Guidance system and steering control device for an agricultural vehicle
First Claim
1. A vehicle guidance system for an agricultural vehicle, comprising:
- an optical imaging device adapted to be mounted to the agricultural vehicle, the optical imaging device collecting information of field characteristics; and
a steering control device in electrical communication with the optical imaging device and receiving the information of field characteristics transmitted from the optical imaging device, the steering control device having a steering actuator including a motor operatively connected to a hub adaptor, the hub adapter and the motor being coaxially engaged to define therethrough a common axis forming an axis of rotation of the hub adapter when driven by the motor, the hub adaptor being removably mountable to a central hub of a steering wheel of the agricultural vehicle in fixed rotary engagement, wherein when the hub adaptor is engaged to the central hub of the steering wheel, rotation of the hub adaptor by the motor about said axis of rotation causes corresponding rotation of the steering wheel about a steering wheel axis that is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the motor and the hub adapter, the steering control device thereby autonomously rotating the central hub of the steering wheel in response to the information of field characteristics received by the steering control device from the optical imaging device, the vehicle guidance system thereby steering the agricultural vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle guidance system for an agricultural vehicle is described which includes an optical imaging device collecting information of field characteristics, and a steering control device receiving the information of field characteristics transmitted from the optical imaging device. The steering control device having a steering actuator including a motor operatively connected to a hub adaptor. The hub adaptor is removably mountable to a central hub of a steering wheel of the agricultural vehicle in fixed rotary engagement, wherein when the hub adaptor is engaged to the central hub of the steering wheel, rotation of the hub adaptor by the motor causes corresponding rotation of the steering wheel. The steering control device thereby autonomously rotates the central hub of the steering wheel in response to the information of field characteristics received by the steering control device and the vehicle guidance system thereby steers the agricultural vehicle.
39 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A vehicle guidance system for an agricultural vehicle, comprising:
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an optical imaging device adapted to be mounted to the agricultural vehicle, the optical imaging device collecting information of field characteristics; and a steering control device in electrical communication with the optical imaging device and receiving the information of field characteristics transmitted from the optical imaging device, the steering control device having a steering actuator including a motor operatively connected to a hub adaptor, the hub adapter and the motor being coaxially engaged to define therethrough a common axis forming an axis of rotation of the hub adapter when driven by the motor, the hub adaptor being removably mountable to a central hub of a steering wheel of the agricultural vehicle in fixed rotary engagement, wherein when the hub adaptor is engaged to the central hub of the steering wheel, rotation of the hub adaptor by the motor about said axis of rotation causes corresponding rotation of the steering wheel about a steering wheel axis that is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the motor and the hub adapter, the steering control device thereby autonomously rotating the central hub of the steering wheel in response to the information of field characteristics received by the steering control device from the optical imaging device, the vehicle guidance system thereby steering the agricultural vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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- 17. A steering control device for a vehicle guidance system of an agricultural vehicle, the steering control device comprising a steering actuator including a motor operatively connected to a hub adaptor, the hub adapter rotated by the motor about an axis of rotation and the hub adapter being removably mountable to a central hub of a steering wheel of the agricultural vehicle with the axis of rotation coaxial with a steering wheel axis of the steering wheel, the hub adapter having a generally cylindrical body with a base at a first end rotatably fixed to an output shaft of the motor and a number of spoke-engaging elements at an opposed second end of the hub adapter, the spoke-engaging elements being circumferentially spaced apart about the body of the hub adapter and circumscribing a central opening in the second end of the body which is adapted to receive therein at least a portion of the central hub of the steering wheel.
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29. A method for guiding an agricultural vehicle, comprising:
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obtaining visual information of field characteristics in a direction of travel of the agricultural vehicle; and providing the visual information of field characteristics to a steering unit having an actuator mounted directly to the central hub of a steering wheel of the agricultural vehicle; and using the actuator to rotate the central hub, and therefore the steering wheel, in response to the visual information of field characteristics, thereby steering the agricultural vehicle along the direction of travel.
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Specification