Patent ID: 9173337
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: A01B,G01S,G05D

Abstract:
1. A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) based material distribution control system for a vehicle, which system comprises: a material hopper associated with the vehicle and adapted for containing a material to be distributed; a spreader mechanism adapted for spreading the material along a travel path of the vehicle; a gate box assembly connected to the hopper and the spreader mechanism; said gate box assembly being adapted for selectively controlling a flow of material from the hopper to the spreader mechanism; a GNSS subsystem mounted on the vehicle and including an antenna, a graphical user interface (GUI) and a GNSS receiver, said GNSS subsystem being adapted for providing GNSS-based positioning information for said vehicle; a gate box control subsystem including a controller connected to the GNSS subsystem and the gate box assembly and adapted for controlling said gate box assembly using said GNSS-based positioning information; a first computer having a processor and data storage; a second computer located at a remote location from the first computer, said second computer having a processor and data storage; said first computer being configured for storing field data from at least one predetermined location in said first computer data storage; said first computer being configured for analyzing said field data; said first computer being configured for generating a prescription plan for said predetermined location based upon the combination of said analysis and said field data; said first computer being configured for transmitting said prescription plan to said second computer; and said controller being configured to receive instructions from said second computer based upon said prescription plan.