Abstract: A vehicular positioning system utilizing multiple optical cameras having contiguous fields of view for reading coded markers having pre-determined positions for determining the position of vehicle inside a structure with a high degree of accuracy. The vehicle positioning system provides for the direct installation and use of a positioning apparatus on a vehicle with a limited number of coded markers to determine the vehicle's position to within millimeter level accuracy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dithering hydraulic valves to mitigate static friction (“stiction”) associated with the hydraulic valves. A first hydraulic valve and a second hydraulic valve are dithered to mitigate stiction associated with those valves. The dithering of the first and second hydraulic valves also cause dithering of a main hydraulic valve associated with the first and second hydraulic valves. Accordingly, stiction of three hydraulic valves of a hydraulic system is mitigated.

Abstract: A universal multi-channel receiver for receiving and processing signals from different navigation systems is provided. The universal receiver is implemented as an ASIC receiver with a number of universal channels. The receiver with universal channels is capable of receiving and processing signals from navigation satellites located within a direct access zone. The universal receiver has a plurality of channels that share the same memory. The universal receiver can determine its coordinates using any of the existing navigation systems (GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and GALILEO). The receiver can receive and process any (PN) signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting a height of an implement mounted on a body of a vehicle as the vehicle travels over a terrain are provided. Sensor data is received from a set of sensors disposed on the vehicle. A trajectory associated with the vehicle is determined based on the received sensor data. A profile of the terrain is estimated based on the determined trajectory associated with the vehicle. A ditch is detected in the terrain and compensation values for adjusting the height of the implement are determined based on the estimated profile of the terrain to compensate for the detected ditch. One or more control signals are transmitted to one or more actuators for adjusting the height of the implement based on the determined compensation values.

Abstract: A material independent mass flow sensor is used to generate signals that can be used to calculate mass flow of grain harvested by a combine. A method for determining a mass of material includes the steps of receiving data from a three-measurement transducer and determining an angular center of mass location of an object based on the data from the three-measurement transducer. A coefficient of friction of the object is determined. A velocity of the object is determined. A mass of the object is determined. The mass of the object can be determined based on the angular center of mass location of the object, the coefficient of friction of the object, and the velocity of the object.

Abstract: An antenna system includes a right-hand circularly polarized antenna for receiving Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals and located on a receiver housing; a vertical semitransparent screen for providing an Down/Up ratio DU 9 ? 0 = DU ? ( ? e = 9 ? 0 ? ) = F ? ( - 9 ? 0 ? ) F ? ( 9 ? 0 ? ) of ?13 dB or better for at least some GNSS frequencies; the semitransparent screen being connected to a ground plane of the antenna; the ground plane being connected to a conductive receiver housing; the semitransparent screen further comprising a horizontal slot to which sets of lumped impedance elements are connected. Each set includes several lumped elements; where the lumped elements are capacitors and/or inductors and/or resistors; where the lumped elements in each set are connected in parallel or series; and the semitransparent screen including at least 4 segments arranged symmetrically around the center of the antenna and connected to each other.

Abstract: A method and system for zone mapping displays a geographic area to a user and receives input from the user identifying a zone of the geographic area. An identification of an agricultural material to be applied in the zone is also received and an application plan is generated in response. The application plan is generated based on features identified in the zone, the agricultural material to be applied, and application requirements and restrictions associated with the agricultural material that are identified by the manufacturer of the material and, in some cases, governmental agencies. The agricultural machine tracks the application of the agricultural material and transmits application information for storage in the zone mapping system for later retrieval in response to requests, such as compliance requests.

Abstract: A method for the application of agricultural fluid to a field includes determining a location of each of a plurality of nozzles of an agricultural spraying machine. A flow rate for each of the nozzles is determined based on each respective nozzle's location in the field. A field map is used to determine a crop requirement and application restriction associated with a nozzle's location. The field map contains indications of crop requirements and application restrictions. The flow rate for a nozzle is determined by comparing the nozzle's location to the field map. A flow rate signal is transmitted to each of the nozzles based on its determined flow rate.

Abstract: A method for mapping a height of a crop in a field divided into a plurality of areas includes determining a height of a cutting bar of an agricultural machine and receiving data from a crop height sensor. The height of crops sensed by the crop height sensor is determined based on the height of the cutting bar and data from the crop height sensor. The crop height is then associated with one of a plurality of areas of the field based on a location of the crop height sensor. In one embodiment, the height of a reel of the agricultural machine is also used in determining the height of crops. The crop height data is used to generate a field map that is used to generate a field treatment plan.

Abstract: GNSS timing receiver with synchronization of raw GNSS measurements to an external timescale. Synchronization is achieved by using a hardware Time Interval Measurement Unit (TIMU). The TIMU measures time intervals between two pulse signals and makes additional processing of these measurements. The first pulse signal is generated inside the GNSS receiver. The second pulse signal is the external pulse signal generated by an external time reference device. This time interval is used to control the time instant when the output GNSS measurement will be taken. In the first embodiment all actual GNSS measurements are physically taken at time instants indicated by external pulse signal. These measurements are used as output GNSS measurements. In another embodiment all actual GNSS measurements are taken at their default time instants indicated by internal pulse signal. But output GNSS measurements are calculated at the time instants indicated by the external pulse signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and an apparatus for determining a corrected position of a vehicle based on a stable landmark. The method includes determining a last known position vector of the vehicle; capturing an image within a vicinity of a vehicle using an imaging device; identifying a stable landmark within the captured image based on a previously constructed reference map of the vicinity of the vehicle; determining a correction for a position of the vehicle based on the determined last known position vector of the vehicle and the identified stable landmark; and determining an updated position of the vehicle based on the determined correction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for enhanced signal interference monitoring by sampling a signal of interest and using a representation of the sampled signal in combination with certain audio output capabilities to determine the nature of either the primary received data signal or the secondary interfering signals without requiring any specialized, dedicated external equipment, additional hardware and/or disturbing the primary functions of a radio modem.

Abstract: A GNSS-UHF antenna, including a first PCB having four sets of radiating elements, a second PCB below the first PCB, a metal plate below the second PCB, which form a quadrifilar helical antenna for operating with right-hand circularly polarized GNSS signals and simultaneously form a monopole antenna for operating with linearly polarized UHF signals; for each set of radiating elements, a corresponding downward-extending conductor connected to the second PCB at a first end and connected to the set of radiating elements at a second end through an inductor; a first coaxial cable outputting GNSS signals; the first cable includes a partial loop between the second shield and the metal plate; and a second cable outputting the UHF and its braiding connected to the metal plate.

Abstract: GNSS receiver which includes RF front end, connected to GNSS antenna, an ADC converting the satellite signals into digitized signals, a digital section, including a processor receiving the digitized signals, forming raw measurements with pseudoranges measured between the antenna and satellites, and estimating target parameters, including receiver position and receiver time offset by (i) extrapolating the target parameters from previous epoch to current epoch using a dynamic model; (ii) computing a quasi-measurement for each satellite based on extrapolated target parameters and GNSS satellite positions; (iii) detecting and rejecting raw measurements with anomalous errors by testing differences between the raw measurements and respective quasi-measurements against predefined thresholds; (iv) substituting quasi-measurements for rejected raw measurements; (v) estimating target parameters using unrejected raw measurements and substituted quasi-measurements; (vi) outputting estimated target parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods for stabilizing a header of a combine harvester are provided. A vertical disturbance signal indicative of a vertical disturbance on the header and a lateral tilt disturbance signal indicative of a lateral tilt disturbance on the header are received from one or more sensors disposed on the header. A compensated vertical displacement value is determined based on the vertical disturbance signal and a compensated lateral tilt displacement value is determined based on the lateral tilt disturbance signal. One or more control signals are transmitted to one or more actuators to vertically displace the header based on the compensated vertical displacement value to compensate for the vertical disturbance and to rotationally displace the header about a pivot joint based on the compensated lateral tilt disturbance signal to compensate for the lateral tilt disturbance.

Abstract: A self-leveling laser transmitter is provided. The laser transmitter comprises a rotation head and an accelerometer mounted on the rotation head. An acceleration signal is received from the accelerometer and one or more tilt adjustment signals for adjusting a tilt of the rotation head to a leveled orientation are generated based on the acceleration signal. One or more actuators adjust the tilt of the rotation head based on the one or more tilt adjustment signals.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods of accuracy improving for code measurements in GLONASS GNSS receivers. One component of error budget in code measurements of GLONASS receivers is caused by a difference in signal delays arising in the receiver analog Front End and antenna filter on different channel frequencies specific to GLONASS satellites. Methods to compensate for differences in delays for different GLONASS channel frequencies have been proposed using data collected from a GLONASS signals simulator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the precise location of a target on a surface by utilizing a plurality of objects that are fixed in their position proximate to the location, thereby constituting a plurality of fixed reference points, upon which the target(s) resides or is otherwise located. The plurality of fixed references points are used either in conjunction with images of the target or certain distance measurements between the target and the fixed reference points to determine the precise location of the target(s) on the surface.

Abstract: A system for displaying information to an operator of a machine comprises a head tracking system and a projection system. One system for displaying information uses a projection system and a see-through display to present two-dimensional images to an operator. One system uses a projection system and a see-through display to present three-dimensional images to an operator. One system uses a pair of smart glasses to display information to a user based a direction a user is looking.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining the position and orientation of an implement on a work machine in a non-contact manner using machine vision. A 3D camera, which is mounted on the vehicle with a field of view that includes components on the implement (e.g., markers in some examples), determines a three-dimensional position in a local coordinate system of each of the components. A global positioning system in cooperation with an inertial measurement unit determines a three-dimensional position and orientation of the 3D camera in a global coordinate system. A computing system calculates a three-dimensional position in the global coordinate system for the components using the local three-dimensional positions of the components and the global three-dimensional position and orientation of the 3D camera. The position and orientation of the implement can then be calculated based on the calculated global three-dimensional positions of the components.