Abstract:
A GNSS-based contour guidance path selection system for guiding a piece of equipment through an operation, such as navigating a guide path, includes a processor programmed for locking onto a particular aspect of the operation, such as deviating from a pre-planned or original guidance pattern and locking the guidance system onto a new route guide path, while ignoring other guidance paths. The system gives a vehicle operator control over a guidance route without the need to re-plan a pre-planned route. The device corrects conflicting signal issues arising when new swaths result in the guidance system receiving conflicting directions of guidance where the new swaths cross predefined swaths. An operator can either manually, or with an autosteer subsystem automatically, maintain a new contour guidance pattern, even while crossing predefined guidance paths that would otherwise divert the vehicle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to vehicle guidance, and in particular to a system and method for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) based positioning, guidance and automatic steering allowing a user to lock onto and guide a vehicle in real time along one particular guidance path of choice, which may deviate from an initial or pre-planned guidance route, while ignoring other possible guidance paths. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In the field of vehicle guidance and navigation, GNSS technology, including the Global Positioning System (GPS), has enabled a wide range of applications. For example, various GNSS receivers are available for aviation, marine and terrestrial vehicles. The GNSS information provided by such receivers can be processed and used for navigation. In more sophisticated systems, vehicle guidance can be automatically controlled using such information. For example, a predetermined travel or flight path can be programmed into an on-board computer. The vehicle guidance system can automatically maintain appropriate navigation parameters, such as course, heading, speed, altitude, etc. Control system, feedback theory and signal filtering techniques can be used to interactively anticipate (with higher order systems) and compensate for course deviations and navigation errors. Such sophisticated autopilot and automatic steering systems include computers and automated flight and steering controls integrated with manual controls. 
         [0005]    Accurate vehicle and equipment guidance is an important objective in agriculture. For example, cultivating, tilling, planting, spraying, fertilizing, harvesting and other farming operations typically involve specialized equipment and materials, which are operated and applied by making multiple passes over cultivated fields. Ideally, the equipment is guided through accurately-spaced passes or swaths, the spacing of which is determined by the swath width of the equipment. Gaps and overlaps can occur when operators deviate from the ideal guide paths, resulting in under-coverage and over-coverage respectively. Such gaps and overlaps are detrimental to agricultural operations and can reduce crop yields. For example, gaps in coverage reduce the effective areas of fields being cultivated and treated. Overall crop production may suffer as a result. Overlaps in coverage tend to be inefficient and wasteful of materials, such as fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, seed and fuel. Another potential problem with overlapping coverage relates to the potentially crop-damaging effects of double applications of certain agricultural chemicals. 
         [0006]    Accurate positioning and guidance are also important in other fields, such as machine control and earth working. Controlling a vehicle&#39;s movement as well as its actual job function is important in operations such as trench digging and material hauling. Defining vehicle paths up narrow work roads in a strip mining installation, for instance, can help avoid vehicle collisions and improve safety. Guidance in almost any industrial or agricultural industry can benefit from improved guidance. 
         [0007]    Previous mechanical systems for assisting with the guidance of agricultural equipment include foam markers, which deposit foam along the swath edges. The foam lines produced by foam markers provide operators with visible reference lines on which subsequent passes can be aligned. However, foam marking systems consume foam-making materials and provide only temporary foam marks. Moreover, guiding along such foam lines requires the operators to visually estimate the locations of the implement ends relative to the foam lines. Implements such as spray booms can span 50 feet or more, thus increasing the difficulties associated with visually aligning distant, elevated boom ends with foam lines on the ground. 
         [0008]    Vehicles and their operators are often provided with guidance instructions from a GNSS system which receives satellite and optional local real-time kinematic (RTK) signals and translates them into a triangulated position of the vehicle in question. Depending on the GNSS system, the accuracy of a particular vehicle&#39;s position can be determined at sub-centimeter level accuracy. Systems exist that allow end users to create pre-planned guidance paths through a field or to base such a path off of a first swath within the field; however, these systems are limited to follow the paths set for them or established by a single initial row unless the user decides to manually guide the vehicle without the use of GNSS guidance for the remainder of a working period. 
         [0009]    GNSS-based guidance is a popular and widely-used method for providing vehicle guidance today. GNSS guidance employs several different techniques to allow for optimum automated guidance of a vehicle while it is performing its job. Such guidance options include straight line A-to-B guidance, guidance based on a previous swath, or guidance based on a preplanned guide path. A more recent method for vehicle guidance utilizes a contour path or “curvature” path to guide a vehicle along complex field boundaries or in areas of widely ranging and sloping elevation. The methods of U.S. Pat. No. 7,437,230, which is incorporated herein by reference, provide a unique and useful approach to compute guidance paths based on curvature using a minimum turning radius upon which to base the allowable curve of a path. 
