Patent Application
20110196565
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vehicle guidance, and in particular to a system and method for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) based positioning, guidance and automatic steering allowing a user to lock onto and guide a vehicle in real time along one particular guidance path of choice, which may deviate from an initial or pre-planned guidance route, while ignoring other possible guidance paths.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of vehicle guidance and navigation, GNSS technology, including the Global Positioning System (GPS), has enabled a wide range of applications. For example, various GNSS receivers are available for aviation, marine and terrestrial vehicles. The GNSS information provided by such receivers can be processed and used for navigation. In more sophisticated systems, vehicle guidance can be automatically controlled using such information. For example, a predetermined travel or flight path can be programmed into an on-board computer. The vehicle guidance system can automatically maintain appropriate navigation parameters, such as course, heading, speed, altitude, etc. Control system, feedback theory and signal filtering techniques can be used to interactively anticipate (with higher order systems) and compensate for course deviations and navigation errors. Such sophisticated autopilot and automatic steering systems include computers and automated flight and steering controls integrated with manual controls.
Accurate vehicle and equipment guidance is an important objective in agriculture. For example, cultivating, tilling, planting, spraying, fertilizing, harvesting and other farming operations typically involve specialized equipment and materials, which are operated and applied by making multiple passes over cultivated fields. Ideally, the equipment is guided through accurately-spaced passes or swaths, the spacing of which is determined by the swath width of the equipment. Gaps and overlaps can occur when operators deviate from the ideal guide paths, resulting in under-coverage and over-coverage respectively. Such gaps and overlaps are detrimental to agricultural operations and can reduce crop yields. For example, gaps in coverage reduce the effective areas of fields being cultivated and treated. Overall crop production may suffer as a result. Overlaps in coverage tend to be inefficient and wasteful of materials, such as fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, seed and fuel. Another potential problem with overlapping coverage relates to the potentially crop-damaging effects of double applications of certain agricultural chemicals.
Accurate positioning and guidance are also important in other fields, such as machine control and earth working. Controlling a vehicle's movement as well as its actual job function is important in operations such as trench digging and material hauling. Defining vehicle paths up narrow work roads in a strip mining installation, for instance, can help avoid vehicle collisions and improve safety. Guidance in almost any industrial or agricultural industry can benefit from improved guidance.
Previous mechanical systems for assisting with the guidance of agricultural equipment include foam markers, which deposit foam along the swath edges. The foam lines produced by foam markers provide operators with visible reference lines on which subsequent passes can be aligned. However, foam marking systems consume foam-making materials and provide only temporary foam marks. Moreover, guiding along such foam lines requires the operators to visually estimate the locations of the implement ends relative to the foam lines. Implements such as spray booms can span 50 feet or more, thus increasing the difficulties associated with visually aligning distant, elevated boom ends with foam lines on the ground.
Vehicles and their operators are often provided with guidance instructions from a GNSS system which receives satellite and optional local real-time kinematic (RTK) signals and translates them into a triangulated position of the vehicle in question. Depending on the GNSS system, the accuracy of a particular vehicle's position can be determined at sub-centimeter level accuracy. Systems exist that allow end users to create pre-planned guidance paths through a field or to base such a path off of a first swath within the field; however, these systems are limited to follow the paths set for them or established by a single initial row unless the user decides to manually guide the vehicle without the use of GNSS guidance for the remainder of a working period.
GNSS-based guidance is a popular and widely-used method for providing vehicle guidance today. GNSS guidance employs several different techniques to allow for optimum automated guidance of a vehicle while it is performing its job. Such guidance options include straight line A-to-B guidance, guidance based on a previous swath, or guidance based on a preplanned guide path. A more recent method for vehicle guidance utilizes a contour path or “curvature” path to guide a vehicle along complex field boundaries or in areas of widely ranging and sloping elevation. The methods of U.S. Pat. No. 7,437,230, which is incorporated herein by reference, provide a unique and useful approach to compute guidance paths based on curvature using a minimum turning radius upon which to base the allowable curve of a path.
Previous GNSS guidance systems lacking the ability to reconfigure the guidance path on-the-fly (i.e., in real-time) tended to restrict vehicle guidance to whatever pre-planned path was developed prior to the vehicle being put to work. If the vehicle operator determines that the pre-planned path is not ideal while actually working the vehicle, it is difficult to change the system to use a new guidance path. The reason for this is that many previous guidance systems, such as the Outback S3 GNSS guidance system by Hemisphere GPS LLC of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, are constantly searching for guidance points in a field or a work area. When they find a guidance point they instruct the operator or auto-steer function to follow the located guidance path. This can cause the guidance system to become confused and misguide the vehicle when one guidance path crosses another guidance path. Previously there has not been a method or system allowing a GNSS-based guidance system to ignore all but a single guidance path with the advantages and features of the present invention.
