System and Method for Location Based Guidance Controller Configuration

• US 20100023222A1
• Filed: 07/22/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: CHIOCCO, Gregory Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/177,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023222A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/44
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/003 Steering or guiding of machines or implements pushed or pulled by or mounted on agricultural vehicles such as tractors, e.g. by lateral shifting of the towing connection
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2045 Guiding machines along a predetermined path for graders E02F3/841; machines for construction of roads E01C19/004
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/265 with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)

Abstract

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

Claims

1. A method for location based configuration of guidance controllers for machines, the method comprising the acts of:

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

detecting location data for the machine by the guidance controller;

determining a characteristic of the location which affects a calibration parameter of the guidance controller;

configuring the calibration parameter of the guidance controller based, at least in part, on the characteristic of the location; and

controlling operation of the machine based on the calibration parameter.

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 location data comprises at least one of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data, global positioning system (GPS) data and geo-spatial positioning data in general.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the location relates to one or more of a terrain type, terrain slope, soil density, soil hardness, type of vegetation and obstructions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the calibration parameter relates to one or more of turning radius, compensation for slope in steering, angle of wheel turn per revolution, aggressiveness in steering, wheel base, front wheel steering, rear wheel steering, speed limit, torque, power for implement and implement positioning.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the operational path comprises guiding a machine along a path setting.

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

8. 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.

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

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;

detect location data for the machine;

determine a characteristic of the location which affects a calibration parameter of the guidance controller;

configure the calibration parameter of the guidance controller based, at least in part, on the characteristic of the location; and

control operation of the machine based on the calibration parameter.

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 location data comprises at least one of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data, global positioning system (GPS) data and geo-spatial positioning data in general.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the characteristic of the location relates to one or more of a terrain type, terrain slope, soil density, soil hardness, type of vegetation and obstructions.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the calibration parameter relates to one or more of turning radius, compensation for slope in steering, angle of wheel turn per revolution, aggressiveness in steering, wheel base, front wheel steering, rear wheel steering, speed limit, torque, power for implement and implement positioning.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein controlling the operational path comprises guiding a machine along a path setting.

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

17. 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.

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 implements.

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 detect location data for the machine by the guidance controller;

computer executable program code to determine a characteristic of the location which affects a calibration parameter of the guidance controller;

computer executable program code to configure the calibration parameter of the guidance controller based, at least in part, on the characteristic of the location; and

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