         [0010]    Previous GNSS guidance systems lacking the ability to reconfigure the guidance path on-the-fly (i.e., in real-time) tended to restrict vehicle guidance to whatever pre-planned path was developed prior to the vehicle being put to work. If the vehicle operator determines that the pre-planned path is not ideal while actually working the vehicle, it is difficult to change the system to use a new guidance path. The reason for this is that many previous guidance systems, such as the Outback S3 GNSS guidance system by Hemisphere GPS LLC of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, are constantly searching for guidance points in a field or a work area. When they find a guidance point they instruct the operator or auto-steer function to follow the located guidance path. This can cause the guidance system to become confused and misguide the vehicle when one guidance path crosses another guidance path. Previously there has not been a method or system allowing a GNSS-based guidance system to ignore all but a single guidance path with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In the practice of an aspect of the present invention, a vehicle equipped with and guided by a typical GNSS guidance system is driven along a preplanned path. The vehicle is also equipped with a guidance path-lock system capable of establishing and locking onto a single guidance path and ignoring all other guide paths. The vehicle can follow either the preplanned path or, at the option of the operator, be set and locked to follow a new path based off of a previous swath that can be straight or contoured depending on the terrain and the operator&#39;s preference. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an agricultural vehicle comprising a tractor connected to an implement and equipped with a GNSS guidance system with a contour path locking (“contour lock”) subsystem embodying an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2A-E  show a display produced by the contour lock subsystem and associated with various guidance conditions in a cultivated field, including various swath patterns. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart demonstrating the steps taken to perform the contour lock method of the present invention utilizing the GNSS guidance system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
       [0015]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0016]    Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as oriented in the view being referred to. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. The invention can be fabricated in various sizes and configurations from a wide variety of suitable materials, which are chosen for their characteristics according to the intended use and the operation of the invention. 
         [0017]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a GNSS guidance system to provide an initial path. The initial path may be based off of preplanned maps entered into the system&#39;s memory, or off of an initial swath taken by the vehicle, or by any method feasible for establishing a typical GNSS guidance map. From this point, however, the present invention will enable the operator of the vehicle to stop using the original guidance path and to create a new guidance path, while still recognizing the original guidance path points so that the operator can choose to return to the original path at any time. 
         [0018]    Referring to the drawings in more detail,  FIG. 1  shows an agricultural vehicle  7  comprising a tractor  3  connected to an implement  5  and equipped with a GNSS guidance system  24  including a contour lock subsystem  2  embodying an aspect of the present invention. The guidance system  24  includes an automatic steering (“autosteer”) subsystem  26  in a preferred embodiment. Such an automatic steering subsystem  26  is similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,142,956, which is incorporated herein by reference. The GNSS guidance system  24  comprises a GNSS receiver unit  22  and at least one antenna  32  mounted on the tractor  3 . The GNSS receiver unit  22  is further comprised of a receiver  25 , a clock  27 , a processor  28 , an orientation device  30 , and a graphical user interface (GUI)  34 . The guidance system processor  28  is either uploaded with a pre-planned path for the vehicle to traverse while working, or is configured to create a series of guidance paths by storing GNSS data points during swaths off of the position points of previous swaths. 
       II. Contour Lock Subsystem  2   
       [0019]    A guidance path locking (contour lock) subsystem  2  is also installed on the tractor  3  or other suitable vehicle and in direct connection with the GNSS processor  28 . The path locking system  2  is capable of establishing new GNSS guidance paths on-the-fly (i.e., in real time) at the control of the vehicle operator while the GNSS processor  28  continues to store the pre-planned path or prior GNSS path information so that the operator can choose to exit the path locking subsystem  2  and return to the original guidance pattern. In a preferred embodiment, the path locking system  2  is controlled via user interface at the GUI  34  of the GNSS guidance system  24 . The GUI  34  can include any suitable display device, such as a monitor or an LED display. The GUI can include any suitable input device, such as a keypad, a keyboard, a touch screen, a wireless remote control, a tracking ball, a mouse, etc. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 2A through 2E  show plan views of a field  4  as viewed on a GUI within screen borders  6  being worked by a tractor  3  towing an implement  5  (collectively a vehicle  7 ) using the contour path locking subsystem  2  of the present invention.  FIGS. 2A-E  represent a progression of a field-working vehicle  7  as it initially follows A-B point rows in  FIG. 2A , deviates from these point rows and initiates the Contour Lock mode of the path locking system  2  in  FIG. 2B , locks onto the deviated path pattern in  FIGS. 2C  and D, and finally breaks from the locked path in  FIG. 2E . The GUI display  34  denotes various path-following modes via screen items  79 ,  80 ,  82 ,  84  in the upper right-hand corners of the display  34 . Also present on the GUI display is an on-screen steering guide  36 . The steering guide  36  alerts the driver of the vehicle  7  when the vehicle has deviated from the path that the guidance system is following. The steering guide  36  is similar to that described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,539,303 and 6,711,501, which are incorporated herein by reference. The steering guide  36  indicates to the vehicle  7  operator how far off of the desired path the vehicle is. An upper steering guide arc  42  indicates the angle at which the vehicle is turned askew from the desired path in degrees, and a lower steering guide bar  44  indicates the distance the vehicle is offset left or right of the desired path. Using the steering guide  36  a vehicle operator can manually guide the vehicle  7  back onto the desired path instead of relying on an autosteer mechanism. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2A  demonstrates a vehicle in A-B point row path guidance performing point row swaths on a field  4 . Initial swaths  8  are based off of either a pre-planned guide path or an initial swath manually driven, after which each successive swath is modeled and guided by the GNSS guidance system  24 . The GNSS system  24  is programmed to constantly search for the closest swath  8  to guide off of. The GNSS guidance system  24  uses a center guideline  10  to establish where the tractor  3  has traveled or will travel, but could be programmed to guide to one or both of the swath edges, each associated with a respective end of the implement  5 . 
         [0022]    As the vehicle is following the A-B point row pre-planned paths  10 , as denoted on-screen by an A-B guidance mode symbol  79 , it may at any point choose to continue following the pre-planned path, or deviate from that path, as denoted by the decision arrows  11 .  FIG. 2B  demonstrates a vehicle as it deviates from the pre-planned path  10  and initiates the contour-tracking mode as denoted on screen by a contour guidance mode symbol or screen item  80 . The tractor follows the deviated path  12 , and the guidance system  24  records the path as traveled by the vehicle  7  and stores that position information in the memory of the processor  28 . The processor will then establish guideline paths  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 2C  and D, based on the deviated contour path  12 . 
         [0023]    In  FIGS. 2C  and D, the vehicle  7  has entered into the Contour Lock mode as denoted by the symbol  82 . The operator of the vehicle  7  can activate the path locking system  2  (“Contour Lock On”) via any suitable input switch interface, such as a touch screen graphical user interface (GUI)  34  connected to the processor  28 . The operator can steer a deviated path  12  away from the guidance lines  10 , which were automatically created by the GNSS system  24 . After the operator drives the deviated path  12 , the path locking system  2 , through the GNSS guidance system processor  28 , will lock the guidance system  24  onto a guideline  14  defined by a swath-width offset from the adjacent swath guideline  14 . Such guideline generating algorithms using swath widths (generally represented by the implement  5  width) as offsets are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,539,303 and 6,711,501 as mentioned above and which are incorporated herein by reference. With the Contour Lock mode active, the GNSS guidance system  24  will cease searching for new swaths and ignore all other guidance information. The system  2  will then lock on this new guideline  14  based off of the deviated path  12 , and will then guide to or drive (with autosteer  26  on) the guideline  14 . The system projects a future guideline  16  based on the deviated path of which the tractor will follow until the system vehicle  7  deviates from this locked guideline  14 . 
