Patent ID: 6356819
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
For a tractor that includes a vehicle steering system that is a hydraulic steering system and a guidance control system that has a steering control mechanism that is engaged to automatically control the vehicle steering system, a method of assuring safe operation comprising:monitoring said steering control mechanism so as to assure that said guidance control system is operating properly; monitoring a sensor located within said tractor, said sensor for detecting the presence of the operator of said tractor; disengaging the steering control mechanism when the output of said steering control mechanism indicates that an error condition has occurred and when the operator is determined to be ready to take control of said tractor; stopping said tractor when said sensor indicates that the operator is not in said tractor; and stopping said tractor when an error condition has occurred and the operator is not determined to be ready to take control of the tractor.