3606results about "Guiding agricultural machines" patented technology

An agricultural robot system and method of harvesting, pruning, culling, weeding, measuring and managing of agricultural crops. Uses autonomous and semi-autonomous robot(s) comprising machine-vision using cameras that identify and locate the fruit on each tree, points on a vine to prune, etc., or may be utilized in measuring agricultural parameters or aid in managing agricultural resources. The cameras may be coupled with an arm or other implement to allow views from inside the plant when performing the desired agricultural function. A robot moves through a field first to “map” the plant locations, number and size of fruit and approximate positions of fruit or map the cordons and canes of grape vines. Once the map is complete, a robot or server can create an action plan that a robot may implement. An action plan may comprise operations and data specifying the agricultural function to perform.

A method for automated lane centering and / or lane changing purposes for a vehicle traveling on a roadway that employs roadway points from a map database to determine a reference vehicle path and sensors on the vehicle for detecting static and moving objects to adjust the reference path. The method includes reducing the curvature of the reference path to generate a reduced curvature reference path that reduces the turning requirements of the vehicle and setting the speed of the vehicle from posted roadway speeds from the map database. The method also includes providing multiple candidate vehicle paths and vehicle speeds to avoid the static and moving objects in front of the vehicle.

A passenger in an automated vehicle may relinquish control of the vehicle to a control computer when the control computer has determined that it may maneuver the vehicle safely to a destination. The passenger may relinquish or regain control of the vehicle by applying different degrees of pressure, for example, on a steering wheel of the vehicle. The control computer may convey status information to a passenger in a variety of ways including by illuminating elements of the vehicle. The color and location of the illumination may indicate the status of the control computer, for example, whether the control computer has been armed, is ready to take control of the vehicle, or is currently controlling the vehicle.

Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to determining by what degree a driver is gripping a steering wheel. In one example, a computer may send an electrically assisted power steering system (EPS) motor an excitation command to move. The EPS motor may respond by moving a flexible coupling between the steering wheel and the EPS motor. This may cause a corresponding movement at the steering wheel. A torque sensor may generate pattern data by monitoring the flexible coupling during the movement. The EPS motor may generate system position data for the entire steering system, for example, from the tires to the steering wheel. The pattern data and the system position data may be compared by the computer to determine the degree of grip. In this regard, the computer may determine the degree of a driver's grip without the need for additional sensors.

The illustrative embodiments provide a method and apparatus for controlling movement of a vehicle. User input selecting a path for the vehicle is received from an operator. The vehicle responds to the user input by moving along the selected path in a manner that maintains the operator on a side of the vehicle. The illustrative embodiments further provide a method and apparatus for improved machine control. The vehicle receives a power-up command, instructions to execute a planned path, and information identifying a leader. The leader is an operator. The vehicle then executes the planned path using the information identifying the leader in order to follow a path of the leader. The vehicle moves along the path in a manner that maintains the leader in a position proximate to a side of the vehicle.

A drive assist system includes an assist starting part starting assist, a detection part detecting relative distances and speeds between a vehicles, a calculation part calculating collision risks when changing a lane by the basis of the relative distances and speeds, a first judgment part judging whether the lane can be changed by the relative distances, speeds and the collision risks, a decision part deciding a target space for lane change by the relative distances and speeds when the lane cannot be changed, a second judgment part judging whether a lane changeable space is in the target space, a setting part setting a target speed for the vehicle go to a lane change waiting position when no space and to setting a target speed the vehicle enters a lane changeable position when there is the space, and a control part controlling a speed of the vehicle reaches the target speed.

A system for providing path generation for automated lane centering and / or lane changing purposes. The system includes a desired path generation processor that receives signals detecting the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling, a request for a lane change, vehicle state information and a steering angle of the vehicle. The system also includes a path prediction processor that predicts the vehicle path based on vehicle state information including vehicle longitudinal speed, vehicle lateral speed, vehicle yaw-rate and vehicle steering angle. The desired path information and the predicted path information are compared to generate an error signal that is sent to a lane change controller that provides a steering angle signal to turn the vehicle and reduce the error signal. The desired path generation processor can use a fifth order polynomial equation to determine the desired path of the vehicle based on the input signals.

A method of controlling an automotive vehicle having a turning radius includes determining a hand wheel torque and applying brake-steer as a function of hand wheel torque.