         [0024]    The path lock system  2  will stay engaged and locked in Contour Lock mode onto the desired path until the vehicle deviates from the locked guideline  14  by a predetermined amount, e.g. an offset of 2 meters or an angular deviation of 10%, resulting in a cross-track error  38  as demonstrated in  FIG. 2E . Such disengaging cross-track errors  38  could be adjustable by the operator and/or include preprogrammed default deviation threshold conditions. The deviation could occur either with the operator intentionally steering the tractor  3  away from the deviated path  12  or because of uneven terrain or other irregularities that cause the vehicle  7  to become misaligned from the projected locked path  16 . The contour lock subsystem  2  will then disengage and unlock and begin searching for the nearest swath again, and may pick up any previous swath, either preplanned  8  or deviated  12 . The operator will guide the vehicle along a new guidance line, and after a specific period following the same guide line the system  2  can reengage and lock onto whichever guideline  10 ,  14  is chosen by the operator. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2D  shows an enlarged, fragmentary view of the vehicle  7  in the field  4  as previously shown in  FIG. 2C .  FIG. 2D  shows intersection points  18  where the guidance system  24  could encounter ambiguity over which direction to guide the vehicle, i.e., initial guideline  10  or new guideline  14 . At an intersection  18  of guidelines  10 ,  14 , the tractor  3  (“Contour Lock” mode on) is still following the locked path  14  and has not diverted, so the system  2  will ignore the prior pre-planned guide path  10  on crossing. A keyhole turn 15 whereat the vehicle  7  reverses direction is shown in  FIG. 2C . Because of the widths of typical implements  5 , the operator would typically swing wide, first turning away from the desired turning direction in order to establish a sufficiently large turning radius to accommodate the implement  5 , thus forming a keyhole-shaped turn ( FIG. 2B ). However, as the operator turns the vehicle  7  and deviations exceed 2 meters or 10% from the locked path, the system  2  will unlock its Contour Lock mode and the guidance system  24  may try to guide the vehicle onto a number of paths, as shown as intersecting the current path at  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 , and  20 . 3  in  FIG. 2C . The operator has the option of continuing with the deviated path  16  or to going back to guiding on a pre-planned path  10 . 
         [0026]    It should be noted that when the vehicle deviates from the preplanned path, but the system  2  is not placed in Contour Lock mode, the guidance system  24  will only pick up a different path if it is at a very small angle relative to the path currently being followed. For instance, if the vehicle  7  has at one time exited the field  4  for some reasons at a perpendicular 90 degree angle to the preplanned paths, the guidance system  24  will ignore those recorded perpendicular guidance paths when the vehicle  7  returns to traveling the preplanned guidance path. The guidance system in Contour Mode or A-B path-find mode will only deviate from the currently guided path when deviations are at small angles (close or parallel) to the path being traveled. Contour Lock mode will prevent the guidance system from picking up these small deviations. Such a small-angle path crossing is represented by θ in  FIG. 2D . As the current path  16  approaches the pre-planned or point row path  10 , the guidance system  24  without Contour Lock mode engaged may direct the vehicle  7  to follow the pre-planned or point row path  10 . Contour Lock mode directs the guidance system  24  to ignore these deviating paths and follow new path  16 , which is defined by a swath-width, parallel offset from locked path  14 . 
         [0027]    After the operator chooses a path, he or she then drives (or allows the autosteer function to operate the tractor  3 ) in that direction and the guidance system  24  will continue searching for guidance paths  10 . After several moments of the tractor  3  being manually guided along one path, the system  2  will pick up on that uniform path and once again lock to it, creating a new projected locked path  16 . 
       III. Guidance Path Locking Method 
       [0028]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing a method embodying an aspect of the present invention. The general steps taken while practicing a method of a preferred embodiment of the present invention are shown and described as follows, although the method of the present invention could involve other steps in other sequences. 
         [0029]    The method starts at  50 . The vehicle and guidance systems are initialized and the user will select to enter Contour Guide Mode at  52 . This will result in the path lock symbol  80  appearing on the GUI  34  indicating that the path lock system  2  is on and searching for contour paths, but is not yet engaged. The guidance system  24  will obtain a new GPS position at  54  and then perform a check at  56  to determine whether contour lock as been engaged. 
         [0030]    If contour lock has not been engaged, the guidance system  24  will perform a search of the entire list of contour data received by the guidance system and find the approximate closest point at  58  to the current vehicle position. Once the approximate closest point has been found, or if the answer to the check at  56  is “yes,” the guidance system  24  will begin at the current closest point as received, and then walk up and down the list of collected contour data to locate the exact closest point at  60 . From here, the guidance solution will be computed by this closest point at  62 . Using the solved closest point, the guidance system  24  will guide the vehicle  7  along the best-fit contour path based on the “closest point” method defined above. 
         [0031]    Next a series of checks are performed to determine whether to engage the contour lock mode. First, the guidance system  24  will determine whether the computed guidance solution is within predetermined limits for locking onto a guidance path at  64 . For instance, if the computed guidance path is at an angle greater than 50 degrees relative to the currently traveled path, the guidance system may selectively ignore that guidance path as outside of these limits. If the computed guidance solution is not within proper contour lock limits, the contour lock will remain disengaged at  72  and a new GPS position will be determined at  54 . 
