Method and apparatus for selecting a transition scheme for use in transitioning a mobile machine from a first path to a second path

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for transitioning a mobile machine from a first path to a second path within a work area includes selecting from among one or more transition schemes, wherein the transitions schemes are composed of one or more interim paths between the first path and the second path. The desired transition scheme is chosen by evaluating one or more performance criteria including whether the interim paths overshoot the second path and whether the interim paths remain within a perimeter surrounding the work area. Additional performance criteria that may be evaluated include the number of interim paths the mobile machine must follow to transition from the end of the first path to the beginning of the second path, the number of heading changes required by the candidate transition scheme, and the amount of the first path and the second path that is traversed by the mobile machine as a result of the candidate transition scheme. A validity grade is determined based on the performance criteria, and the transition scheme having the optimum validity grade is selected. Determining the validity grade may also include using weighting factors on the performance criteria.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.