System and Method for Configuring a Guidance Controller

• US 20100023229A1
• 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 8,401,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• 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: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0201 Agriculture or harvesting machine

Abstract

System and method for configuring guidance controllers. 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 calibration parameter of the guidance controller and configuring the calibration parameter of the guidance controller based, at least in part, on the characteristic of the implement. An operational path of the machine may be controlled based on the calibration parameter.

Claims

1. A method for configuring guidance controllers, 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 calibration parameter of the guidance controller;

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

controlling an operational path 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 characteristic of the implement relates to one or more of a physical dimension, 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 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 and speed limit.

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

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying, by the guidance controller, the machine and detecting a characteristic of the machine.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising configuring a calibration parameter of the guidance controller based on a characteristic of the machine.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an estimated time for completion of the operational path.

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;

determine a characteristic of the implement 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 implement; and

control an operational path 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 characteristic of the implement relates to one or more of a physical dimension, 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 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 and speed limit.

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

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising identifying, by the guidance controller, the machine and detecting a characteristic of the machine.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising configuring a calibration parameter of the guidance controller based on a characteristic of the machine.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising determining an estimated time for completion of the operational path.

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 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 implement; and

computer executable program code to control an operational path of the machine based on the calibration parameter.