METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMIZING PERFORMANCE OF VEHICLE GUIDANCE SYSTEMS

• US 20100152943A1
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Original Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Inventors: Matthews, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,577,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/25
• 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: B62D 1/28 non-mechanical , e.g. following a line or other known markers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/001 the torque NOT being among the input parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS

Abstract

A vehicle guidance system includes a location determining component for determining locations of the vehicle; a weight sensor for sensing a weight associated with the vehicle; a steering actuator for steering at least one wheel of the vehicle; and a computing device in communication with the location determining component, the weight sensor, and the steering actuator. The computing device receives cartographic data representative of a desired path for the vehicle, receives location information from the location determining component, controls operation of the steering actuator in order to guide the vehicle along the desired path, and adjusts a steering parameter at least partially based on the weight sensed by the weight sensor.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing performance of a guidance system for a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving data representative of a weight associated with the vehicle; and

setting or adjusting a steering parameter of the guidance system at least partially based on the weight.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the weight associated with the vehicle is a payload weight.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the steering parameter is a steering gain setting.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the setting or adjusting step comprises the step of increasing the steering gain setting when the weight is greater than a reference weight.

5. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the setting or adjusting step comprises the step of decreasing the gain steering setting when the weight is less than a reference weight.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

periodically receiving updated data representative of updated weights associated with the vehicle as the vehicle is driven; and

periodically setting or adjusting the steering parameter at least partially in response to the updated data.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the steering parameter is a steering gain setting and the periodically setting or adjusting step comprises the step of increasing the steering gain setting as the weight of the vehicle increases.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the periodically setting or adjusting step further comprises the step of decreasing the steering gain setting as the weight of the vehicle decreases.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the receiving and setting steps are performed by a computing device of the guidance system.

10. A guidance system for a vehicle, the guidance system comprising:

a location determining component for determining locations of the vehicle;

a weight sensor for sensing a weight associated with the vehicle;

a steering actuator for steering at least one wheel of the vehicle; and

a computing device in communication with the location determining component, the steering actuator, and the weight sensor, the computing device being configured for accessing cartographic data representative of a desired path for the vehicle, receiving location information from the location determining component, controlling operation of the steering actuator in accordance with the location information in order to guide the vehicle along the desired path, and adjusting a steering parameter at least partially based on the weight sensed by the weight sensor.

11. The guidance system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the weight associated with the vehicle is a payload weight.

12. The guidance system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the steering parameter is a steering gain setting.

13. The guidance system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the computing device increases the steering gain setting when the weight is greater than a reference weight.

14. The guidance system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the computing device decreases the steering gain setting when the weight is less than a reference weight.

15. The guidance system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the computing device is further configured for:

periodically receiving updated data representative of updated weights of the vehicle as the vehicle is driven along the desired path; and

periodically setting or adjusting the steering parameter at least partially in response to the updated data.

16. The guidance system as set forth in claim 15, wherein the steering parameter is a steering gain setting and wherein the computing device increases the gain setting as the weight of the vehicle increases.

17. The guidance system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the computing device decreases the gain setting as the weight of the vehicle decreases.

18. A guidance system for a vehicle, the guidance system comprising:

a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver for determining locations of the vehicle;

a weight sensor for sensing a weight associated with the vehicle;

a steering actuator for steering at least one wheel of the vehicle; and

a computing device in communication with the location determining component, the weight sensor, and the steering actuator, the computing device being configured for—

accessing cartographic data representative of a desired path for the vehicle,

periodically obtaining location information from the location determining component,

controlling operation of the steering actuator in order to guide the vehicle along the desired path,

periodically receiving weight data representative of a current weight of the vehicle as the vehicle is driven along the desired path,

periodically setting or adjusting a steering parameter at least partially in response to the weight data.

19. The guidance system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the steering parameter is a steering gain setting and wherein the computing device increases the gain setting as the weight of the vehicle increases.

20. The guidance system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the computing device decreases the gain setting as the weight of the vehicle decreases.