Proactive swath planning system for assisting and guiding a vehicle operator

• US 5,995,902 A
• Filed: 05/29/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AG Chem Equipment Co Inc (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AG Chem Equipment Co Inc (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: Monson, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/864,646
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 701/202, 701/205, 701/213, 701/300, 701/50, 345/442, 345/441, 345/438, 345/475
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS

Abstract

A swath planning system accepts curved path information to synthesize and generate parallel curved paths. The swath planning system terminates the generation of parallel curved paths which exceed physical limitations of the associated machinery. The swath planning system provides an operator with significant advance information to create a more efficient and relaxed product application. The swath planning system further provides environmental advantages to all through enhanced resource management by eliminating or significantly reducing ground and/or water contamination and by eliminating or significantly reducing product waste due to more precise and accurate placement of resources.

Claims

1. A vehicle swath planning system comprising:

a computer implemented device for automatic parallel swath path generation based upon initial vehicle swath path information, said device including;

a data processing device;

a data input device in communication with said data processing device;

an algorithmic software directing said data processing device; and

a data storage unit, wherein said initial vehicle swath path information is stored and supplied to said data processing device such that said data processing device, directed by said algorithmic software, automatically synthesizes and defines a family of parallel swath paths using an algorithmically defined relationship between initial vehicle swath path information and each member of the family of parallel swath paths, such that information representative of said family of parallel swath paths is stored and visually reported to a vehicle operator on-the-go in near real-time.

2. The vehicle swath planning system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is self-propelled.

3. The vehicle swath planning system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is equipped for towing.

4. The vehicle swath planning system of claim 1 wherein said family of parallel swath paths comprise a plurality of curved paths.

5. The vehicle swath planning system of claim 4 wherein said family of parallel swath paths further comprise a plurality of linear paths.

6. The vehicle swath planning system of claim 5 further comprising a receiver in communication with said data processing device, wherein said receiver receives GPS data inputs such that said data processing device can automatically synthesize said initial vehicle swath path information solely using said GPS data inputs.

7. The vehicle swath planning system of claim 6 further comprising a control system in communication with said data processing device such that said control system accesses said initial vehicle swath path information and said parallel path information stored in said data storage unit to visually guide said vehicle operator through a field and control the prescription and rate of product discharged from said vehicle to the field.

8. The vehicle swath planning system of claim 7 wherein said vehicle is equipped for applying predetermined products to a land area, said vehicle being integrated with said control system such that said control system controls application of said predetermined products to said land area.

9. A swath planning system for automatic parallel swath path generation based upon initial swath path information, said swath planning system comprising:

a computer system including a central processing unit, an input and output capability, and a memory capability;

a software system directing said computer system; and

a system interface, said computer system being directed by said software system and further being in communication with said interface system such that said initial swath path information is accessed through said interface system and said assessed initial swath path information is input into said computer system via said input capability such that parallel swath path information is automatically synthesized by said software system using an algorithmically defined relationship between initial swath path information and each member of parallel swath path information, such that said automatically synthesized parallel swath path information is stored in said memory capability and further such that said synthesized parallel swath path information can be visually reported to a system operator on-the-go in near real-time.

10. The swath planning system of claim 9 further comprising a control system integrated with a land vehicle, said control system being in communication with said interface system to provide access into said memory system of said computer system such that said automatically synthesized parallel swath path information stored in said memory capability can be readily accessed by said control system.

11. The swath planning system of claim 10 further comprising a receiver in communication with said computer system, wherein said receiver receives GPS data inputs such that said software system automatically synthesizes said initial swath path information solely using sad GPS data inputs.

12. A swath planning system for automatic parallel swath path generation based upon initial swath path information, said swath planning system comprising:

interfacing means for accessing said initial swath path information;

data processing means for processing said initial swath path information;

synthesizing means for automatically synthesizing parallel swath path information via predetermined algorithmic relationships between said initial swath path information and parallel swath path information; and

displaying means for visually displaying said parallel swath path information to a swath planning system operator on-the-go in near real-time.

