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Vehicle guidance and control systems and methods for controllably guiding a vehicle along a predetermined pathway

  • US 5,175,480 A
  • Filed: 01/18/1990
  • Issued: 12/29/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling a vehicle comprising the steps of:

  • (a) providing a varying current in each of two spaced apart conductors disposed along an approximate path of travel desired for the vehicle;

    (b) sensing by a single sensing coil on the vehicle to be controlled, a varying magnetic field caused by the varying current in each of the two spaced apart conductors;

    (c) steering the vehicle responsive to a difference between a first amplitude and a second amplitude of the varying magnetic field as sensed by the sensing coil, the first amplitude of the varying magnetic field caused by the varying current in one of the two spaced apart conductors and the second amplitude of the varying magnetic field caused by the varying current in the other of the two spaced apart conductors.

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