Autonomous agricultural robot (agbot) for decision making and courses of action considering real-time conditions

Abstract

An autonomous agricultural system receives weather information and determines preferred courses of action based on the information received.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An autonomous agricultural system for considering real-time conditions comprises:
 a machine chassis configured for driven motion by a motor, and   an autonomous machine control system for operating the machine chassis to perform agricultural operation independent of occupant operation, the autonomous control system in communication and receiving real-time weather information,   wherein the autonomous machine control system determines a preferred course of action based on the weather information received and at least one of a field completion time, a predicted amount of time before a rain event, a down time probability, and resource needs.   
     
     
         2 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein the preferred course of action includes at least one of stopping operation, traveling to a secure sight, refilling resources, moving to another field, and continuing agricultural operation. 
     
     
         3 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 2 , wherein the preferred course of action includes at least two options for operation and the autonomous machine control system is configured to communicate the at least two options to a user interface for selection by a user. 
     
     
         4 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 3 , wherein the user interface includes at least one of a smartphone, tablet, or wearable electronic device. 
     
     
         5 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 3 , wherein the user interface includes a display operable to present the user with the at least two options for selection. 
     
     
         6 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 5 , wherein the user interface is configured to communicate a signal to the autonomous machine control system indicating a selection by the user of one of the at least two options. 
     
     
         7 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 6 , wherein the autonomous machine control system operates the machine chassis according to the selection in response to receiving the signal. 
     
     
         8 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein the weather information is received from at least one of a local source and a remote source. 
     
     
         9 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 8 , wherein the remote source includes at least one of a satellite and a ground-based broadcast system in communication with the autonomous machine control system over a network. 
     
     
         10 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one portion of the autonomous machine control system is mounted on the machine chassis. 
     
     
         11 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one portion of the autonomous machine control system is arranged independently from the machine chassis. 
     
     
         12 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one portion of the autonomous machine control system is arranged remotely from the machine chassis. 
     
     
         13 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one portion of the autonomous machine control system is arranged locally relative to the machine chassis. 
     
     
         14 . The autonomous agricultural system of  claim 1 , wherein the real-time weather conditions include at least one of present, future, and predicted weather conditions provided on a real-time basis. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating an autonomous agricultural system for development of an agricultural territory, comprising:
 acquiring information related to weather conditions near the agricultural territory,   determining a preferred course of action based on the weather information received, and   executing, via the autonomous agricultural machine, the preferred course of action.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the preferred course of action includes at least two options for operation of the autonomous agricultural system and the method further comprises presenting the at least two options on a user interface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving a communication indicating a selection by a user of one of the at least two options, wherein executing the preferred course of action includes executing the selection of the one of the at least two options. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the preferred course of action includes at least one of stopping operation, traveling to a secure sight, refilling resources, moving to another field, and continuing agricultural operation.