Autonomous agricultural vehicle systems and methods

1 . An autonomous vehicle, comprising:

a top formed of one or more structural panels;

a first wall comprising at least a first upper portion and a first lower portion, the first lower portion coupled to a first side of the top and the first lower portion being coupled to a first set of wheels;

a second wall comprising at least a second upper portion and a second lower portion, the second upper portion being coupled to a second side of the top and the second lower portion being coupled to a second set of wheels, the first and second walls spaced apart from each other a distance to allow plants in a row of crops to pass between the first and the second walls, wherein the distance between the first and second walls is adjustable by replacing the one or more structural panels of the top;

at least a first camera positioned on the second wall to acquire images of at least a portion of an area around one or more plants in the row of crops; and

a processing system to:

receive a mission plan, the mission plan identifying a travel path with a number of waypoints and at least a first detection task to be performed;

control a drive system of the autonomous vehicle to cause operation of the first set of wheels and the second set of wheels to cause the autonomous vehicle to move along the travel path between the waypoints;

control a detection system of the autonomous vehicle to operate the at least first camera to capture images for the at least first detection task; and

transmit information associated with the performance of the at least first detection task to a control system for processing.

2 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising at least a second camera positioned on the second wall to acquire images of at least a second portion of an area around one or more plants in the row of crops, the processing system further configured to control the detection system of the autonomous vehicle to operate the at least second camera to capture images for the at least first detection task.

3 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first light source positioned proximate to the at least first camera, the first light source directing light toward an area of focus of the at least first camera.

4 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the first light source is a light emitting diode (LED) panel shaped as at least one of: (i) a ring, (ii) a circle, (iii) a rectangle, and (iv) a square.

5 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the processing system is further configured to control the detection system of the autonomous vehicle to operate the first light source in conjunction with the at least first camera in low light conditions.

6 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the performance of the at least first detection task includes at least: (i) a first image acquired by the at least first camera, (ii) a geolocation of the location of the autonomous vehicle when the first image was acquired, and (iii) a timestamp indicating the time and date when the first image was acquired.

7 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the performance of the at least first detection task includes at least: (i) a first image acquired by the at least first camera, (ii) a geolocation of the location of the autonomous vehicle when the first image was acquired, (iii) a timestamp indicating the time and date when the first image was acquired, and (iv) an output from a machine learning model indicating a predicted item detected by the at least first detection task.

8 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the predicted item is an identification of at least one of: (i) a predicted pest, (ii) a predicted disease, (iii) a predicted nutritional deficiency (iv) a density of planting, (v) a morphology of the plant branch and leaf structure and that of its fruits, and (vi) an indicator of plant stress and fruit quality.

9 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first wall further comprises:

a leading edge extending diagonally from a first wheel of the first set of wheels upward to the roof, the leading edge wider in an area proximate the first wheel and narrower in an area proximate the top;

a trailing edge extending diagonally from a second wheel of the first set of wheels upward to the top, the trailing edge wider in an area proximate the second wheel and narrower in an area proximate the top;

a first bumper, the first bumper substantially covering the leading edge and a portion of a front of the first wheel;

a second bumper, the second bumper substantially covering the trailing edge and a portion of a front of the second wheel;

wherein the first and second bumpers prevent limbs and foliage of plants in the row of crops from being damaged by the first wall as the autonomous vehicle moves along the travel path.

10 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the second wall further comprises:

a second leading edge extending diagonally from a first wheel of the second set of wheels upward to the top, the second leading edge wider in an area proximate the first wheel and narrower in an area proximate the top;

a second trailing edge extending diagonally from a second wheel of the second set of wheels upward to the top, the second trailing edge wider in an area proximate the second wheel and narrower in an area proximate the top;

a third bumper, the third bumper substantially covering the second leading edge and a portion of a front of the first wheel of the second set of wheels; and

a fourth bumper, the fourth bumper substantially covering the second trailing edge and a portion of a front of the second wheel of the second set of wheels;

wherein the third and fourth bumpers prevent limbs and foliage of plants in the row of crops from being damaged by the second wall as the autonomous vehicle moves along the travel path.

11 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first and second walls are each formed on a rectangular chassis with one or more panels removably attached to the rectangular chassis, the one or more panels and the rectangular chassis forming an interior portion.

12 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the processing system is located in the interior portion of one of the first and the second walls.

13 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising at least a first sensor positioned on at least one of the first and second walls, wherein the mission plan further identifies at least a second detection task to be performed and wherein the processing system is further configured to control the detection system of the autonomous vehicle to operate the at least first sensor to capture data for the at least second detection task.

14 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising at least a second camera, the at least second camera positioned on an underside of the top to acquire images of a top portion of one or more plants in the row of crops, wherein the processing system is further configured to control the detection system of the autonomous vehicle to operate the at least second camera to capture images for the at least first detection task.

15 . A system, comprising:

a control system, the control system generating at least a first mission plan defining a travel path within an agricultural field, the travel path including a number of waypoints and at least a first detection task to be performed;

an autonomous vehicle, in communication with the control system to receive the at least first mission plan over a wireless communication link, the autonomous vehicle including

a top formed of one or more structural panels;

a first wall comprising at least a first upper portion and a first lower portion, the first lower portion coupled to a first side of the top and the first lower portion being coupled to a first set of wheels;

a second wall comprising at least a second upper portion and a second lower portion, the second upper portion being coupled to a second side of the top and the second lower portion being coupled to a second set of wheels, the first and second walls spaced apart from each other a distance to allow plants in a row of crops to pass between the first and the second walls, wherein the distance between the first and second walls is adjustable by replacing the one or more structural panels of the top;

at least a first camera positioned on the second wall to acquire images of at least a portion of an area around one or more plants in the row of crops;

a processing system to:

control a drive system of the autonomous vehicle to cause operation of the first set of wheels and the second set of wheels to cause the autonomous vehicle to move along the travel path between the waypoints;

control a detection system of the autonomous vehicle to operate the at least first camera to capture images for the at least first detection task; and

transmit information associated with the performance of the at least first detection task to the control system for processing.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the control system includes a processor configured to:

combine the information associated with the performance of the at least first detection task with information associated with the earlier performance of the at least first detection task in the agricultural field; and

generate data indicating areas of interest in the agricultural field.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the areas of interest include at least one of: (i) an area having undesirable pests, (ii) an area having undesirable disease, (iii) an area having undesirable nutritional deficiencies.

18 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising:

at least a second autonomous vehicle in communication with the control system to receive the at least first mission plan over a wireless communication link, the second autonomous vehicle operable to transmit information to the control system for processing.

19 . A method, comprising:

adjusting a configuration of an autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle having a top formed of one or more structural panels, a first wall having an upper portion coupled to a first side of the top, and a lower portion coupled to a first set of wheels, a second wall having a second upper portion coupled to a second side of the top and a second lower portion coupled to a second set of wheels, the first wall and second wall spaced apart from each other a distance to allow plants in a row of crops to pass between the first and second walls, wherein adjusting the configuration includes adjusting the distance between the first and second walls by replacing the one or more structural panels of the top;

receiving, by the autonomous vehicle, a mission plan identifying a travel path through an agricultural field, the travel path having a number of waypoints and information identifying a first detection task;

controlling a drive system of the autonomous vehicle to cause operation of the first and second set of wheels to cause the autonomous vehicle to move along the travel path between the waypoints;

controlling a detection system of the autonomous vehicle to operate at least a first camera to capture images for the at least first detection task; and

transmitting information associated with the performance of the at least first detection task to a control system for processing.