Method and system for vehicular guidance using a crop image
First Claim
1. A method of guiding a vehicle, the method comprising:
- collecting color image data;
defining a series of scan line segments generally perpendicular to a transverse axis of the vehicle or of an imaging system;
determining a scan-line-image-parameter level for each of the scan lines, the scan-line-image-parameter level comprising a color-related parameter level; and
identifying a preferential heading of the vehicle that is generally aligned with respect to a crop feature, associated with the collected image data, based on the determined scan-line-image-parameter level meeting or exceeding a maximum value or minimum threshold value;
estimating, by a data processor, a reliability of the vehicle heading based on compliance with an image parameter level criteria associated with one or more crop rows;
determining a first image parameter value associated with a first crop row and a second image parameter value associated with a second crop row;
determining a spacing between a first crop row and a second crop row; and
determining a maximum image parameter value for the first crop row and the second crop row; and
considering vision guidance data reliable for a time period if the first image parameter value does not differ from the second image parameter value by more than a minimum threshold, if the determined spacing between the first crop row and the falls within a defined width range, and if the maximum image parameter value is greater than a certain threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The method and system for vehicular guidance comprises an imaging device for collecting color image data to facilitate distinguishing crop image data (e.g., crop rows) from background data. A definer defines a series of scan line segments generally perpendicular to a transverse axis of the vehicle or of the imaging device. An image parameter evaluator determines scan line image parameter data for each of the scan line segments. An alignment detector (e.g., search engine) identifies a preferential heading of the vehicle that is generally aligned with respect to a crop feature, associated with the crop image data, based on the determined scan line image parameter meeting or exceeding a maximum value or minimum threshold value. A reliability estimator estimates a reliability of the vehicle heading based on compliance with a criteria for scan line image parameter data associated with one or more crop rows.
64 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of guiding a vehicle, the method comprising:
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collecting color image data; defining a series of scan line segments generally perpendicular to a transverse axis of the vehicle or of an imaging system; determining a scan-line-image-parameter level for each of the scan lines, the scan-line-image-parameter level comprising a color-related parameter level; and identifying a preferential heading of the vehicle that is generally aligned with respect to a crop feature, associated with the collected image data, based on the determined scan-line-image-parameter level meeting or exceeding a maximum value or minimum threshold value; estimating, by a data processor, a reliability of the vehicle heading based on compliance with an image parameter level criteria associated with one or more crop rows; determining a first image parameter value associated with a first crop row and a second image parameter value associated with a second crop row; determining a spacing between a first crop row and a second crop row; and determining a maximum image parameter value for the first crop row and the second crop row; and considering vision guidance data reliable for a time period if the first image parameter value does not differ from the second image parameter value by more than a minimum threshold, if the determined spacing between the first crop row and the falls within a defined width range, and if the maximum image parameter value is greater than a certain threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system of guiding a vehicle, the system comprising:
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an imaging device for collecting color image data; a definer for defining a series of scan line segments generally perpendicular to a transverse axis of the vehicle or of an imaging system; an intensity evaluator for determining a scan-line-image-parameter level for each of the scan lines, the scan-line-image-parameter level comprising a color-related parameter level, wherein the intensity evaluator determines a first image parameter value associated with a first crop row and a second image parameter value associated with a second crop row, the intensity evaluator determining a maximum image parameter value for the first crop row and the second crop row; an alignment detector for identifying a preferential heading of the vehicle that is generally aligned with respect to a crop feature, associated with the collected image data, based on the determined scan-line-image-parameter level meeting or exceeding a maximum value or minimum threshold value; a reliability estimator for estimating a reliability of the vehicle heading based on compliance with an image parameter level criteria associated with one or more crop rows; a data processor determining a spacing between a first crop row and a second crop row; and the reliability estimator considering vision guidance data reliable for a time period if the first image parameter value does not differ from the second image parameter value by more than a minimum threshold, if the determined spacing between the first crop row falls within a defined width range, and if the maximum image parameter value is greater than a certain threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification