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;   an implement releasably secured to said mobile power unit; and   a connection assembly for facilitating connection between said implement and said mobile power unit, wherein said connection assembly includes a hitch point at which said implement is secured to said mobile power unit, wherein said connection assembly is configured such that a position of said hitch point is adjustable,   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 connection assembly is configured such that a position of said hitch point is vertically adjustable. 
     
     
         3 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said connection assembly is configured such that a position of said hitch point is laterally adjustable. 
     
     
         4 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said connection assembly is configured such that a position of said hitch point is longitudinally adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said connection assembly comprise an articulated coupling. 
     
     
         6 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 5 , wherein said mobile power unit and said implement are configured to rotate with respect to each other about a vertical axis extending through a vertical pivot of said articulated coupling. 
     
     
         7 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said connection assembly comprises a steering mechanism to steer said autonomous agricultural system. 
     
     
         8 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 7 , wherein the steering mechanism comprises an electric linear actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 7 , wherein the steering mechanism comprises one or more steering cylinders configured to steer said autonomous agricultural system. 
     
     
         10 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more steering cylinders comprise hydraulic cylinders. 
     
     
         11 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein 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. 
     
     
         12 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 11 , wherein the power coupling comprises an electric coupler configured to transfer electric power between said mobile power unit and said implement. 
     
     
         13 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 11 , wherein the power coupling comprises a hydraulic coupler configured to hydraulic electric power between said mobile power unit and said implement. 
     
     
         14 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said mobile power unit is configured to transport said implement by pulling said implement. 
     
     
         15 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said mobile power unit is configured to transport said implement by pushing said implement. 
     
     
         16 . 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. 
     
     
         17 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said implement is an agricultural implement configured to modify the ground soil. 
     
     
         18 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said implement is an agricultural implement configured to apply material into or onto the ground soil. 
     
     
         19 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said implement is an agricultural implement configured to harvest crop from the ground soil. 
     
     
         20 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein said power supply comprises an electric generator or one or more batteries.