SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING GUIDANCE TOWARDS A FAR-POINT POSITION FOR A VEHICLE IMPLEMENTING A SATELLITE-BASED GUIDANCE SYSTEM

• US 20090157259A1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Reid, John F., Nelson, Frederick W., Han, Shufeng, Pickett, Terence D.
• Application Number:
  US12/303,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20090157259A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/001 Steering by means of optical assistance, e.g. television cameras steering devices for road marking vehicles E01C23/163
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/008 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/027 comprising intertial navigation means, e.g. azimuth detector inertial navigation G01C21/16; inertial navigation combined with non-inertial navigation instruments G01C21/165
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS

Abstract

The present invention is a method for providing guidance towards a far-point position for a vehicle implementing a satellite-based guidance system. The method 200 includes capturing an image 202. The method 200 further includes providing the image in a digital format to an algorithm 204. The method 200 further includes isolating far-point pixelized data of the provided image 206. The method 200 further includes generating data for causing a steering control system of the vehicle implementing the satellite-based guidance system to maintain the vehicle on a straight-line path towards the far-point position 208.

Claims

1. A method for providing guidance towards a far-point position for a vehicle implementing a satellite-based guidance system, comprising:

capturing a provided image and subsequently captured images;

providing the images in a digital format to an algorithm;

isolating far-point pixelized data of the images; and

generating data for causing a steering control system of the vehicle to maintain the vehicle on a straight-line path towards the far-point position based on a detection of change in yaw position for the far-point pixelized data in the provided image with respect to the subsequently captured images.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of generating data for causing the steering control system of the vehicle to maintain the vehicle on the straight-line path towards the far-point position includes:

maintaining the isolated far-point pixelized data of the provided image in a fixed yaw position on the subsequently captured images.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of generating data for causing the steering control system of the vehicle to maintain the vehicle on the straight-line path towards the far-point position further includes:

combining the far-point pixelized data with satellite-based guidance system data.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the satellite-based guidance system data is satellite-based guidance system course information

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the image is captured via a digital camera, the digital camera being focused on the far-point position.

21. The method according to claim 1 wherein the generating data comprises generating data for causing a steering control system of the vehicle to maintain the vehicle on a straight-line path towards the far-point position based on the detection of change in yaw position for the far-point pixelized data, and detecting attitude, location and motion of the vehicle via an inertial measurement unit, where a fixed yaw position in the provided image and the subsequently captured images facilitates provision of drift correction to the inertial measurement unit.

6-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A guidance system, comprising:

a satellite-based navigation system including;

an antenna configured for collecting satellite-based navigation system signals;

a receiver communicatively coupled with the antenna, the receiver configured for receiving the collected satellite-based navigation system signals and determining location of a vehicle implementing the guidance system;

a display communicatively coupled with the receiver, the display configured for displaying satellite-based navigation system course information; and

a controller communicatively coupled with the display and the receiver, the controller configured for allowing user input commands to be entered via the display; and

a vision recognition augmentation system communicatively coupled with the satellite-based navigation system, the vision recognition augmentation system comprising;

a camera configured for providing a provided image and subsequently captured images to the guidance system, wherein an algorithm isolates far-point pixelized data of the provided image and generates at least one steering error for causing a steering control system of the vehicle to maintain the vehicle implementing the guidance system on a straight-line path towards the far-point position based on a detection of change in yaw position for the far-point pixelized data in the provided image with respect to the subsequently captured images.

12. A guidance system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the provided image is a digital image.

13. A guidance system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the guidance system further includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for providing vehicular attitude, location and motion information.

14. A guidance system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the guidance system further includes a terrain compensation unit (TCU).

15. A guidance system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the guidance system further includes a data logger configured for storing field attribute data.

16. A guidance system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the guidance system further includes a sound device configured for alerting a user of field attributes.

17. A guidance system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the camera is a digital camera.

18. A guidance system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the isolated far-point pixelized data of the provided image is maintained in a fixed yaw position on subsequently captured images, thereby allowing the guidance system to maintain the vehicle on the straight-line path towards the far-point position.

19. A guidance system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the satellite-based navigation system is a global positioning system (GPS) navigation system

20. A guidance system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the receiver is a Differential GPS (DGPS) receiver.