         [0032]    If the original guidance solution is determined to be within the determined limits at  64 , then the guidance system will perform guidance functions at  66 . This guidance can either be visually through a display unit in the cabin directing a human user where to steer the vehicle  7 , or it may be through the operation of an autosteer system  26 . The guidance system  24  will guide the vehicle  7  along the chosen contour path while performing a check to determine whether the guidance is within the contour lock limits at  68 . These limits include determining whether the vehicle  7  has deviated from the contour path by more than two meters or ten percent of the swath width. If the vehicle does not pass the check at  68 , contour lock will disengage at  72  and the guidance system  24  will find a new GPS location  54  and begin the process anew. When the lock is disengaged at  72 , the GUI  34  will display the disengaged lock symbol screen item  84  on screen  34  ( FIG. 2E ). 
         [0033]    If the guidance system  24  determines that the guidance check at  68  is within the limits required by the contour lock system  2 , the contour lock mode will engage at  70 , and the locked symbol screen item  82  will appear onscreen of the GUI  34  ( FIG. 2C ) indicating to the vehicle operator that the system is currently locked to the detected contour path and the guidance system  24  will ignore all other paths. 
         [0034]    The contour lock method loops back to step  54  where the GPS position determination is made, and the loop repeats. Depending on whether contour lock is engaged at  70  or disengaged at  72 , the check at  56  will return a “yes” or “no” result. Generally if the contour lock is engaged, it will remain engaged until the checks at  64  or  68  result in a “no” result. This outcome can either be the result of the vehicle accidentally leaving the tracked contour path by a certain margin, or by the vehicle user intentionally disengaging the contour lock mode by steering the vehicle  7  off the guidance path. This could be because the user desires to turn the vehicle  7  around and follow a parallel path across the field, to avoid an obstacle, or for any other conceivable reason. The process will then restart until the guidance system  24  locates and guides the vehicle along a new guidance path, and the contour lock system  2  locks onto that path. 
       IV. Guidance as a Macro 
       [0035]    Another use for the present invention is macro-programming automation systems in vehicles, e.g., in the earth working industry. Earth working often requires an operator to make repetitive “cut” and “fill” actions, such as cutting trenches or hauling and dumping material. These machines could be programmed with a pattern of motion called a macro to be repeated several times. The repetition can be triggered on operator command or by an auto-engage criteria similar to existing steering auto-engage logic on GNSS guidance systems such as those made by Hemisphere GPS LLC of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The purpose of such macros is to reduce operator workload while increasing precision and machine throughput. 
         [0036]    A macro program may be along an absolute 2D or 3D GPS location, or may be relative to the machine position. In an earth works backhoe operation, the bucket may be programmed to make a digging motion, then retract from the ditch, deposit the dirt relative to the machine and repeat. Subsequent repeats may move along a ditch and deposit the dirt along a line. The machine operator may control how the absolute macro path moves in a numeric fashion on a user interface, or may “nudge” the motion in a particular direction using a physical control handle that adjusts the subsequent operation of the macro repeats. An entire ditch could be dug with a single macro, where each repetition was adjusted by the operator using analog or digital inputs according to the difficulty of the job. A similar macro could be used by an earth moving machine where the path was adjusted downward or upward from an absolute 3D position on each succeeding repetition that had the cumulative effect of moving soil from one location to another. 
         [0037]    Such a macro program may be open or closed, and may be direction dependent or free to be set to any direction specified. The differences arising from these alternative macro types reside in the program limitations of each macro. For example, a closed macro is based on a more limited set of programmed instructions and does not allows for a wide variety of use; whereas an open macro will be more flexible and may be suited to a wide variety of circumstances. Though more limited in its uses, the closed macro will likely be able to perform more detailed, specialized tasks. 
         [0038]    Likewise some pieces of equipment may be more suited to directional macro programming than free macro programming A prime example of this is a mining truck which must perform one task when traveling one direction up or down a specific path, and another function when traveling the opposite direction. The ideal macro in such a situation is a directional, closed macro limiting the vehicle to a specific and repetitive path where one action (e.g. material pickup) is performed after traveling down a mine road, and another action (e.g. material unloading) is performed after traveling the opposite direction. 
         [0039]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention can utilize all of these macro program variations to perform a number of repetitive, complicated tasks in a variety of fields. The path lock system  2  would be valuable to the formation of such macros, as the guidance system could effectively be taught not to track or guide along other reference paths except for the single path desired for a particular job. Several jobs could be recorded into one system and the path lock system could be used to choose between the jobs, whereby all other job guidance references are ignored. Without such a device each piece of equipment would either be limited to the storage of one job function at a time, or would run the risk of the guidance system attempting to guide the vehicle along a path different than the desired work path. 
       V. Conclusion 
       [0040]    It is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms, and is not to be limited to the examples discussed above. Other components and configurations can be utilized in the practice of the present invention.