Mobile cruiser machine for forestry applications
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for determining information at a forestry site for harvesting of trees, comprising:
- a mobile machine;
a gimbal base mounted on the mobile machine;
a rotating laser beam range detector mounted on the gimbal base and generating a rotating laser beam;
a position determining system mounted on the mobile machine; and
a slope determining system located on the mobile machine and electrically connected to a set of gimbals on the gimbal base, the gimbals being adapted to sense a slope of the mobile machine;
wherein the gimbals maintain the rotating laser beam on a horizontal plane as the mobile machine traverses the forestry site.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile machine for determining information at a forestry site. The mobile machine includes a gimbal base mounted on the mobile machine, a rotating laser beam range detector mounted on the gimbal base so that the rotating laser beam maintains a horizontal plane, a position determining system mounted on the mobile machine, and a slope determining system located on the mobile machine and electrically connected to a set of gimbals on the gimbal base, the gimbals being adapted to sense a slope of the mobile machine.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A system for determining information at a forestry site for harvesting of trees, comprising:
-
a mobile machine;
a gimbal base mounted on the mobile machine;
a rotating laser beam range detector mounted on the gimbal base and generating a rotating laser beam;
a position determining system mounted on the mobile machine; and
a slope determining system located on the mobile machine and electrically connected to a set of gimbals on the gimbal base, the gimbals being adapted to sense a slope of the mobile machine;
wherein the gimbals maintain the rotating laser beam on a horizontal plane as the mobile machine traverses the forestry site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
a primary power source to provide power for propulsion and for operating the mobile machine;
a set of ground engaging members drivably connected to the primary power source; and
means for steering the mobile machine.
-
-
11. A system, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the primary power source is an engine.
-
12. A system, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the set of ground engaging members is a set of belted tracks.
-
13. A system, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the means for steering the mobile machine is a differential steering system connected to the set of belted tracks.
-
14. A system for gathering information at a forestry site for harvesting of trees, comprising:
-
a mobile cruiser machine;
a gimbal base mounted on the mobile cruiser machine;
a rotating laser beam range detector mounted on the gimbal base and generating a rotating laser beam;
a position determining system mounted on the mobile cruiser machine;
a slope determining system located on the mobile cruiser machine and electrically connected to a set of gimbals on the gimbal base, the gimbals being adapted to sense a slope of the mobile cruiser machine, wherein the gimbals maintain the rotating laser beam on a horizontal plane as the mobile machine traverses the forestry site; and
a data storage system located on the mobile cruiser machine for storing information gathered at the forestry site. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
an engine to provide power for propulsion and for operating the mobile cruiser machine;
a set of ground engaging members drivably connected to the engine; and
means for steering the mobile cruiser machine.
-
-
18. A system, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the set of ground engaging members is a set of belted tracks,.and wherein the means for steering is a differential steering system connected to the set of belted tracks.
-
19. A system for cruising a forestry site to gather information for harvesting of trees, comprising:
-
a mobile machine;
a primary power source;
a set of ground engaging members drivably connected to the primary power source and adapted for providing propulsion of the mobile machine;
a gimbal base mounted on the mobile machine, the gimbal base having a set of gimbals attached;
a rotating laser beam range detector mounted on the gimbal base and generating a rotating laser beam;
a position determining system located on the mobile machine;
a slope determining system located on the mobile machine and electrically connected to the set of gimbals, the gimbals being adapted to sense a slope of the mobile machine, wherein the gimbals maintain the rotating laser beam on a horizontal plane as the mobile machine traverses the forestry site; and
means for communicating the information for harvesting of trees to a desired location. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
-
22. A method for determining information at a forestry site by a mobile machine having a gimbal base mounted on the mobile machine, a rotating laser beam range detector mounted on the gimbal base and generating a rotating laser beam, a position determining system mounted on the mobile machine, and a slope determining system located on the mobile machine and electrically connected to a set of gimbals on the gimbal base, including the steps of:
-
maintaining the rotating laser beam on a horizontal plane as the mobile machine traverses the forestry site;
scanning a trunk of each desired tree by the rotating laser beam;
determining a diameter of the trunk of each of the desired trees as a function of scanning the trunk;
determining a location of the mobile machine in geographical coordinates by the position determining system; and
determining a location of each of the desired trees in geographical coordinates as a function of the location of the mobile machine.
-
Specification