System and method for interactive selection of agricultural vehicle guide paths with varying curvature along their length
First Claim
1. A method for guiding a vehicle along a series of paths, comprising the steps of:
- a. causing the vehicle to traverse a first path of varying curvature;
b. providing positional information about the location of the vehicle;
c. calculating proposed subsequent paths of varying curvature based on the position information, including possible alternative paths;
d. displaying the proposed subsequent paths; and
e. receiving user input to select at least one of the possible alternative paths.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method provide for precision guiding of agricultural vehicles along a series of adjacent paths to form rows for cultivating a field. In one aspect of the invention the vehicle is moved along a first path while receiving positioning information from a navigational system (e.g., RTK GPS). This positioning information is stored in a processor and is used by the processor to compute a second path adjacent to said first path by calculating piecewise perpendicular offsets from the first path at multiple locations along the first path. The process is repeated to compute a third and subsequent paths so as to cover the field. Because of the offset process, the field may be covered with paths that have varying curvature along their length, while providing substantially no gaps or overlaps in the coverage of the field. In another aspect of the invention, the system may propose alternative paths and the user can intervene by steering the vehicle or using a graphical user interface to select among the alternative paths. A still further aspect of the invention allows for the recording of the paths that provide coverage of a field in the form of a template. This template can then be used to cause the vehicle to automatically steer along a previously calculated path in subsequent operations on the field, and in subsequent years.
76 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method for guiding a vehicle along a series of paths, comprising the steps of:
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a. causing the vehicle to traverse a first path of varying curvature;
b. providing positional information about the location of the vehicle;
c. calculating proposed subsequent paths of varying curvature based on the position information, including possible alternative paths;
d. displaying the proposed subsequent paths; and
e. receiving user input to select at least one of the possible alternative paths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification