AUTOMATIC STEERING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A WORK VEHICLE WITH FEEDBACK GAIN DEPENDENT ON A SENSED PAYLOAD

• US 20080275609A1
• Filed: 05/01/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: BOYDELL, BROUGHTON
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/42
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/008 automatic

Abstract

An automatic steering system for a work vehicle comprises a position sensor for detecting a position of the vehicle, a memory for storing information about a nominal path of the vehicle and a control unit coupled to the position sensor, to the memory and to a steering actuator for steering the vehicle. The control submits control signals to the steering actuator that depend upon a feedback gain and a lateral offset between the actual position and the nominal path. The feedback gain depends upon a sensed payload of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An automatic steering system for a work vehicle comprising:

a position sensor for detecting a position of the vehicle;

a memory for storing information about a nominal path of the vehicle; and

a control unit coupled to the position sensor, to the memory and to a steering actuator, the control unit operable to submit control signals to the steering actuator that depend upon a feedback gain and a lateral offset between the actual position and the nominal path, wherein the feedback gain depends upon a sensed payload of the vehicle.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is operable to increase the feedback gain with the payload.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to a position sensor operable to sense at least one of weight and fill state of a payload container of the vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to a position sensor operable to sense a flow of product at least one of received and delivered by a payload container of the vehicle, and wherein the control unit is operable to integrate the sensed flow values over time to derive the payload.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the payload is contained in a tank for agricultural chemicals.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the payload is contained in a container for receiving harvested crop.

7. A method for automatic steering a work vehicle comprising:

storing information about a nominal path of the vehicle;

detecting a position of the vehicle;

sensing a payload of the vehicle;

determining a feedback gain dependent upon the sensed payload; and

steering the vehicle dependent upon the feedback gain and a lateral offset between the actual position and the nominal path.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the feedback gain increases with the payload.