Automatic path correction for guided vehicles
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorJames Hershbarger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are systems and methods to determine path selection for automated industrial vehicles. A control system includes a control unit operatively connected to a vehicle engine. A location device is operatively connected to the control unit. A steering controller is operatively connected to the control unit and configured to automatically control the path of the vehicle. The control unit includes a path correction system configured to, determine a current vehicle path from location data received from the location device, determine if the current vehicle path is different from a first automatic path, establish a second automatic path, and send a signal to the steering controller to follow the second automatic path.
Claims20
A method of implementing a vehicle path correction comprising:
- determining if a vehicle automatic steering system is engaged;
- determining an automatic steering system first path;
- compiling vehicle location data;
- determining a current vehicle heading from the compiled vehicle location data;
- determining if the difference between the current vehicle heading and the first path is above a current-heading threshold value;
- analyzing the compiled vehicle location data to model a second path if the difference between the current vehicle heading and the first path is above the current-heading threshold value;
- determining if a difference between the first path and the second path is greater than a path threshold value;
- determining a new path if the difference between the first path and the second path is greater than the path threshold value, wherein the new path does not intersect the first path;
- and
- outputting a signal configured to cause the vehicle automatic steering system to follow the new path.
A vehicle control system comprising:
- a control unit operatively connected to a vehicle engine;
- a location device operatively connected to the control unit;
- and
- a steering controller operatively connected to the control unit and configured to automatically control the path of the vehicle,
- wherein the control unit includes a path correction system configured to,
- determine a current vehicle path from location data received from the location device,
- determine if the current vehicle path is different from a first automatic path,
- establish a second automatic path that does not intersect the first automatic path, and
- send a signal to the steering controller to follow the second automatic path in response to the difference between the current vehicle path and the first automatic path being above a threshold value.
An industrial vehicle comprising:
- an engine;
- a ground engaging member operatively coupled to the engine;
- a control unit operatively connected to the engine;
- a location device operatively connected to the control unit;
- and
- a steering controller operatively connected to the control unit and the ground engaging member and configured to automatically control the path of the vehicle,
- wherein the control unit includes a path correction system configured to
- determine a current vehicle path from location data received from the location device,
- determine if the current vehicle path is different from a first automatic path,
- establish a second automatic path that does not intersect the first automatic path, and
- send a signal to the steering controller to follow the second automatic path in response to the difference between the current vehicle path and the first automatic path being above a threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.