VEHICLE AUTO-MOTION CONTROL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An automatic control system for moving a vehicle with respect to an implement to be attached to the vehicle, the vehicle having propulsion and steering controls which respond to electronic input signals, the automatic control system comprising:
- a visual target mounted on the implement;
a camera mounted on the vehicle, the camera generating images of the target; and
a motion control unit which receives the images from the camera, the motion control unit processing said images and generating vehicle movement command signals as a function of the images, and the motion control unit communicating the command signals to the propulsion and steering controls, and in response to the command signals, the propulsion and steering controls moving the vehicle to a coupling position so that the implement can be coupled to the vehicle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic control system moves a vehicle so that it can be coupled to an implement. The vehicle has propulsion and steering controls which respond to electronic input signals. A visual target is mounted on the implement. Vehicle mounted cameras generate images of the target. A motion control unit receives and processes the images, and generates vehicle movement commands as a function of the images which are communicated to the propulsion and steering controls. The motion control unit includes a perception engine connected to the cameras, a controller connected to the perception engine, and a vehicle/operator interface which is connected to the controller, and to the propulsion and steering controls. The perception engine captures images from the cameras, un-distorts the images, and searches for the target. If the target is found, the perception engine recovers vehicle posture information and transmits said information to the controller.
43 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An automatic control system for moving a vehicle with respect to an implement to be attached to the vehicle, the vehicle having propulsion and steering controls which respond to electronic input signals, the automatic control system comprising:
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a visual target mounted on the implement; a camera mounted on the vehicle, the camera generating images of the target; and a motion control unit which receives the images from the camera, the motion control unit processing said images and generating vehicle movement command signals as a function of the images, and the motion control unit communicating the command signals to the propulsion and steering controls, and in response to the command signals, the propulsion and steering controls moving the vehicle to a coupling position so that the implement can be coupled to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A control system for moving a vehicle with respect to an implement to be attached to the vehicle, the vehicle having propulsion and steering controls which respond to electronic input signals, the control system comprising:
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a visual target mounted on the implement; a camera mounted on the vehicle, the camera generating images of the target; and a motion control unit which receives the images from the camera, the motion control unit processing said images and generating vehicle movement command signals as a function of the images, and the motion control unit communicating the command signals to the propulsion and steering controls, and in response to the command signals, the propulsion and steering controls moving the vehicle to a coupling position so that the implement can be coupled to the vehicle, the motion control unit comprising; a perception engine connected to the camera; a controller connected to the perception engine; and a vehicle/operator interface, the vehicle/operator interface being connected to the controller, and to the propulsion and steering controls, the perception engine capturing an image from the camera, un-distorting the image, and searching for the target, and if the target is found, the perception engine recovering vehicle posture information and transmitting said information to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An automatic control system for moving a vehicle with respect to an implement to be attached to the vehicle, the vehicle having propulsion and steering controls which respond to electronic input signals, the automatic control system comprising:
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a visual target mounted on the implement; a near-view camera and a far-view camera mounted on the vehicle, the cameras generating images of the target; and a motion control unit which receives the images from the cameras, the motion control unit processing said images and generating vehicle movement command signals as a function of the images, and the motion control unit communicating the command signals to the propulsion and steering controls, and in response to the command signals, the propulsion and steering controls moving the vehicle to a coupling position so that the implement can be coupled to the vehicle.
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Specification