In the practice of an aspect of the present invention, a vehicle equipped with and guided by a typical GNSS guidance system is driven along a preplanned path. The vehicle is also equipped with a guidance path-lock system capable of establishing and locking onto a single guidance path and ignoring all other guide paths. The vehicle can follow either the preplanned path or, at the option of the operator, be set and locked to follow a new path based off of a previous swath that can be straight or contoured depending on the terrain and the operator's preference.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as oriented in the view being referred to. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. The invention can be fabricated in various sizes and configurations from a wide variety of suitable materials, which are chosen for their characteristics according to the intended use and the operation of the invention.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a GNSS guidance system to provide an initial path. The initial path may be based off of preplanned maps entered into the system's memory, or off of an initial swath taken by the vehicle, or by any method feasible for establishing a typical GNSS guidance map. From this point, however, the present invention will enable the operator of the vehicle to stop using the original guidance path and to create a new guidance path, while still recognizing the original guidance path points so that the operator can choose to return to the original path at any time.
Referring to the drawings in more detail,
A guidance path locking (contour lock) subsystem 2 is also installed on the tractor 3 or other suitable vehicle and in direct connection with the GNSS processor 28. The path locking system 2 is capable of establishing new GNSS guidance paths on-the-fly (i.e., in real time) at the control of the vehicle operator while the GNSS processor 28 continues to store the pre-planned path or prior GNSS path information so that the operator can choose to exit the path locking subsystem 2 and return to the original guidance pattern. In a preferred embodiment, the path locking system 2 is controlled via user interface at the GUI 34 of the GNSS guidance system 24. The GUI 34 can include any suitable display device, such as a monitor or an LED display. The GUI can include any suitable input device, such as a keypad, a keyboard, a touch screen, a wireless remote control, a tracking ball, a mouse, etc.
As the vehicle is following the A-B point row pre-planned paths 10, as denoted on-screen by an A-B guidance mode symbol 79, it may at any point choose to continue following the pre-planned path, or deviate from that path, as denoted by the decision arrows 11.
In
The path lock system 2 will stay engaged and locked in Contour Lock mode onto the desired path until the vehicle deviates from the locked guideline 14 by a predetermined amount, e.g. an offset of 2 meters or an angular deviation of 10%, resulting in a cross-track error 38 as demonstrated in
It should be noted that when the vehicle deviates from the preplanned path, but the system 2 is not placed in Contour Lock mode, the guidance system 24 will only pick up a different path if it is at a very small angle relative to the path currently being followed. For instance, if the vehicle 7 has at one time exited the field 4 for some reasons at a perpendicular 90 degree angle to the preplanned paths, the guidance system 24 will ignore those recorded perpendicular guidance paths when the vehicle 7 returns to traveling the preplanned guidance path. The guidance system in Contour Mode or A-B path-find mode will only deviate from the currently guided path when deviations are at small angles (close or parallel) to the path being traveled. Contour Lock mode will prevent the guidance system from picking up these small deviations. Such a small-angle path crossing is represented by θ in
After the operator chooses a path, he or she then drives (or allows the autosteer function to operate the tractor 3) in that direction and the guidance system 24 will continue searching for guidance paths 10. After several moments of the tractor 3 being manually guided along one path, the system 2 will pick up on that uniform path and once again lock to it, creating a new projected locked path 16.
The method starts at 50. The vehicle and guidance systems are initialized and the user will select to enter Contour Guide Mode at 52. This will result in the path lock symbol 80 appearing on the GUI 34 indicating that the path lock system 2 is on and searching for contour paths, but is not yet engaged. The guidance system 24 will obtain a new GPS position at 54 and then perform a check at 56 to determine whether contour lock as been engaged.
If contour lock has not been engaged, the guidance system 24 will perform a search of the entire list of contour data received by the guidance system and find the approximate closest point at 58 to the current vehicle position. Once the approximate closest point has been found, or if the answer to the check at 56 is “yes,” the guidance system 24 will begin at the current closest point as received, and then walk up and down the list of collected contour data to locate the exact closest point at 60. From here, the guidance solution will be computed by this closest point at 62. Using the solved closest point, the guidance system 24 will guide the vehicle 7 along the best-fit contour path based on the “closest point” method defined above.
Next a series of checks are performed to determine whether to engage the contour lock mode. First, the guidance system 24 will determine whether the computed guidance solution is within predetermined limits for locking onto a guidance path at 64. For instance, if the computed guidance path is at an angle greater than 50 degrees relative to the currently traveled path, the guidance system may selectively ignore that guidance path as outside of these limits. If the computed guidance solution is not within proper contour lock limits, the contour lock will remain disengaged at 72 and a new GPS position will be determined at 54.
