A VEHICLE COMBINATION

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle combination comprising a master vehicle, such as e.g. an agricultural tractor (3) with a control system for controlling one or more satellite vehicles (4). The satellite vehicle (4) is an unmanned vehicle. By means of a control system the satellite vehicle (4) can be controlled radiographically. By means of the control system, which comprises switch means, the instruction program for the satellite vehicle (4) can be started up.

Description: A VEHICLE COMBINATION The invention relates to a vehicle combination comprising a master vehicle, such as e.g. an agricultural tractor with a control system for controlling one or more satellite vehicles. According to an inventive feature the satellite vehicle is unmanned. In this manner it is possible at least to double the working capacity of one person. According to an inventive feature the satellite vehicle is used as an implement carrier or is designed as a transport wagon, a mower-thresher or any other self-propelled agricultural implement. The vehicle combination according to the invention has the advantage that a person can work with two or more implements at the same time, while the working width is at least doubled. For the purpose of controlling the satellite vehicle, according to an inventive feature the control system is designed as a remote control system, such as a radiographic remote control system and/or a cable connection between the master vehicle and the satellite vehicle. According to an aspect of the invention an implement carried or drawn by the satellite vehicle and/or the self-propelled agricultural implement can be controlled automatically or manually via the remote control system. In accordance with still another inventive feature, by means of the control system there can be started up an instruction program for the satellite vehicle. In this manner the driver of the master vehicle can pay all his attention to driving the vehicle and has not to take the satellite vehicle into consideration. For example, according to a further inventive feature, the driver can choose an instruction program for making e.g. the master vehicle and the satellite vehicle drive parallel to each other and/or for following the track of the master vehicle. In the first situation two operations can take place beside each other, while in the second situation two operations can take place behind each other. It will be obvious that depending on the kind of operation different instruction programs can be started up e.g. be programmed. In order to keep the distance between the satellite vehicle and the master vehicle egual, according to an inventive feature the master vehicle and/or the satellite vehicle comprise(s) distance measuring means with the aid of which the distance between the master vehicle and the satel- lite vehicle is determined. According to an inventive feature the master vehicle and/or the satellite vehicle comprise(s) angle measuring means with the aid of which the angle(s) between the master vehicle and one or more satellite vehicles can be determined. In this manner, in cooperation with the distance measuring means, the position of a satellite vehicle relative to the master vehicle can be determined and, if required, on the basis thereof the direction and/or the speed of one of the two vehicles can be adjusted. In accordance with again another aspect of the invention, the master vehicle and/or the satellite vehicle comprise(s) driving speed sensors by means of which the driving speed of the two vehicles can be determined. According to a further inventive feature the master vehicle and/or the satellite vehicle comprise(s) track- following means, such as e.g. a camera with picture analysis, or a mechanical feeler element for following a track/tramline . For the purpose of realizing precision-farming by means of the vehicle combination, according to a further aspect of the invention the master vehicle and/or the satellite vehicle comprise(s) a navigation system, such as e.g. GPS, with the aid of which the position of the master vehicle and/or the satellite vehicle can be defined. In accordance with a further inventive feature it is also possible to switch the control system to manual control, so that the satellite vehicle can be controlled by hand. This may in particular be important when at the end of the working pass the satellite vehicle has to be turned for being positioned in a new working pass. If this is effected automatically, there will be required relatively much equipment, whereas it can be performed quickly, cheaply and efficiently by means of a simple manual control mechanism. According to again another inventive feature the satellite vehicle is provided with a camera and the master vehicle is provided with a monitor which receives the pictures from the camera and shows them on a screen. In this manner the driver of the master vehicle can supervise the satellite vehicle. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disposed a camera both at the front and the rear side of the satellite vehicle. Because of this measure the driver of the master vehicle can closely watch the course of the satellite vehicle, while also the function of an agricultural implement coupled to the satellite vehicle can be checked. According to again another inventive feature the satellite vehicle is provided with coupling means with the aid of which agricultural implements, such as a fertilizer spreader, a seeder, a field sprayer, a mower and a hay-making machine, can be coupled to the satellite vehicle. For the purpose of transporting the satellite vehicles by road, the master vehicle comprises coupling means with the aid of which the satellite vehicles can be coupled to the rear and/or the front side of the master vehicle. In accordance with another inventive feature the vehicle combination is provided with an implement control system for controlling an implement, which control system is designed such that also other implements disposed on the master vehicle and/or a satellite vehicle can be controlled by the relevant implement control system. Because of this measure a plurality of implements can be controlled by means of one implement control system. The invention also relates to a satellite vehicle which can be used in a vehicle combination as described in the foregoing. The invention furthermore relates to a control system that can be utilized in a vehicle combination as described in the foregoing. The invention will be explained in further detail with reference to an accompanying drawing. Figure 1 is a plan view of a vehicle combination in accordance with the invention. Figure 1 shows a vehicle combination 1 which is active on a parcel 2. The vehicle combination 1 comprises a master vehicle which is designed in the present embodiment as an agricultural tractor 3 as well as a satellite vehicle 4 which is active at some distance therefrom. The satellite vehicle 4 is an unmanned vehicle that is provided with an own power supply. Both the agricultural tractor 3 and the satellite vehicle are provided with a (non-shown) control system for controlling the satellite vehicle 4. In the present embodiment the communication between the agricultural tractor 3 and the satellite vehicle 4 takes place via a radiographic connection. As a consequence thereof both the agricultural tractor and the satellite vehicle 4 comprise an aerial 5. However, it is also possible to have the communication between the two vehicles or a plurality of vehicles take place by means of a cable connection. The control system additionally comprises (non- shown) switch means with the aid of which an instruction program for a relevant satellite vehicle 4 can be started up. In the present embodiment the program for parallel driving has been chosen. The agricultural tractor 3 and the satellite vehicle 4 are further provided with distance measuring means 6 with the aid of which the distance between the agricultural tractor 3 and the satellite vehicle 4 can be determined. If a given distance between the two vehicles has been chosen and one of the vehicles deviates therefrom, this deviation can be adjusted automatically by means of the control system. For the purpose of realizing e.g. precision-farming by means of the vehicle combination 1, it is possible to connect the control system to a navigation system, such as GPS, and/or a yield mapping system. Near its front and rear side the satellite vehicle 4 is further provided with a camera 7 by means of which pictures both of the front side and the rear side of the satellite vehicle 4 can be received. These pictures are transmitted via the aerial 5 to the agricultural tractor 3 where the pictures can be shown on a monitor 8 disposed in the agricultural tractor 3. The satellite vehicle 4 is additionally provided with a speed sensor 9 by means of which the speed of the satellite vehicle 4 can be determined. The signal supplied by the speed sensor 9 is transmitted via the aerial 5 to the control system in the agricultural tractor 3. The agricultural tractor 3 is also provided with a speed sensor 9 by means of which the driving speed of the agricul- tural tractor 3 can be determined and whose signal is also supplied to the control system. In this manner the speed of the agricultural tractor 3 and that of one or more satellite vehicles 4 can be mutually attuned. Both the agricultural tractor 3 and the satellite vehicle 4 are provided near their rear sides with a three- point lifting hitch 10 to which, in the present embodiment, centrifugal spreaders 11 are coupled. It will be obvious that it will also be possible to dispose, near the front sides of both the agricultural tractor and the satellite vehicle 4, coupling means to which the agricultural implement can be coupled. The present vehicle combination 1 functions as follows : After the satellite vehicle 4 has been uncoupled from the agricultural tractor 3, by means of the manual control mechanism the satellite vehicle 4 can be driven by the tractor driver to a tramline 12 on the parcel 2. After the satellite vehicle 4 has been positioned properly relative to the tramline 12, which can be checked e.g. by the camera or by means of the GPS navigation system, the tractor driver chooses the control program for parallel driving. This implies that there is automatically driven at a predetermined driving speed, which is checked by means of the speed sensor 9. Furthermore there is determined with the aid of the distance measuring means 6 whether the satellite vehicle 4 is driving parallel to the agricultural tractor 3. If one of the vehicles deviates as regards speed or direction from the predetermined tramline, the control system ensures that the relevant vehicle is adjusted. By means of the control program the two centrifugal spreaders 11 can also be controlled so as to drive parallel to each other. In this manner it is possible to spread e.g. 36 metres or more in one working pass by means of the centrifugal spreaders 11. As a result thereof the capacity is doubled. When the vehicle combination 1 has arrived at the end of the parcel, the tractor driver can switch to manual control with the aid of the switch means. This results in automatic switching off of the centrifugal spreaders 11 or any other agricultural implements. Subse- quently the tractor driver can move the satellite vehicle 4 along the headland of the parcel 2 towards a new working pass, which in the present situation is a next tramline. By means of the camera 7 and optionally the GPS navigation system, the tractor driver can check whether the satellite vehicle 4 is correctly positioned relative to the tramline. Then the tractor driver can drive the agricultural tractor 3 to a next tramline and start up the program for parallel driving again, whereafter a next working pass is spread. After the whole parcel 2 has been spread, the satellite vehicle 4 can be coupled to the rear side of the agricultural tractor 3 by means of (non-shown) coupling means, for the purpose of transporting said satellite vehicle 4 to a next parcel or to the farm.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A vehicle combination comprising a master vehicle, such as e.g. an agricultural tractor (3) with a control system for controlling one or more satellite vehicles (4). 2. A vehicle combination as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the satellite vehicle (4) is an unmanned vehicle. 3. A vehicle combination as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the satellite vehicle is used as an implement carrier or is designed as a transport vehicle, a mower-thresher or any other self-propelled agricultural implement . 4. A vehicle combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control system is designed as a remote control system, such as a radiographic remote control system and/or a control system by means of a cable connection. 5. A vehicle combination as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that an implement carried or drawn by the satellite vehicle and/or the self-propelled agricultural implement can be controlled automatically or manually by means of the remote control system. 6. A vehicle combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by means of the control system different instruction programs for the satellite vehicle (4) can be started up. 7. A vehicle combination as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that there can be chosen an instruction program, e.g. for making the agricultural tractor (3) and the satellite vehicle (4) drive parallel to each other and/or for following the track of the master vehicle (3). 8. A vehicle combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the master vehicle (3) and/or the satellite vehicle (4) comprise(s) distance measuring means (6) with the aid of which the distance between the master vehicle (3) and the satellite vehicle (4) is determined. 9. A vehicle combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the master vehicle (3) and/or the satellite vehicle (4) comprise(s) angle measuring means with the aid of which the angle(s) between the master vehicle (3) and one or more satellite vehicles (4) can be determined. 10. A vehicle combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the master vehicle (3) and/or the satellite vehicle (4) comprise(s) driving speed sensors by means of which the respective driving speeds of the two vehicles can be determined. 11. A vehicle combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the master vehicle (3) and/or the satellite vehicle (4) comprise(s) track- following means, such as e.g. a camera with picture analysis, or a mechanical feeler element for following a track/tramline . 12. A vehicle combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the master vehicle (3) and/or the satellite vehicle (4) comprise(s) a navigation system, such as e.g. GPS, with the aid of which the position of the master vehicle (3) and/or the satellite vehicle (4) can be defined. 13. A vehicle combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control system comprises a manual control mechanism by means of which the satellite vehicle (4) can be controlled manually. 14. A vehicle combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the satellite vehicle (4) is provided with a camera (7), and the master vehicle (3) is provided with a monitor (8) which receives the pictures from the camera and shows them on a screen. 15. A vehicle combination as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that near the front side and the rear side of the satellite vehicle (4) there is disposed a camera (7). 16. A vehicle combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the satellite vehicle (4) is provided with coupling means (10) with the aid of which agricultural implements, such as a fertilizer spreader (11), a seeder, a field sprayer, a mower and a hay-making machine, can be coupled to the satellite vehicle (4). 17. A vehicle combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the master vehicle (3) and the satellite vehicle (4) are provided with further coupling means with the aid of which the satellite vehicle (4) can be coupled to the master vehicle (3). 18. A vehicle combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle combination is provided with an implement control system for controlling an implement, which control system is designed such that also other implements disposed on the master vehicle (3) and/or another satellite vehicle can be controlled by the relevant implement control system. 19. A satellite vehicle (4) which can be used in a vehicle combination as claimed in one or more of claims 1 - 18. 20. A control system which can be utilized in a vehicle combination as claimed in one or more of claims 1 - 18. 21. A method of controlling a vehicle combination as claimed in one or more of claims 1 - 20, in which the driver of a master vehicle can position manually one or more satellite vehicles by means of a remote control system and in which the driver chooses a determined instruction program, such as driving parallel to the master vehicle, while at the end of the working pass the satellite vehicle is switched off automatically by the driver or the relevant satellite vehicle is positioned by the driver in a new working pass by means of a manual control mechanism.

Inventors: LELY OLAF VAN DER, VAN DER LELY, OLAF
Applicants: LELY OLAF VAN DER, MAASLAND NV, MAASLAND N.V., VAN DER LELY, OLAF
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G05D1
IPC codes: A01B69, G05D1