Automatic Determination of Tire Height for Improving Guidance Performance

• US 20120150439A1
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Original Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Inventors: Matthews, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,731,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/469
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/53 Determining attitude

Abstract

A system and method improve guidance system performance. An accuracy improvement module (AIM) can be configured to compare observed and expected inclination compensation factors (ICFs) at a plurality of inclination angles to detect an inaccuracy in antenna height. In response to detecting an inaccuracy, an AIM can determine a revised antenna height that more accurately represents the height of an antenna above ground. A proposed antenna height can be determined using an observed ICF. A fixed vehicle body height can be subtracted from the proposed antenna height to provide a proposed tire radius. The proposed tire radius can be compared to a table of standard tire radii to determine a tire radius value, which can then be added to the fixed vehicle body height to provide a revised antenna height. The revised antenna height can improve the accuracy or calculated ground positions, thereby improving guidance system performance.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a receiver for receiving satellite transmissions;

an inertial sensor for detecting an inclination angle of a vehicle on which said receiver is deployed; and

an accuracy improvement module (AIM) for detecting an inaccuracy in a height used to determine an inclination compensation factor (ICF) associated with said inclination angle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said AIM is configured to provide a revised antenna height in response to detecting said inaccuracy.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said AIM is configured to determine a proposed antenna height using said inclination angle and an observed ICF.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said AIM is configured to subtract a fixed vehicle body height from said proposed antenna height to provide a proposed tire radius.

5. They system of claim 1, wherein said AIM is configured to determine a tire height for a tire of said vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said AIM comprises a software module.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said AIM is configured to provide said revised antenna height to a ground position module configured to use said revised antenna height to determine a ground position for said vehicle.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving an observed inclination compensation factor (ICF) for an antenna atop a vehicle oriented at an inclination angle;

comparing said observed ICF to an expected ICF for said antenna at said inclination angle; and

in response to detecting an inaccuracy in said expected ICF, determining a revised antenna height using said observed ICF and said inclination angle.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing said revised antenna height to a ground position module configured to determine said expected ICF for said inclination angle.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said determining a revised antenna height comprises determining a proposed antenna height using said observed ICF and said inclination angle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said determining said revised antenna height comprises subtracting a vehicle body height from said proposed antenna height to provide a proposed tire radius.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said determining a revised antenna height comprises comparing said proposed tire radius to a table of standard tire radii to determine a tire radius value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said determining a revised antenna height comprises adding said tire radius value to said vehicle body height.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said determining a revised antenna height comprises determining a tire height for a tire of said vehicle.

15. An apparatus comprising:

an error detection module configured to detect inaccuracies in an inclination compensation factor (ICF);

a height determination module for determining a height value; and

a storage device for storing data.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said height determination module is configured to provide a revised antenna height using an observed ICF and an inclination angle.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said error detection module is configured to compare an expected ICF with an observed ICF at one or more inclination angles.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said system is configured to cooperate with a ground position module configured to calculate said expected ICF.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said system is configured to provide a revised antenna height to said ground position module to be used in calculating said ICF.

20. At least one computer readable medium containing program instructions, comprising:

computer readable code for obtaining an expected ICF for an antenna mounted on a vehicle oriented at an inclination angle;

computer readable code for obtaining an observed ICF at said inclination angle;

computer readable code for detecting an inaccuracy in said expected ICF;

computer readable code for determining a revised antenna height in response to detecting said inaccuracy in said expected ICF.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein said computer readable code for determining a revised antenna height comprises computer readable code for determining a tire radius value.