13. The swath planning system of claim 12 wherein said parallel swath path information comprises a plurality of curved paths.

14. The swath planning system of claim 13 wherein said parallel swath path information further comprises a plurality of linear paths.

15. The swath planning system of claim 14 further comprising a GPS receiver, wherein said synthesizing means further includes a GPS interface for integrating GPS data within said synthesizing means to generate said initial swath path information.

16. A computer-implemented system for automatic parallel swath path generation from initial swath path information, the system comprising:

means for accessing said initial swath path information;

means for extracting selected data points from said initial swath path information;

means for expanding said selected data points by offsetting said points a predetermined distance to create spatially defined data points for a model;

means for transforming said spatially defined data points into parallel swath path information; and

means for visually displaying said parallel swath path information to a computer-implemented system operator on-the-go in near real-time.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said means for extracting includes interfacing means for accessing data from a GPS receiver.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said means for extracting and said means for expanding include a software system with algorithmic steps directing said computer-implemented system.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said parallel swath path information comprises a plurality of curved paths.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said parallel swath path information further comprises a plurality of linear paths.

21. A computer system directed by an algorithmic software for enhancing initial swath path data from a GPS receiver to generate a plurality of parallel swath paths, the computer comprising:

means for expanding said initial swath path data by selecting data points and offsetting said points a predetermined distance to form data points for a model;

means for processing and synthesizing said data points to transform said model into said plurality of parallel swath paths; and

means for visually displaying said plurality of parallel swath paths.

22. The computer system of claim 21 wherein said means for expanding includes means for interpolation, extrapolation, interpretation, modeling and combinations thereof to expand said data points.

23. The computer system of claim 22 wherein said means for processing and synthesizing said data points include a software system directing said computer system.

24. A computer-implemented device for automatic parallel swath path generation based on initial swath path information, the device comprising:

a display device;

a data processing device;

an input device in communication with said data processing device;

an algorithmic software directing said data processing device;

a data storage unit, wherein said initial swath path information is input into said data processing device such that said data processing device, directed by said algorithmic software, automatically synthesizes information for a plurality of parallel swath paths using said initial swath path information and such that said synthesized information is recorded in said data storage unit and visually displayed via said display device;

a control system in electronic communication with said data processing device such that said control system accesses said synthesized information recorded in said data storage unit; and

a land vehicle for applying predetermined products to a land area, said land vehicle being integrated with said control system such that said control system controls application of said predetermined products to said land area.

25. The computer-implemented device of claim 24 wherein said parallel swath paths comprise curved paths.

26. The computer-implemented device of claim 25 wherein said parallel swath paths further comprise linear paths.

27. The computer-implemented device of claim 26 further comprising a receiver in communication with said data processing device, wherein said receiver can receive GPS data inputs such that said data processing device can automatically synthesize said initial swath path information solely using said GPS data inputs.

28. A method for automatically generating and visually displaying a plurality of parallel swath paths using a mobile computer system having a display device, said method comprising the steps of:

traversing a land area with a GPS system;

extracting a set of original data points from said GPS system;

utilizing said original data points to direct said computer system to generate initial swath path information;

enhancing said initial swath path information by offsetting said swath path information to generate a plurality of parallel swath paths;

recording said plurality of parallel swath paths in said computer system; and

extracting and visually displaying said plurality of parallel swath paths on said display device as said GPS system traverses said land area.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said step of enhancing said initial swath path information further comprises the step of segmenting said initial swath path information to create a plurality of first line segments.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of determining a slope for each line segment within said plurality of first line segments.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of generating a perpendicular line having a predetermined length for each line segment within said plurality of first line segments, each said perpendicular line having a first end located at a central point of a respective line segment within said plurality of first line segments.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of linearly connecting a second end of each said perpendicular line to a second end of adjacent perpendicular lines to synthesize a parallel swath path.