence sensor module (MISM) having a proximity sensor configured to describe a distance between the RAMP and an object that the proximity sensor is directed towards, and wherein the MISM communicates the distance to the SMCM.