Farm Vehicle Relative Positioning via Signal Quality Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for determining the relative position of two farm vehicles equipped with satellite-supported position sensing devices often experience errors due to differing reception conditions, leading to inaccurate steering and positioning, especially when one vehicle is shaded by obstacles while the other is not.

Innovation Solution

A bi-directional data link between the vehicles allows for the transmission of position data and signal quality information, enabling a control device to synchronize the operation of both position sensing devices to operate in the same reception modes, considering only satellites with sufficient signal quality and switching to inertial navigation in poor conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If both vehicles use satellite-supported position sensing devices independently, then each vehicle can determine its own position, but errors occur when reception conditions differ between vehicles leading to inaccurate relative positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition sensing accuracyVSAvoidrelative position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors signal quality metrics from both position sensing devices and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the set of satellites used for position calculation. When reception conditions differ between vehicles, the system identifies which satellites have sufficient signal quality on both vehicles and restricts position calculations to only those satellites, ensuring consistent and reliable relative positioning across varying reception conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If steering data is transmitted from the first vehicle to the second vehicle, then the second vehicle can follow the first vehicle, but errors in directional and speed specifications accumulate over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic following capabilityVSAvoidposition information accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the traditional master-slave steering data transmission approach with a direct position-based control method. Instead of transmitting processed steering commands that accumulate errors, each vehicle independently calculates its own position using satellite signals and directly computes the relative position and required steering commands, eliminating the error accumulation inherent in sequential command transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If the system uses all available satellites for position determination, then position accuracy improves, but signal quality variations between vehicles cause errors in relative position calculation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabsolute position accuracyVSAvoidrelative position calculation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different selection criteria for satellites based on local reception conditions at each vehicle. Rather than uniformly using all available satellites, the system evaluates signal quality metrics individually for each satellite-vehicle combination and selects only those satellites that meet minimum signal quality thresholds on both vehicles, ensuring consistent and accurate relative positioning despite varying overall reception conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This approach prevents errors in relative positioning by ensuring both vehicles receive signals from the same satellites, maintaining accuracy and allowing for automatic steering and operation without operator intervention, even in varying reception conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The first vehicle contains a first satellite-supported position sensing device equipped to receive signals from several satellites

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic signal reception: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS7480564B2System for determining the relative position of a second farm vehicle in relation to a first farm vehicle

Publication Date: 2009.01.20 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A system for determining the relative position of first and second farm vehicles, each equipped with a satellite-supported position sensing device. A data transmission link transmits position data between the vehicles, and a computer on one of the vehicles determines data with respect to the relative position of the vehicles. A control device responsive to satellite signal quality assures that the two position sensing devices operate in the same reception modes for improved accuracy.