Sensing system for following a stringline

• US 8,855,834 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2011
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions Inc. (Danfoss A/S)
• Original Assignee: Sauer-Danfoss Incorporated (Danfoss A/S)
• Inventors: Zeng, Jack, Olson, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jabr, Fadey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Soofi, Yazan A
• Application Number:
  US13/280,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20130103231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/10 Path keeping cruise control for automatically following a preceding vehicle B60W30/165
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2410/111 Aggregate identification or specification, e.g. using RFID
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/00 Machines, tools or auxiliary devices for preparing or distributing paving materials, for working the placed materials, or for forming, consolidating, or finishing the paving surface stabilisation E01C21/00; apparatus specially adapted for reconditioning or repairing paving E01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/008 by reference lines placed along the road, e.g. wires co-operating with feeler elements E01C19/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/02 using radio waves G01S19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/876 Combination of several spaced transponders or reflectors of known location for determining the position of a receiver G01S13/874 takes precedence

Abstract

A sensing system for providing string line vehicle automation. The system includes a master controller that is electrically connected to a receiver that has a transceiver that provides over-the-air communication to a plurality of sensors that are aligned along a string line. The transceivers receive information from the plurality of sensors in order to automate the control of the vehicle to ensure the vehicle drives in a straight line.

Claims

1. A sensing system for following a string line comprising:

a master controller;

a first receiver having a first transceiver in electric communication with the master controller and a second receiver having a second transceiver in electric communication with the master controller;

a plurality of wireless sensors aligned along a string line in over-the-air communication with the first and second transceivers to communicate information to the first and second transceivers; and

wherein the second transceiver proactively scans a range of radio channels, determines a channel with an acceptable amount of traffic and proactively commands the plurality of sensors to change to the radio channel with the acceptable amount of traffic.

2. The sensing system of claim 1 wherein the first transceiver is a wireless radio link.

3. The sensing system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of sensors has a transceiver that communicates the information over a radio channel to the first transceiver of the receiver.

4. The sensing system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless sensors has an RFID reader.

5. The sensing system of claim 1 wherein the receiver transmits a time triggered beacon to the plurality of sensors.

6. The sensing system of claim 5 wherein the plurality of sensors communicate the information in response to receiving the time triggered beacon.

7. The sensing system of claim 1 wherein the first receiver communicates the information communicated to the first transceiver to the master controller.

8. The sensing system of claim 7 wherein the master controller steers a vehicle in response to the information communicated to the master controller.

9. The sensing system of claim 8 wherein the vehicle is a road paving machine.

10. A sensing system for following a string line comprising:

a master controller;

a first receiver having a first transceiver in electric communication with the master controller and a second receiver having a second transceiver in electric communication with the master controller; and

a plurality of wireless sensors aligned along a string line each in over-the-air communication with the first transceiver of the receiver to communicate information to the first transceiver wherein the plurality of wireless sensors have a RFID reader that is able to read an RFID tag located on a mounting bracket;

wherein the second transceiver proactively scans a range of radio channels, determines a channel with an acceptable amount of traffic and proactively commands the plurality of sensors to change to the radio channel with the acceptable amount of traffic.

11. The sensing system of claim 10 wherein the RFID tag of the mount bracket sensor uniquely identifies the wireless sensor connected to the mounting bracket.

12. A sensing system for following a string line comprising:

a master controller attached to a vehicle;

a first transceiver in electric communication with the master controller and a second receiver having a second transceiver in electric communication with the master controller; and

a plurality of wireless sensors aligned along a string line each in over-the-air communication with the first transceiver of the receiver to communicate information to the first transceiver wherein the plurality of wireless sensors are remote and detached from the vehicle;

wherein the second transceiver proactively scans a range of radio channels, determines a channel with an acceptable amount of traffic and proactively commands the plurality of sensors to change to the radio channel with the acceptable amount of traffic.