Method and apparatus for vehicle auto-guidance
First Claim
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1. A method of steering an auto-guided vehicle comprising:
- during reaction type steering of the auto-guided vehicle in which a steering shaft of the auto-guided vehicle is coupled to an auto-steering controller of the auto-guided vehicle, detecting a first manual steering input based on a detected first movement of the steering shaft exceeding a first predetermined limit;
disabling a first automatic steering of the auto-guided vehicle in response to the first manual steering input;
during non-reaction type steering in which the steering shaft of the auto-guided vehicle is decoupled from the auto-steering controller, detecting a second manual steering input based on a detected second movement of the steering shaft exceeding a second predetermined limit indicating the second manual steering input, the second predetermined limit being less than the first predetermined limit, using a steering sensor coupled to the steering shaft; and
disabling a second automatic steering of the auto-guided vehicle in response to the second manual steering input.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclose for auto-steering of an auto-guided vehicle. A sensor coupled to a steering shaft detects when an operator requests control of the vehicle. The sensor then transmits information indicative of the request to one or more controllers of an auto-guidance system, which initiates a shutdown of auto-steering functions. In this way, the system quickly reverts to manual steering in an automatically guided and steered vehicle.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of steering an auto-guided vehicle comprising:
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during reaction type steering of the auto-guided vehicle in which a steering shaft of the auto-guided vehicle is coupled to an auto-steering controller of the auto-guided vehicle, detecting a first manual steering input based on a detected first movement of the steering shaft exceeding a first predetermined limit; disabling a first automatic steering of the auto-guided vehicle in response to the first manual steering input; during non-reaction type steering in which the steering shaft of the auto-guided vehicle is decoupled from the auto-steering controller, detecting a second manual steering input based on a detected second movement of the steering shaft exceeding a second predetermined limit indicating the second manual steering input, the second predetermined limit being less than the first predetermined limit, using a steering sensor coupled to the steering shaft; and disabling a second automatic steering of the auto-guided vehicle in response to the second manual steering input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A vehicle comprising:
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a steering shaft; and an auto-steering controller configured to control an automatic steering of the vehicle; and a steering sensor coupled to the steering shaft and adapted to; detect, during a reaction type steering of the vehicle in which the steering shaft is coupled to the auto-steering controller, a first manual steering input based on a detected first movement of the steering shaft exceeding a first predetermined limit; transmit information relating to the first manual steering input to the auto-steering controller; detect, during a non-reaction type steering of the vehicle in which the steering shaft is decoupled from the auto-steering controller, a second manual steering input based on a detected second movement of the steering shaft exceeding a second predetermined limit, the second predetermined limit being less than the first predetermined limit; transmit information relating to the second manual steering input to the auto-steering controller; and an auto-guidance system adapted to; disable, during the reaction type steering, a first automatic steering of the vehicle in response to the information relating to the first manual steering input; and disable, during the non-reaction type steering of the auto-guided vehicle, a second automatic steering in response to detection by the steering sensor of the second movement of the steering shaft exceeding the second predetermined limit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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means for detecting, during a reaction mode in which the steering shaft is coupled to an auto-steering controller of the vehicle, a first manual steering input based on a detected first movement of a steering shaft of a vehicle exceeding a first predetermined limit; means for disabling a first automatic steering of the vehicle in response to the first manual steering input; means for detecting, during a non-reaction mode in which the steering shaft is decoupled from the auto-steering controller, a second manual steering input based on a detected second movement of the steering shaft above a second predetermined limit indicating the second manual steering input, the second predetermined limit being less than the first predetermined limit; and means for disabling a second automatic steering of the vehicle in response to detecting the second manual steering input by the means for detecting the second manual steering input. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification