Guided Vehicle Path Correction After Manual Turnaround

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial vehicles, such as combine harvesters, face challenges in accurately changing paths without operator intervention, leading to potential damage when automatic steering systems fail to recognize new paths or deviations from intended courses.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for path correction that determines the difference between the current vehicle heading and the initial automatic guidance path, using GPS-based guidance to adjust the vehicle's course if the difference exceeds a threshold, ensuring the vehicle stays on the intended path by establishing a new guidance curve based on compiled location data and operator input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the automatic steering system follows the initial guidance path without correction, then the system operates automatically with high productivity, but the vehicle may veer off course when the operator manually turns the vehicle around, leading to potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic operation efficiencyVSAvoidpath accuracy after manual turn

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the difference between the current vehicle heading and the initial automatic guidance path. When the vehicle completes a manual turn around and re-engages automatic steering, the system detects the heading difference and automatically determines whether to proceed on the original path or establish a new path based on the operator's intended direction, thus providing feedback correction to maintain path accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Before the vehicle re-engages automatic steering after a manual turn, the system preemptively evaluates the current vehicle heading against the initial guidance path. By determining the heading difference in advance and preparing to establish a new path if the difference exceeds the threshold, the system prevents veering off course rather than reacting after deviation occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the system automatically determines new paths after manual turns, then path accuracy is maintained, but the system complexity increases due to additional monitoring and decision-making requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle heading accuracyVSAvoidsteering control system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different levels of automatic path management to different operational phases. During normal automatic steering operation, the system follows the initial guidance path with standard control. Only when the vehicle completes a manual turn around and re-engages automatic steering does the system activate the enhanced path determination logic with threshold comparison and new path establishment, thus applying complex functionality locally only when needed rather than continuously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the operator manually turns the vehicle around without system assistance, then the vehicle can change direction, but the automatic steering system may not recognize the new intended path, causing deviation from the intended course

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepath changing capabilityVSAvoidintended path information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the automatic guidance path based on the vehicle's actual state after manual intervention. When the vehicle completes a manual turn and the current heading differs significantly from the initial path, the system transitions from following the original static guidance path to establishing a new dynamic path that reflects the operator's intended direction, thus maintaining adaptability while preserving path information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Prevents the vehicle from veering off course by accurately determining and adjusting to new paths, reducing the risk of damage to the vehicle and surrounding areas by ensuring precise navigation along selected paths.

Implementation Method 1

determining an automatic steering system first path on which the vehicle is steered by an automatic steering system on an initial automatic guidance path over a field based on signals from a location device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGPS satellite signal reception:

Data Source

PatentEP3620039B1Automatic path correction for guided vehicles

Publication Date: 2023.10.25 DEERE & CO

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AI summary

Disclosed are systems and methods to determine path selection for automated industrial vehicles. A control system includes a control unit operatively connected to a vehicle engine. A location device is operatively connected to the control unit. A steering controller is operatively connected to the control unit and configured to automatically control the path of the vehicle. The control unit includes a path correction system configured to, determine a current vehicle path from location data received from the location device, determine if the current vehicle path is different from a first automatic path, establish a second automatic path, and send a signal to the steering controller to follow the second automatic path.