Mobile Reference Station Inertial Sensor Position Change Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile reference stations in satellite-based position-finding systems for agriculture are prone to movement during operation, leading to inaccurate correction data transmission and potentially hazardous steering movements in vehicles, as the system cannot differentiate between its own position change and other errors, causing vehicles to deviate from their nominal path.

Innovation Solution

Integration of an inertial sensor with the mobile reference station's processor to calculate position change variables and produce an error signal when thresholds are exceeded, terminating correction data transmission and allowing vehicles to switch to alternative data sources or manual steering, thus preventing undesirable movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a mobile reference station is used to provide correction data for differential position-finding, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the risk of position change during operation increases, leading to hazardous steering movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidreference station stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of position changes using the inertial sensor before the reference station is actually moved. By continuously monitoring acceleration and position variables and comparing them against threshold values, the system identifies potential position changes in advance, allowing corrective action to be taken before hazardous steering movements occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where the inertial sensor continuously monitors the reference station's position and transmits this information to the processor. The processor compares the monitored position variables against predetermined thresholds and provides feedback by generating error signals when thresholds are exceeded, enabling real-time detection and response to position changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the reference station transmits correction data continuously, then positioning accuracy is maintained, but the system cannot differentiate between its own position change and other errors, causing vehicles to deviate from nominal path

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidposition change detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The inertial sensor acts as an intermediary device between the reference station and the position-finding system. It specifically measures the reference station's position changes and transmits this information to the processor, which then generates appropriate responses. This intermediary enables the system to detect and respond to position changes without interfering with the normal correction data transmission function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces mechanical or manual detection methods with electronic sensing and processing. The inertial sensor electronically detects position changes and the processor electronically analyzes the data and generates error signals, eliminating the need for manual monitoring and enabling more precise and reliable position change detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 hazardous steering movements by immediately detecting and addressing reference station position changes, ensuring vehicle safety and maintaining accurate navigation by allowing manual intervention or alternative data processing.

Implementation Method 1

the processor is connected to an inertial sensor and uses signals from the inertial sensor to calculate a variable which is dependent on any position change of the reference station

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInertial sensing: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

the electronic processor... is connected by a transmission unit to a radio antenna and is designed to receive position signals from the position-finding signal receiver and to derive correction data from these position signals, which correction data can be modulated by the transmission unit onto radio frequencies and can be transmitted via the radio antenna

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic modulation and transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS7725113B2Mobile reference station for production of correction signals for a differential position-finding device

Publication Date: 2010.05.25 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A reference station produces correction signals for a differential position-finding device. The station utilizes a position-finding signal receiver for reception of signals from satellites in a position-finding system and an electronic processor, which is connected by a transmission unit to a radio antenna. The electronic processor is designed to receive position signals from the position-finding signal receiver and to derive correction data from these position signals. The correction data can be modulated by the transmission unit onto a radio frequency signal and can be transmitted via the radio antenna. The processor is connected to an inertial sensor to calculate any position change of the reference station, and to produce an error signal when the calculated magnitude of the position change exceeds a predetermined threshold value.