A guidance system for directing a towed implement comprising: a first DGPS system, comprising an antenna located on a towing vehicle in operable communication with a receiver; a second DGPS system comprising another antenna located on a towed implement in operable communication with another receiver; a receiver configured to receive differential correctors from a reference GPS system; a controller in operable communication with the first DGPS system, the second DGPS system, and the receiver, the controller generating a first steering command; and a steering mechanism in operable communication with the controller and configured to direct a towed implement based on the first steering command provided thereto.

A method of guiding a vehicle to a region for initiating a parallel parking maneuver. A region of feasible starting locations for successfully performing a parallel parking maneuver is determined by a processor. A position of the vehicle relative to the region of feasible starting locations is determined. A determination is made whether the vehicle is in a zero heading position. The vehicle is guided along an initial target path by controlling a steering actuator until the vehicle is in a zero heading position relative to the road of travel in response to the vehicle is not in the zero heading position. A planned path is generated that includes two arc-shaped trajectories extending between the vehicle at the zero heading position and a position within the region of feasible starting locations as determined by the processor. The steering actuator is controlled to follow the planned path to the feasible region.

A steering wheel is configured as a dual-state input device configured to operate in two distinct states based on a current driving mode. In a manual driving mode, the input device is configured to control a limited set of vehicle functions and in an autonomous mode the input device is configured to control an expanded set of vehicle functions. The steering wheel includes a wheel rim movably mounted on a steering column and a hub disposed within a center of the wheel rim on the steering column, the main body portion comprising an interactive touch screen disposed on the main body portion. The wheel rim is configured to disengage from the hub and move along the steering column to a retracted position.

A system and a method are provided for calibrating a backup assist system for a trailer attached to a vehicle. The method includes driving the vehicle forward substantially straight above a threshold speed, sensing a yaw rate of the vehicle, and sensing a measured hitch angle of the trailer. A yaw sensor continuously senses the yaw rate of the vehicle and a hitch sensor continuously measures the hitch angle for determining an angle rate based on the measured hitch angle. Further, a controller determines an offset between the measured hitch angle and an actual hitch angle when the yaw rate and angle rate are substantially zero or otherwise the same.

A system that classifies driver driving skill based on on-ramp or off-ramp maneuvers. The system reads sensor signals for vehicle speed and vehicle yaw rate. The system determines that the vehicle has made an on-ramp or off-ramp maneuver using the vehicle speed signal and the yaw-rate signal and then classifies the driver's driving skill using selected discriminant features obtained or derived from the on-ramp or off-ramp maneuver.

The illustrative embodiments provide an apparatus for processing sensor data and controlling the movement of a vehicle. In an illustrative embodiment, an operating environment around the vehicle is identified and sensor data is selected from a set of sensors. The movement of the vehicle is controlled based on the operating environment identified. In another illustrative embodiment, a sensor system has some sensors that are more accurate in a particular environment than other sensors. A dynamic condition is identified by the sensor system and commands are sent to the steering system, the propulsion system, and the braking system to move the vehicle using the sensor data detected by the sensor system. The environment is identified using the plurality of different types of sensors on the vehicle.

A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer is provided herein. The system includes a steering input device for controlling a desired curvature. A controller is in communication with the steering input device and is configured to generate steering command for the vehicle to guide the vehicle and trailer onto a straight path when a straight backup request is initiated via the steering input device.

This invention takes the advantage of existing radar, vision and ultrasonic sensors available for side blind spot detection, rear view, rear virtual bumper, and rear parking assist. Using a sensor fusion technique to combine the useful information from these sensors, the trailer articulation angles as well as trailer track width and tongue length is accurately estimated. When an active steering system is present, vehicle and trailer can be controlled with increased stability by applying the trailer information.

The illustrative embodiments provide a method and apparatus for controlling movement of a vehicle. User input selecting a path for the vehicle is received from an operator. The vehicle responds to the user input by moving along the selected path in a manner that maintains the operator on a side of the vehicle. The illustrative embodiments further provide a method and apparatus for improved machine control. The vehicle receives a power-up command, instructions to execute a planned path, and information identifying a leader. The leader is an operator. The vehicle then executes the planned path using the information identifying the leader in order to follow a path of the leader. The vehicle moves along the path in a manner that maintains the leader in a position proximate to a side of the vehicle.

A system for configuring a trailer model for a trailer maneuvering system is disclosed. The system comprises a controller having a memory and being operable to communicate with the trailer maneuvering system. The controller is configured to receive trailer dimensional data from a mobile device. The trailer dimensional data may then be stored in the memory as a first trailer profile. The controller is operable to access the trailer dimensional data in the first trailer profile to determine at least one vehicle operation configured to maneuver the trailer.

A variety of methods, systems, devices and arrangements are implemented for automated assistance for a driver. One such method relates to a synergistic combination of automation and human control for a motor vehicle traveling on a lane, thereby allowing human-based decisions to be supplement (or be supplemented by) automated decisions. Specific aspects facilitate maintenance of the vehicle on the lane. The vehicle is automatically steered towards a lateral offset within the vehicle lane. Steering input from the driver results in changes to this lateral offset. This modification of the lateral offset can be used to allow the driver to follow any trajectory parallel to the road, including trajectories where the vehicle is not centered within the lane.

A vehicle-trailer back-up control system that employs an active front steer sub-system. The system includes a smart hitch controller that receives a vehicle speed signal and a hand-wheel angle signal, and calculates a hitch angle command signal. The system further includes a hitch angle sensor that measures the hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer that is compared to the hitch angle command signal to generate a hitch angle error signal. A PID control unit receives the hitch angle error signal, and generates a corrected road wheel angle signal based on proportional and derivative gains. The corrected road wheel angle signal is used to generate a motor angle signal that is applied to a steering actuator to be combined with the steering angle signal to generate the front wheel steering signal during a back-up maneuver.

For controlling several agricultural machine systems during operation on a territory, based on a reference line, an optimized route for working the territory is determined for the particular machine system, and the particular machine system is driven along this route. The reference line is determined by recording a reference path that was driven along with a first machine system, and the first machine system is controlled based on this reference line with consideration for the working conditions of the first machine system. This reference line is also transmitted by the first machine system to at least one second machine system, which is controlled based on this reference line of the first machine system and with consideration for the working conditions of the second machine system. A corresponding control system for controlling several agricultural machine systems during operation of a territory is also described.

A steering control device for a vehicle has a steering assistance means (7) which performs steering assistance processing for driving an actuator (6) so that a vehicle (1) travels along a lane recognized by a lane recognition means (5) from an image acquired by an image acquisition means (4); a side displacement amount calculation means (8) which calculates a displacement amount in the lane width direction between the position of the vehicle (1) and the center of the recognized lane; a complexity calculation means (10) which calculates the complexity of the acquired image; and a steering assistance inhibition means (11) which inhibits, according to the displacement amount in the lane width direction calculated based on the lane recognized from the acquired image at a given time point and the complexity of the acquired image, steering assistance processing based on the lane by the steering assistance means (7). This prevents inappropriate steering control based on an incorrectly recognized lane when performing the steering control of the vehicle so that the vehicle travels along the lane recognized from the road image.

A vehicle system for estimating a trailer length is disclosed and includes a first sensor for measuring a wheel steer angle and a second sensor for measuring a hitch angle. A processor is in communication with the at least one sensor and is operable to determine a ratio between the wheel steer angle and the hitch angle, generate a running average of the ratio, and calculate the trailer length based on an average ratio between the wheel steer angle and the hitch angle.

A system for calibrating a backup assist system for a trailer attached to a vehicle is provided which includes a hitch sensor continuously measuring a hitch angle for determining an angle rate, a yaw sensor continuously sensing a yaw rate of the vehicle, and a controller configured to determine an offset of the measured hitch angle when vehicle is driving forward and / or rearward.

A method of backing a trailer attached to a vehicle is provided herein. The method includes the steps of generating a plurality of waypoints on a display of the vehicle and selecting one of the plurality waypoints. The method also includes setting a trailer orientation for the selected waypoint and determining a backing path based on the selected waypoint and the set trailer orientation. The method further includes backing the trailer along the backing path.

A method for steering an agricultural vehicle comprising: receiving global positioning system (GPS) data including position and velocity information corresponding to at least one of a position, velocity, and course of the vehicle; receiving a yaw rate signal; and computing a compensated heading, the compensated heading comprising a blend of the yaw rate signal with heading information based on the GPS data. For each desired swath comprising a plurality of desired positions and desired headings, the method also comprises: computing an actual track and a cross track error from the desired swath based on the compensated heading and the position; calculating a desired radius of curvature to arrive at the desired track with a desired heading; and generating a steering command based on the desired radius of curvature to a steering mechanism, the steering mechanism configured to direct the vehicle.