Patents by Inventor Qiang R. Liu
Qiang R. Liu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240126269Abstract: An upper point cloud estimator is configured to estimate a three-dimensional representation of the crop canopy based on collected stereo vision image data. A lower point cloud estimator is configured to estimate a ground three-dimensional representation or lower point of the ground based on the determined average. The electronic data processor is configured to determine one or more differences between the upper point cloud (or upper surface) of the crop canopy and a lower point cloud of the ground, where each difference is associated with a cell within a grid defined by the front region. The electronic data processor is capable of providing the differences to a data processing system to estimate a yield or differential yield for the front region, among other things.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2022Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Ashraf Qadir, Qiang Ray Liu, