Raven Industries, Inc.

Agriculture Concepts, LLC

Colin Josh Hurd

Quincy Calvin Milloy

Mark William Barglof

Thomas Antony

Rahul Ramakrishnan

A technology platform includes hardware and software components that enable applications of autonomous agricultural equipment operation in an agricultural or other off-road setting, within a common architecture. The technology platform represents a technology stack that is a modular architecture leveraged across multiple use cases and vehicle types. The technology platform includes a vehicle interface component for the physical interface to agricultural equipment, a telematics component that provides stable in-field communications between all aspects of the technology platform, and a perception component that operates as a safety mechanism and includes object detection and classification. Additionally, a cloud-side application performs account management and field setup and as well as syncing of field equipment and operating systems in a common operating system. The technology platform includes an executive control layer that enables porting from one platform to another, so software applications in the integrated technology platform work with hardware of any manufacture.

Integrated platform and common software structural architecture for autonomous agricultural vehicle and machinery operation

A system and method of controlling agriculture equipment which combines geographical coordinates, machine settings, machine position, path plans, user input, and equipment parameters to generate executable commands based of a variety of different in-field agriculture operation objectives for a vehicle equipped with an automatic or electronically controlled locomotion system capable of reading and executing the commands.

System and method for autonomous control of agricultural machinery and equipment

A framework for safely operating autonomous machinery, such as vehicles and other heavy equipment, in an in-field or off-road environment, includes detecting, identifying, classifying and tracking objects and/or terrain characteristics from on-board sensors that capture images in front and around the autonomous machinery as it performs agricultural or other activities. The framework generates commands for navigational control of the autonomous machinery in response to perceived objects and terrain impacting safe operation. The framework processes image data and range data in multiple fields of view around the autonomous equipment to discern objects and terrain, and applies artificial intelligence techniques in one or more neural networks to accurately interpret this data for enabling such safe operation.

Safety system for autonomous operation of off-road and agricultural vehicles using machine learning for detection and identification of obstacles

An integrated technology platform enables any application of autonomous agricultural equipment operation in an agricultural or other off-road setting, within a common software structural architecture. The platform represents a technology stack that is a modular architecture for multiple use cases and vehicle types. The platform includes a vehicle interface component responsible for the physical interface to agricultural equipment, a telematics component that enables stable in-field communications between all aspects of the integrated technology platform, and a perception component that operates as a safety mechanism and includes object detection and classification. Additionally, a cloud-side application performs account management, field setup and syncing of field equipment and operating systems in a common operating system. The platform also includes an executive control layer that enables rapid porting from one platform to another, so that software applications in the integrated technology platform can work with hardware of any manufacture.

A system and method of controlling agriculture equipment which combines geographical coordinates, machine settings, machine position, path plans, user input, and equipment parameters to generate executable commands based of a variety of different in-field agricultural operation objectives for a vehicle equipped with an automatic or electronically controlled locomotion systems capable of reading and executing the commands.

A brake control system and method for autonomous vehicle control that includes a first brake pedal connected to a first brake arm, the first brake arm is connected to a first brake shaft, the first brake shaft extends a length between an upper end and lower end and includes a first actuator that expands and contracts in length. The lower end of the first brake shaft is operably connected to a first brake mechanism. An autonomous control system having a controller with microprocessor, memory and instructions is connected and controls operation of the first actuator. When the first brake shaft expands in length the first brake mechanism is engaged by the lower end of the first brake shaft thereby applying the brakes. The first brake mechanism is operable by depressing the first brake pedal in manual operation mode as well as by controlling the first actuator in autonomous operation mode.

Brake control system and method for autonomous vehicle control

A system for tilling compression marks formed in a field by wheels of agricultural machinery the system including a first roller assembly having a plurality of blade assemblies positioned in spaced relation to one another. The first roller assembly rotatably connected to a swing arm which moves the first roller assembly between a disengaged position, where the roller assembly does not penetrate the soil, and an engaged position where the roller assembly does penetrate and till the soil. The first roller assembly is positioned behind and in alignment with a first wheel of the agricultural machinery such that the first roller assembly tills the compression mark formed by the first wheel.

Tillage device for agricultural machinery or implements to reduce compaction caused by wheels in a field

An attachment for agricultural implements which tills soil compacted by the wheels of the agricultural implement it is attached to. In one arrangement the power and force used to till the soil is gained from the torque of the machine pulling the agricultural implement it is attached to, alternatively the tilling device is independently powered. This arrangement reduces compaction caused by the wheels of row-crop planters through the use of a shank or rolling tines. The tilling device is mounted directly behind wheels of the agricultural implement. The tilling device has the ability to raise and lower into the soil with the engaging and disengaging of the implement. In addition, in its current form it can independently be disengaged from use by raising and locking it up out of the soil, even if the implement remains engaged.

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Ames, IA, United States of America

Colin Josh Hurd