If the original guidance solution is determined to be within the determined limits at 64, then the guidance system will perform guidance functions at 66. This guidance can either be visually through a display unit in the cabin directing a human user where to steer the vehicle 7, or it may be through the operation of an autosteer system 26. The guidance system 24 will guide the vehicle 7 along the chosen contour path while performing a check to determine whether the guidance is within the contour lock limits at 68. These limits include determining whether the vehicle 7 has deviated from the contour path by more than two meters or ten percent of the swath width. If the vehicle does not pass the check at 68, contour lock will disengage at 72 and the guidance system 24 will find a new GPS location 54 and begin the process anew. When the lock is disengaged at 72, the GUI 34 will display the disengaged lock symbol screen item 84 on screen 34 (
If the guidance system 24 determines that the guidance check at 68 is within the limits required by the contour lock system 2, the contour lock mode will engage at 70, and the locked symbol screen item 82 will appear onscreen of the GUI 34 (
The contour lock method loops back to step 54 where the GPS position determination is made, and the loop repeats. Depending on whether contour lock is engaged at 70 or disengaged at 72, the check at 56 will return a “yes” or “no” result. Generally if the contour lock is engaged, it will remain engaged until the checks at 64 or 68 result in a “no” result. This outcome can either be the result of the vehicle accidentally leaving the tracked contour path by a certain margin, or by the vehicle user intentionally disengaging the contour lock mode by steering the vehicle 7 off the guidance path. This could be because the user desires to turn the vehicle 7 around and follow a parallel path across the field, to avoid an obstacle, or for any other conceivable reason. The process will then restart until the guidance system 24 locates and guides the vehicle along a new guidance path, and the contour lock system 2 locks onto that path.
Another use for the present invention is macro-programming automation systems in vehicles, e.g., in the earth working industry. Earth working often requires an operator to make repetitive “cut” and “fill” actions, such as cutting trenches or hauling and dumping material. These machines could be programmed with a pattern of motion called a macro to be repeated several times. The repetition can be triggered on operator command or by an auto-engage criteria similar to existing steering auto-engage logic on GNSS guidance systems such as those made by Hemisphere GPS LLC of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The purpose of such macros is to reduce operator workload while increasing precision and machine throughput.
A macro program may be along an absolute 2D or 3D GPS location, or may be relative to the machine position. In an earth works backhoe operation, the bucket may be programmed to make a digging motion, then retract from the ditch, deposit the dirt relative to the machine and repeat. Subsequent repeats may move along a ditch and deposit the dirt along a line. The machine operator may control how the absolute macro path moves in a numeric fashion on a user interface, or may “nudge” the motion in a particular direction using a physical control handle that adjusts the subsequent operation of the macro repeats. An entire ditch could be dug with a single macro, where each repetition was adjusted by the operator using analog or digital inputs according to the difficulty of the job. A similar macro could be used by an earth moving machine where the path was adjusted downward or upward from an absolute 3D position on each succeeding repetition that had the cumulative effect of moving soil from one location to another.
Such a macro program may be open or closed, and may be direction dependent or free to be set to any direction specified. The differences arising from these alternative macro types reside in the program limitations of each macro. For example, a closed macro is based on a more limited set of programmed instructions and does not allows for a wide variety of use; whereas an open macro will be more flexible and may be suited to a wide variety of circumstances. Though more limited in its uses, the closed macro will likely be able to perform more detailed, specialized tasks.
Likewise some pieces of equipment may be more suited to directional macro programming than free macro programming A prime example of this is a mining truck which must perform one task when traveling one direction up or down a specific path, and another function when traveling the opposite direction. The ideal macro in such a situation is a directional, closed macro limiting the vehicle to a specific and repetitive path where one action (e.g. material pickup) is performed after traveling down a mine road, and another action (e.g. material unloading) is performed after traveling the opposite direction.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention can utilize all of these macro program variations to perform a number of repetitive, complicated tasks in a variety of fields. The path lock system 2 would be valuable to the formation of such macros, as the guidance system could effectively be taught not to track or guide along other reference paths except for the single path desired for a particular job. Several jobs could be recorded into one system and the path lock system could be used to choose between the jobs, whereby all other job guidance references are ignored. Without such a device each piece of equipment would either be limited to the storage of one job function at a time, or would run the risk of the guidance system attempting to guide the vehicle along a path different than the desired work path.
It is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms, and is not to be limited to the examples discussed above. Other components and configurations can be utilized in the practice of the present invention.
