Coordination of vehicle movement in a field

• US 8,738,238 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Rekow, Andrew Karl Wilhelm
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRES, ALICIA M
• Application Number:
  US12/617,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20110112730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 56/102.R, 56/102.A, 56/102.F, 701/1, 701/50, 701/117, 701/23
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/008 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/127 Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/1278 for automatic steering
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0219 ensuring the processing of the whole working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0291 Fleet control monitoring fleets in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/127, G08G1/127
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0295 by at least one leading vehicle of the fleet
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room

Abstract

A number of other vehicles that are moved on a number of paths that is substantially parallel to, and offset to at least one of a first offset side and a second offset side of, the path for the first vehicle. The number of other vehicles is moved along at least a portion of the path in the turn in response to a turn in the path of the first vehicle. The number of other vehicles may be moved from the path to a number of second parallel paths that are substantially parallel to the path after the turn of the first vehicle and offset to an opposite offset side of the first vehicle than the at least one offset side before the turn in response to the first vehicle completing the turn.

Claims

1. A controller comprising:

a first communication interface to a first vehicle for determining a path of the first vehicle;

a second communication interface to a number of other vehicles to communicate a number of parallel paths that are substantially parallel to, and offset to at least one of a first and second offset side of, the path for the first vehicle;

control logic, responsive to first data indicative of a turn in the path of the first vehicle, for signaling the number of other vehicles through the second communication interface to move onto at least a portion of the path in the turn; and

control logic, responsive to second data indicative of the first vehicle completing the turn, for signaling the number of other vehicles through the second communication interface to move from the path to a number of second parallel paths that are substantially parallel to the path after the turn of the first vehicle, and offset to an opposite side of the path of the first vehicle, than the at least one of the first and second offset side of the path before the turn.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the second communication interface sends a position of the first vehicle and the path of the first vehicle to the number of other vehicles.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the first data is an identification of the position of the first vehicle when the first vehicle enters a headland in a field.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a speed of a second follower vehicle of the number of other vehicles is adjusted to allow a first follower vehicle of the number of other vehicles to move on the path.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portion of the path is in a headland in the field.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of parallel paths are in a work area of the field.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of other vehicles is configured to follow the first vehicle and are staggered relative to each on the number of parallel paths.