Cost of a precision farming guidance system is driven in part by the number of discrete system elements installed in a tractor including the steering actuator, guidance computer, user terminals, and the associated cable harnesses. An integrated guidance system (100) arranges and integrates these separate elements into a base chassis (10) and removable computer module (1400) to reduce cost and complexity while retaining flexibility to adapt to different vehicle configurations and to incorporate improved guidance computer technology into a common design platform.
Some embodiments may include a control system configured to monitor an online queue associated with a remote server for the presence of updated control software content; in the case of the presence of updated control software content in the online queue, provide data based thereon in an offline queue, wherein a portable computing device includes a storage for the offline queue; waiting for a time period in which a wired communication interface of the portable computing device is attached to a wired interface of the vehicle or a wireless communication interface of the vehicle is in range of a wireless communication interface of the portable computing device; and in the time period, transferring contents of the offline queue to the vehicle, wherein a processor of the vehicle distributes update(s) included in the contents to one or more of the GNSS receiver, the actuator assembly, and the steering control module.
A guidance system (120) identifies a parking path (204) and a target point (212) in a parking area (210). The guidance system (120) calculates steering commands (164) to steer the vehicle (100) and trailer (104) onto the parking path (204). The guidance system (120) calculates a distance of the trailer (104) from the target point (212) and calculates speed commands for the vehicle (100) based on the distance of the trailer (104) from the target point (212). The guidance system (120) sends the steering and speed commands to a steering and speed control system (166) to steer the vehicle (100) and move the trailer (104) along the parking path (204) until the trailer (104) reaches the target point (212) in the parking area (210).
An integrated computing system computes a geo-location of a vehicle based on location data generated by a GNSS receiver, operates one or more external communication interfaces, calculates a desired path for steering the vehicle based on the geo-location, and communicates the desired path to one or more external operating units via the one or more external communication interfaces. The integrated computing system may include one or more computer processing units programmed to provide shared coordinated execution of software functions that are all implemented and located within a same integrated circuit or enclosure. The integrated computing system lowers the overall cost and complexity of agricultural guidance systems by reducing and simplifying the number of chassis, boxes, connectors, power supplies, and manufacturing processes.
A01B 69/00 - Steering of agricultural machines or implements; Guiding agricultural machines or implements on a desired track
G01S 19/14 - Receivers specially adapted for specific applications
G01S 19/47 - Determining position by combining measurements of signals from the satellite radio beacon positioning system with a supplementary measurement the supplementary measurement being an inertial measurement, e.g. tightly coupled inertial
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
5.
USING NON-REAL-TIME COMPUTERS FOR AGRICULTURAL GUIDANCE SYSTEMS
A precision steering computer installed on a tractor uses waypoints generated by a hand-held smart-device to steer a tractor. The smart-device is the operators primary interface and is a component of the entire precision agriculture guidance system. The batched, time ordered waypoints represent a list of coordinates for steering the tractor. As the tractor is automatically steered in the field, the waypoints are consumed and discarded by the real-time steering computer in the order they are received from the non-real-time smart device. A planned path is generated by the tractor operator on the smart device and the tractors progress and status are displayed on the same smart-device.
A calibration system calibrates inertial sensor readings on a vehicle (102). The calibration system estimates an attitude of the ground from a series of height and position measurements and reads an attitude from an inertial sensor subsystem (108) attached to the vehicle (102). The calibration system then calculates an attitude offset between the vehicle (102) and inertial sensor subsystem (108) based on a difference between the estimated attitude of the ground and the attitude reading of the inertial sensor subsystem (108). The calibration system may estimate a slope of the ground from a 3-dimensional terrain map. The slope of the ground is converted into an estimated roll and/or pitch of the vehicle (102) which is then compared with the roll and pitch readings from the inertial sensor subsystem (102) to determine the attitude offset.
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to generating and utilizing three-dimensional terrain maps for vehicular control. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
A control system uses visual odometry (VO) data to identify a position of the vehicle while moving along a path next to the row and to detect the vehicle reaching an end of the row. The control system can also use the VO image to turn the vehicle around from a first position at the end of the row to a second position at a start of another row. The control system may detect an end of row based on 3-D image data, VO data, and GNSS data. The control system also may adjust the VO data so the end of row detected from the VO data corresponds with the end of row location identified with the GNSS data.
A steering wheel actuator is attached to a steering wheel column. The steering wheel actuator includes a gear assembly for turning a steering wheel on the steering wheel column, a motor for rotating the gear assembly, and an enclosure. A control system in the enclosure controls the motor to automatically steer the vehicle. The control system may receive global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals from a GNSS antenna and GNSS receiver located in the enclosure and automatically steer the vehicle based on the GNSS signals. The control system also may receive inertial measurement unit (IMU) signals from an IMU located in the enclosure and automatically steer the vehicle based on the IMU signals. The control system also may receive user input signals from a user interface located on the enclosure and automatically steer the vehicle based on the user input signals.
A method for estimation of relative coordinates between two parts of a linked vehicle system. The system includes a towing vehicle and a towed implement or trailer. A first sensor is configured to measure the movement rate of the towing vehicle while a second sensor is configured to measure the movement rate of the towed implement. Both sensors interact with each other to measure the absolute distance between sensors. Using the known linkage geometry, relative distance between the sensors and relative rotation rates, the relative coordinates between the towing vehicle and towed implement can be estimated.
A steering wheel actuator mechanism includes a frame assembly and a rotating assembly. The frame assembly is attached, to a steering wheel column and the rotating assembly is attached around the steering wheel column arid over the frame assembly. In one example, the frame assembly sod the rotating assembly can he located around the steering wheel column, without removing the steering wheel The rotating assembly is inserted down into an opening formed in the frame assembly and rotational ly engaged with a motor housed in the frame assembly. Actuators are attached to the rotating assembly and positioned to extend upwards through the steering wheel next to spokes in. the steering wheel. The rotating.assembly causes the actuators to move the spokes and rotate the steering wheel.
A control system (100) fuses different sensor data together to determine an orientation of a vehicle (50). The control system (100) receives visual heading data for the vehicle (50) from a camera system (102), global navigation satellite system (GNSS) heading data from a GNSS system (108), and inertial measurement unit (IMU) heading data from an IMU (110). The control system (100) may assign weights to the visual, GNSS, and IMU heading data based on operating conditions of the vehicle (50) that can vary accuracy associated with the different visual, GNSS, and IMU data. The control system (100) then uses the weighted visual, GNSS, and IMU data to determine a more accurate vehicle heading.
G01C 21/16 - Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups by using measurement of speed or acceleration executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning by integrating acceleration or speed, i.e. inertial navigation
G01S 19/47 - Determining position by combining measurements of signals from the satellite radio beacon positioning system with a supplementary measurement the supplementary measurement being an inertial measurement, e.g. tightly coupled inertial
G01S 19/49 - Determining position by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled
A01B 69/00 - Steering of agricultural machines or implements; Guiding agricultural machines or implements on a desired track
A line acquisition system predicts and displays an acquisition path to reduce the uncertainty surrounding the path taken by a vehicle when acquiring a destination path. The line acquisition system calculates the drivable acquisition path based on the current states of the vehicle, such as position, speed, heading, and curvature. The line acquisition system continually updates and displays the acquisition path as the vehicle is manually steered by the user. When the user engages a steering controller, the last calculated acquisition path is used to automatically steer the vehicle onto the destination path. Displaying the acquisition path allows the user to observe, prior to automatic steering engagement, the path the vehicle would take from its current state to the destination. The user can then decide whether the predicted acquisition path will interfere with terrain or obstacles that the user wishes to avoid.
A line acquisition system generates a curvature profile based on initial vehicle states (starting position, heading, curvature and speed), vehicle steering capabilities (calibrated vehicle curvature and curvature rate limits), and initial vehicle position errors relative to the destination path. The curvature profile describes changes in vehicle curvature over a path distance from a current position to a destination path. The line acquisition system constructs an acquisition path from a combination of clothoid, circular arc, and straight lines corresponding with different segments of the curvature profile. The acquisition path can be displayed on a user interface allowing a vehicle operator to observe, prior to automatic steering engagement, the path the vehicle would take from a current state to the destination path.
A thermal stabilization system stabilizes inertia! measurement unit (IMU) performance by reducing or slowing operating variations over time of the internal temperature. More specifically, a thermoelectric heating/cooling device operates according to the Peltier effect, and uses thermal insulation and a mechanical assembly to thermally and mechanically couple the IMU to the thermoelectric device. The thermal stabilization system may minimize stress on the IMU and use a control system to stabilize internal IMU temperatures by judiciously and bidirectionaliy powering the thermoelectric heating/cooling device. The thermal stabilization system also may use compensation algorithms to reduce or counter residual IMU output errors from a variety of causes such as thermal gradients and imperfect colocation of the IMU temperature sensor with inertial sensors.
G01C 21/16 - Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups by using measurement of speed or acceleration executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning by integrating acceleration or speed, i.e. inertial navigation
G01C 21/18 - Stabilised platforms, e.g. by gyroscope
G01C 21/24 - Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups specially adapted for cosmonautical navigation
G01P 15/14 - Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration by making use of gyroscopes
G05D 23/19 - Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means
A steering controller can control steering of a vehicle and is suitable for precision farm controlling. The steering controller can rotate the steering shaft of the vehicle direct the vehicle on a desired path, for example, using a satellite positioning system. Components of the steering controller are environmental protected by a housing that has an opening extending between its front and rear surfaces. The opening is lined by a shaft. A hub located near the front of the opening can be coupled to the steering shaft of the vehicle. A motor has a stator fixed to the housing and a rotor fixed to the hub. When the housing is attached to a fixed location on the vehicle, the motor can rotate the steering shaft by rotating the hub with respect to the housing. A control module drives the motor based on commands from a guidance module.
A GNSS-based system and method for maintaining a vehicle in a predetermined relation relative to a fixed location defined by GNSS coordinates. The system and method is configured for enabling and facilitating air-to-ground operations.
A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) based eonirol system is provided for positioning a working component relative to a work surface. Inertia] measurement unit (IMU) sensors, such as accelerometers and gyroscopes, are mounted on the working component and provide positioning signals to a control compute engine. A method of positioning a working component relative to a work surface using GNSS -based positioning signals is also disclosed.
G01C 21/28 - Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups specially adapted for navigation in a road network with correlation of data from several navigational instruments
A GNSS system in combination with a hydraulically-actuated, airborne dispenser for a dry material crop dusting system to optimize the distribution of dry materials over a particular tract of land. A GNSS subsystem is included using at least one GNSS antenna and one GNSS receiver located on the aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with an electronic/hydraulic crop dusting subsystem connected to a GNSS CPU. The GNSS ranging signals received by the antennas are processed by a receiver and processor system for determining the vehicle's position and dynamic attitude in three dimensions (3D). The system is adapted for operation in a differential GNSS (DGNSS) mode utilizing a base station at a fixed location.
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