Field navigation system

A location system for use in a farm vehicle moving within an agricultural field having a perimeter and moving in a selected direction, the location system comprising:

• a satellite sensor and a second heading sensor configured to provide a plurality of current heading signals representative of the current selected direction of movement of the vehicle from those available to be chosen during the operation of the vehicle in the agricultural field;
• a signal selector configured to select between the plurality of heading signals;
• a speed sensor configured to provide a current speed signal representative of a current speed of the vehicle;
• a first memory configured to store initial position data indicative of a selected initial position of the vehicle and for storing checkpoint data indicative of a position of a navigation checkpoint;
• a digital memory configured to store a plurality of records, each record including geographic information data representing selected attributes of the field including soil attributes and corresponding positional data;
• a processor configured to estimate a current position signal representing an estimated current position of the vehicle based on values of the selected heading signal;
• values of the speed signal, the initial position data, and on previous values of the current position signal, wherein values of the current position signal correspond to records stored in the digital memory, and wherein the processor includes a correction circuit for selectively correcting the current position signal based on selected position inputs which indicate an approximate vehicle position relative to the position of a navigational checkpoint, and an alerting circuit for delivering an alerting signal to an operator of the vehicle based on the current position signal and the geographic information data stored in the digital memory, the alerting signal indicative of the vehicle reaching a selected region of predetermined stored geographic data within the field;
• and
• a user interface adapted to receive position inputs from the operator.

A navigation system for navigating an agricultural vehicle in an agricultural field for precision farming, comprising:

• a satellite navigation receiver configured to generate a geo-position signal;
• a processor coupled to the satellite navigation receiver and configured to receive the geo-position signal;
• a digital memory coupled to the processor to receive and store a plurality of records, each such record including geographic information data representing selected aspects of the field including soil attributes and corresponding positional data;
• a display device coupled to the processor and adapted to deliver an alert to the operator of the vehicle based upon a current position of the vehicle and the geographic information data stored in the digital memory, the alert indicative of the vehicle reaching a selected region of predetermined stored geographic data of selected soil attributes within the field.

A system for navigating a farm vehicle in an agricultural field, comprising:

• a digital data processor;
• a satellite sensor coupled to the processor and configured to provide data indicative of the vehicle's current location within the field;
• a digital memory coupled to the processor and configured to store a database comprising a plurality of records, each record including geographic position data for a location within the field and corresponding data indicative of characteristics of that location wherein the characteristics include soil attributes including at least a seed application rate for that location used to regulate the application of seeds to the agricultural field;
• and
• a display coupled to the processor, the processor configured to access the database to deliver a signal to an operator of the vehicle when the vehicle's current location indicates that the vehicle has reached a selected region within the field having selected characteristics.

A system for navigating a farm vehicle in an agricultural field, comprising:

• a digital data processor;
• a satellite sensor coupled to the processor and configured to provide data indicative of the vehicle's current location within the field;
• a digital memory coupled to the processor and configured to store a database comprising a plurality of records, each record including geographic position data for a location within the field and corresponding data indicative of characteristics of that location wherein the characteristics include soil attributes;
• and
• a display coupled to the processor and configured to deliver a signal to an operator of the vehicle when the vehicle reaches a selected region within the field coinciding with the geographic position data in the database as determined by at least one datum indicative of a selected characteristic of that selected region, wherein the corresponding data indicative of characteristics of locations in the field is used to regulate the application of chemicals and seeds to the field.