Modular vehicle system having engine unit and mower unit for communication therewith

• US 20080209877A1
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Reid, John Franklin, Turner, Christopher David Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 7,665,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/10.2A
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/006 Control or measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles

Abstract

A modular vehicle system comprises an engine unit and an engine management controller associated with the engine unit. A throttle actuator is associated with the engine management controller to control a throttle setting of an engine unit. A mower unit is associated with mower electronics. A blade clutch actuator activates or deactivates a cutting blade of the mower unit. A transmission line supports communications between the engine management controller and the mower electronics to support remote control mowing or unmanned mowing activities.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A modular vehicle, the modular vehicle comprising:

an engine unit comprising vehicular electronics and a propulsion system, the vehicular electronics controlling the propulsion system and a braking system;

a mower unit comprising mower electronics and an energy source, distinct from the propulsion system, for driving or rotating at least one cutting blade, the mower electronics distinct from the vehicular electronics;

the mower electronics controlling the energy source and at least one of a mow height and a blade clutch;

a communications link for communicating between the vehicular electronics and the mower electronics; and

command data capable of being sent separately from each of the mower electronics and vehicular electronics via the communications link to perform at least one of i) stopping the operation of the mower unit, ii) stopping a rotation of the at least one cutting blade, iii) shutting off the energy source, and iii) stopping the mower unit from moving.

24. The modular vehicle according to claim 23 further comprising a mechanical connection between the engine unit and the mower unit wherein the command data is sent to stop at least one operation of the mower if the mechanical connection is absent.

25. The modular vehicle according to claim 23 further comprising:

a user interface;

a remote transceiver coupled to the user interface and supporting remote control of at least one of the following;

emergency stopping of the mower unit, emergency stopping of a blade of the mower unit, adjustment of a mowing height of the mower unit, activating rotation of a blade of the mower unit, deactivating rotation of the blade of the mower unit, directing motion of the mower unit, directing a position of the mower unit, and detecting an obstacle around the mower unit.

26. The modular vehicle according to claim 23 further comprising:

a location determining receiver for determining a location of the engine unit;

a path planning module for establishing a planned path for the engine unit,

a navigation module for guiding the vehicle along the planned path based on the determined location,

an obstacle detection module to detect obstacles in at least one of the planned path and a defined region about the mower.

27. The modular vehicle according to claim 23 further comprising:

an obstacle detection sensor for detecting obstacles in a defined region about the mower, the obstacle detection sensor associated with the mower electronics.

28. The modular vehicle according to claim 23 wherein the vehicle electronics further comprises a mower controller for managing at least one of an emergency stop switch, a blade clutch actuator, a mow height actuator, an engine disable switch, and an obstacle detection sensor.

29. The modular vehicle according to claim 23 wherein the engine unit is arranged to pull or tow the mower unit.

30. The modular vehicle according to claim 23 wherein the engine unit is arranged to push the mower unit.

31. The modular vehicle according to claim 23 further comprising a status continuity signal transmitted over the communications link during operation.

32. The modular vehicle according to claim 23 wherein the vehicle electronics further comprises:

an engine unit transceiver;

a status module for transmitting status information via the engine unit transceiver on at least one of the propulsion system, the mower unit, and the mower electronics.

33. The modular vehicle according to claim 23 further comprising:

an engine unit transceiver associated with the vehicular electronics;

a user interface;

a remote transceiver coupled to the user interface, the remote transceiver arranged for communication with the engine unit transceiver; and

an emergency stop switch, associated with the mower electronics, for emergency stopping via a mower controller in response to input from the user interface.

34. The modular vehicle according to claim 23 further comprising:

an engine unit transceiver associated with the vehicular electronics;

a user interface;

a remote transceiver coupled to the user interface, the remote transceiver arranged for communication the engine unit transceiver; and

a blade clutch actuator switch, associated with the mower electronics, for decoupling the at least one cutting blade from the energy source in response to input from the user interface.

35. The modular vehicle according to claim 23 further comprising:

an engine unit transceiver associated with the vehicular electronics;

a user interface;

a remote transceiver coupled to the user interface, the remote transceiver arranged for communication with the engine unit transceiver; and

a mow height actuator, associated with the mower electronics, for adjusting a cutting height of the at least one cutting blade in response to input from the user interface.

36. The modular vehicle according to claim 23 further comprising a first transceiver in the engine unit and a second transceiver in the mower unit for receiving remote control of at least one of the vehicular electronics and mover electronics.

37. The modular vehicle according to claim 36 further comprising a safety module in the vehicular electronics for overriding the remote control by sending the command data from the vehicular electronics to the mower electronics over the communications link.

38. The modular vehicle of claim 23 further comprising an autonomous vehicle controller in the vehicular electronics for unmanned operation of navigating the modular vehicle along a planned path.