System and Method for Machine Guidance Control

• US 20100018726A1
• Filed: 07/22/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: CHIOCCO, Gregory Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,515,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 172/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/008 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/265 with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)
• 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 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS

Abstract

System and method for providing guidance control for machines. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting an implement, by a guidance controller, coupled to a machine. The method may further include determining a characteristic of the implement which affects a control setting of the machine, configuring the control setting of the machine by the guidance controller based, at least in part, on the characteristic of the implement and controlling operation of the machine based on the control setting.

Claims

1. A method for providing guidance control for machines, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting an implement, by a guidance controller, coupled to a machine;

determining a characteristic of the implement which affects a control setting of the machine;

configuring the control setting of the machine by the guidance controller based, at least in part, on the characteristic of the implement; and

controlling operation of the machine based on the control setting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the implement by the guidance controller comprises detecting the implement over one of a wired and wireless link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the implement relates to one or more of a physical dimension, weight, physical off-set, identification, number of planting rows, range of maneuverability, speed constraint, swath width and operational reach of the implement.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control setting relates to control settings for one or more of machine steering, compensating machine movement, operation of the implement, positioning of the implement and control of machine speed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling operation comprises converting electrical control signals to hydraulic commands.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting movement characteristic of the machine and configuring the control setting to compensate for the movement characteristic of the machine.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying power to the implement based on the control setting.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting a steering control signal by the guidance controller based on the characteristic of the implement.

8. The method of claim 8, wherein power relates to one or more of electrical power, hydraulic power, rotational power and power in general.

10. A system comprising:

a machine;

an implement coupled to the machine; and

a guidance controller configurable to interoperate with the machine and implement, the server configured to;

detect the implement;

determine a characteristic of the implement which affects a control setting of the machine;

configure the control setting of the machine based, at least in part, on the characteristic of the implement; and

controlling operation of the machine based on the control setting.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein detecting the implement by the guidance controller comprises detecting the implement over one of a wired and wireless link.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the characteristic of the implement relates to one or more of a physical dimension, weight, physical off-set, identification, number of planting rows, range of maneuverability, speed constraint, swath width and operational reach of the implement.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the control setting relates to control settings for one or more of machine steering, compensating machine movement, operation of the implement, positioning of the implement and control of machine speed.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein controlling operation comprises converting electrical control signals to hydraulic commands.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising detecting movement characteristic of the machine and configuring the control setting to compensate for the movement characteristic of the machine.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising applying power to the implement based on the control setting.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein power relates to one or more of electrical power, hydraulic power, rotational power and power in general.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising outputting a steering control signal by the guidance controller based on the characteristic of the implement.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the machine relates to one or more of an earthmoving machine, agricultural machine, vehicle, construction machine and machine in general having an implement.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the implement relates to one of a grader, sprayer, land preparation, planter, pull-behind implement, combine, trailer and implement in general.

21. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer executable program code embodied therein to configure guidance controllers, the computer executable program product having;

computer executable program code to detect an implement, by a guidance controller, coupled to a machine;

computer executable program code to determine a characteristic of the implement which affects a control setting of the machine;

computer executable program code to configure the control setting of the machine by the guidance controller based, at least in part, on the characteristic of the implement; and

computer executable program code to control operation of the machine based on the control setting.