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Apparatus and method for automated positioning of a vehicle

  • US 10,300,804 B2
  • Filed: 12/11/2015
  • Issued: 05/28/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for positioning a vehicle, comprising:

  • an alignment sensor that has a field of view; and

    a vehicle alignment system including at least one controller operatively connected to the alignment sensor and to at least one positioning system of the vehicle, the at least one controller configured to control vehicle positioning;

    wherein movement of the vehicle varies an appearance of a fiducial surface within the field of view of the alignment sensor, the fiducial surface positioned at a fixed location off board the vehicle;

    wherein to control vehicle positioning the at least one controller is configured to monitor the appearance of the fiducial surface to the alignment sensor, compare the appearance of the fiducial surface to a pre-determined set of benchmark appearances of the same fiducial surface to determine if the appearance of the fiducial surface matches one of the benchmark appearances of the fiducial surface, and operate the at least one positioning system based on a determination of whether the appearance of the fiducial surface to the alignment sensor satisfies a pre-determined target appearance that corresponds to a designated location and position of the vehicle relative to the fixed location; and

    wherein the controller is configured to monitor the appearance of the fiducial surface to the alignment sensor at an unknown distance or orientation from the fiducial surface, and if the appearance of the fiducial surface matches one of the benchmark appearances of the fiducial surface, to store known distance or orientation information associated with the benchmark appearance in memory based on the match.

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