Autonomous agricultural system

Abstract

An autonomous agricultural system comprising a mobile power unit including a frame and a power supply. A position of the power supply is shiftable with respect to the frame of the mobile power unit. The autonomous agricultural system additionally includes an implement releasably secured to the mobile power unit. The mobile power unit is configured to transport the implement. The mobile power unit is further configured to provide power from the power supply to the implement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An autonomous agricultural system comprising:
 a mobile power unit including a power supply and one or more drive mechanisms; and   an implement releasably secured to said mobile power unit, wherein said implement includes one or more drive mechanisms,   wherein said implement is releasably secured to said mobile power unit via an articulated coupling, wherein said autonomous agricultural system is configured to be steered through said articulated coupling,   wherein said mobile power unit is configured to transport said implement, and wherein said mobile power unit is further configured to provide power from said power supply to said implement.   
     
     
         2 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said articulated coupling comprises a connection assembly including a vertical pivot. 
     
     
         3 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 2 , wherein said mobile power unit and said implement are configured to rotate with respect to each other about a vertical axis extending through the vertical pivot. 
     
     
         4 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said articulated coupling comprises a connection assembly, and wherein said connection assembly comprises a steering mechanism to steer said autonomous agricultural system. 
     
     
         5 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 4 , wherein the steering mechanism comprises an electric linear actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 4 , wherein the steering mechanism comprises one or more steering cylinders configured to steer said autonomous agricultural system. 
     
     
         7 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more steering cylinders comprise hydraulic cylinders. 
     
     
         8 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the one or more steering cylinders extends from either said mobile power unit or said implement and include a mating element configured to engage with a mating element associated with the other of said mobile power unit or said implement. 
     
     
         9 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said articulated coupling comprises a connection assembly, and wherein said connection assembly comprises a power coupling configured to permit power and/or communications to be transferred back and forth between said mobile power unit and said implement. 
     
     
         10 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 9 , wherein the power coupling comprises an electric coupler configured to transfer electric power between said mobile power unit and said implement. 
     
     
         11 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 9 , wherein the power coupling comprises a hydraulic coupler configured to hydraulic electric power between said mobile power unit and said implement. 
     
     
         12 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said articulated coupling comprises a connection assembly, and wherein said connection assembly comprises a hitching assembly configured to shift its position in one or more directions. 
     
     
         13 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said mobile power unit is configured to transport said implement by pulling said implement. 
     
     
         14 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said mobile power unit is configured to transport said implement by pushing said implement. 
     
     
         15 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said mobile power unit is autonomously controlled based on a location-determining element associated with said mobile power unit. 
     
     
         16 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said implement is an agricultural implement configured to modify the ground soil. 
     
     
         17 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said implement is an agricultural implement configured to apply material into or onto the ground soil. 
     
     
         18 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said implement is an agricultural implement configured to harvest crop from the ground soil. 
     
     
         19 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said power supply comprises an electric generator or one or more batteries. 
     
     
         20 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said drive mechanisms of said mobile power unit comprises one or more tracks.