GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus and method

• US 6,377,881 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald B. Mullins
• Original Assignee: Donald B. Mullins
• Inventors: Mullins, Donald B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/525,637
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/2, 701/23, 701/26, 701/213, 701/215, 701/300, 56/102.A, 56/102.R, 56/102.F, 172/2, 172/4.5
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/008 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/127 Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 using a RF signal

Abstract

A tracked GPS guided ground clearing apparatus and method for clearing brush, small trees, snow, ice and other types of debris, dependent upon remote positioning data and radio communication signals, having an apparatus locator system for determining the location of the apparatus and a guidance system for navigating and maintaining the apparatus in a desired direction of travel along a particular line of travel and for traversing a plurality of specific data points along the particular line of travel, relative to the surface of the earth.

Claims

1. A GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, comprising:

a tracked vehicle, having two or more tracks to propel the vehicle, said two or more tracks being conventionally mounted to the vehicle;

a hydraulic support system and a rotational power supply mounted to said vehicle;

a cutting head for cutting, chipping and clearing brush and trees, said cutting head being mounted to said hydraulic support system and engaged to said rotational power supply;

an apparatus locator means mounted to said vehicle for receiving the plurality of GPS network signals and the radio communication signals; and

a guidance means in signal communication with said apparatus locator means, for continuously reading and processing the plurality of GPS network signals and the radio communication signals to determine an instantaneous location of the vehicle relative to the surface of the earth and, in response thereto, to guide the vehicle for movement in a desired direction and to assist the vehicle in maintaining travel in the desired direction and returning the vehicle to the desired direction.

2. The GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, as defined in claim 1, wherein the cutting head includes a housing, within which is secured a rotatable horizontal shaft engaged to said rotational power supply, and having a plurality of mounting discs laterally mounted to the horizontal shaft, a plurality of pivotal, U-shaped, throw-out knives mounted to the mounting discs and at least one bumper mounted to the housing to facilitate the cutting, chipping and clearing of brush and trees.

3. The GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, as defined in claim 2, wherein said cutting head is vertically adjustable.

4. The GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus locator means comprises a dual purpose antenna for receiving the remote positioning data and radio communication signals, and a GPS signal processing unit.

5. The GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, as defined in claim 1, wherein the guidance means comprises a data processor mounted to said vehicle, and is in electronic communication with the apparatus locator means, to receive and continually process the plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals for providing navigational guidance, to guide the apparatus for movement in the desired direction.

6. The GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, as defined in claim 5, wherein the data processor further comprises a central processing unit for continuously processing the plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals and a display means for visually conveying the remote positioning data and the desired direction to an operator.

7. The GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals as defined in claim 6, wherein the radio communication signals comprise a plurality of differential correction signals generated from at least one GPS base station.

8. The GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, as defined in claim 6, wherein the display means is a video display screen for displaying a current position of the vehicle relative to the surface of the earth and the desired direction of travel for the vehicle.

9. A method of guiding a GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, comprising the steps of:

receiving by an apparatus locator means, the plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals;

conveying the plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals from said apparatus locator means to a guidance means;

inputting into the guidance means, a desired direction of travel as a function of location;

continuously processing and displaying by the guidance means, the desired direction of travel, and the plurality of GPS network signals and the radio communication signals transmitted from said apparatus locator means;

instantaneously comparing by the guidance means, the present location of the vehicle to the desired direction of travel;

interpreting, by an operator, the data processed by the guidance means; and

maneuvering of the vehicle through input to the guidance means by the operator based on the interpreted data, to guide the vehicle in a desired direction of travel and to maneuver the vehicle in maintaining travel in the desired direction and returning the vehicle to the desired direction of travel.

10. The method of guiding a GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, as defined in claim 9, wherein said apparatus locator means comprises a dual purpose antenna for receiving the remote positioning data and radio communication signals, and a GPS signal processing unit.

11. The method of guiding a GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, as defined in claim 9, wherein the guidance means comprises a data processor mounted to said vehicle, and is in electronic communication with the apparatus locator means, to receive and continuously process the plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals for providing navigational guidance, to guide the apparatus for movement in the desired direction.

12. A GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, comprising:

a tracked vehicle, having two or more tracks to propel the vehicle, said two or more tracks being conventionally mounted to the vehicle;

a hydraulic support system and a rotational power supply mounted to said vehicle;

a snow plow for clearing snow and ice from the surface of the ground, said snow plow being mounted to said hydraulic support system and engaged to said rotational power supply;

an apparatus locator means mounted to said vehicle for receiving the plurality of GPS network signals and the radio communication signals; and

a guidance means in signal communication with said apparatus locator means, for continuously reading and processing the plurality of GPS network signals and the radio communication signals to determine an instantaneous location of the vehicle relative to the surface of the earth and, in response thereto, to guide the vehicle for movement in a desired direction and to assist the vehicle in maintaining travel in the desired direction and returning the vehicle to the desired direction.

13. The GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, as defined in claim 12, wherein said apparatus locator means comprises a dual purpose antenna for receiving the remote positioning data and radio communication signals, and a GPS signal processing unit.

14. The GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals as defined in claim 13, wherein the radio communication signals comprise a plurality of differential correction signals generated from at least one GPS base station.

15. The GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, as defined in claim 12, wherein the guidance means comprises a data processor mounted to said vehicle, and is in electronic communication with the apparatus locator means, to receive and continuously process the plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals for providing navigational guidance, to guide the apparatus for movement in the desired direction.

16. The GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, as defined in claim 14, wherein the data processor further comprises a central processing unit for continuously processing the plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals and a display means for visually conveying the remote positioning data and the desired direction to an operator.

17. The GPS guided ground-clearing apparatus, dependent upon a plurality of GPS network signals and radio communication signals, as defined in claim 15, wherein the display means is a video display screen for displaying a current position of the vehicle relative to the surface of the earth and the desired direction of travel for the vehicle.