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Corner irrigation system including an ultra wide band (UWB) guidance system

  • US 6,726,132 B2
  • Filed: 06/08/2001
  • Issued: 04/27/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A self-propelled irrigation machine having an elongated main boom pivoted at one end to a center pivot apparatus and mounted on a plurality of self-propelled, non-steerable drive towers, an extension boom pivotally secured to the other end of the main boom for irrigating corner areas of the field, a steerable drive tower supporting said extension boom including a pair of steerable drive wheels and steering means for steering said steerable drive wheels for guiding said steerable drive tower along a preselected path thereby causing the pivotal extension of said extension boom into the corner areas of the field as said main boom approaches the same and pivotal retraction of said extension boom out of the corner areas of the field as said main boom departs the same, the improvement comprising:

  • control means for controlling the operation of said means for steering said steerable drive wheels;

    said control means including at least one UWB transmitter which transmits UWB radio signals towards said steerable drive tower;

    said control means also including a UWB receiver and a computer means for receiving and processing UWB information from said UWB transmitter as to the location of said steerable drive tower and for determining the optimal steer angle of said steerable drive wheels relative to the movement of said main boom and for causing the steering means to position said steerable drive wheels in the optimal steer angle.

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