System and method for interactive selection of agricultural vehicle guide paths through a graphical user interface other than moving the vehicle
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for guiding a vehicle along a series of paths, comprising the steps of:
- a. receiving and storing position information about the vehicle as it traverses a first path;
b. calculating one or more proposed subsequent paths based on the stored position information from the first path;
c. receiving and storing position information about the vehicle as it traverses the second path;
d. calculating one or more proposed subsequent third paths based on the stored position information from the first and/or second path;
e. displaying the proposed subsequent path; and
f. receiving user input through a user interface independent of vehicle operation that allows the user to refuse the proposed subsequent path.
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Abstract
A system and method provide for precision guiding of agricultural vehicles along a series of adjacent paths to form rows for cultivating a field. In one aspect of the invention the vehicle is moved along a first path while receiving positioning information from a navigational system (e.g., RTK GPS). This positioning information is stored in a processor and is used by the processor to compute a second path adjacent to said first path by calculating piecewise perpendicular offsets from the first path at multiple locations along the first path. The process is repeated to compute a third and subsequent paths so as to cover the field. Because of the offset process, the field may be covered with paths that have varying curvature along their length, while providing substantially no gaps or overlaps in the coverage of the field. In another aspect of the invention, the system may propose alternative paths and the user can intervene by steering the vehicle or using a graphical user interface to select among the alternative paths. A still further aspect of the invention allows for the recording of the paths that provide coverage of a field in the form of a template. This template can then be used to cause the vehicle to automatically steer along a previously calculated path in subsequent operations on the field, and in subsequent years.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for guiding a vehicle along a series of paths, comprising the steps of:
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a. receiving and storing position information about the vehicle as it traverses a first path; b. calculating one or more proposed subsequent paths based on the stored position information from the first path; c. receiving and storing position information about the vehicle as it traverses the second path; d. calculating one or more proposed subsequent third paths based on the stored position information from the first and/or second path; e. displaying the proposed subsequent path; and f. receiving user input through a user interface independent of vehicle operation that allows the user to refuse the proposed subsequent path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for guiding a vehicle along a series of paths, comprising:
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a. a receiver for receiving from a navigation system positional information about the position of the vehicle as it travels a path; b. a processor that calculates a proposed subsequent path based on the positional information; c. a display for showing the proposed subsequent path; and d. a user input device, independent of moving the vehicle, which receives user input allowing the user to refuse the proposed subsequent path. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for guiding a vehicle along a series of paths, comprising:
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a. a portion of a navigational system located on the vehicle for providing positional information about the location of the vehicle as it traverses a first path of varying curvature; b. a processor for calculating proposed subsequent paths of varying curvature based on the positional information, including possible alternative paths; c. a display for displaying the proposed subsequent paths; and d. a graphical user interface integrated into the display and through which a user may select at least one of the possible alternative paths. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification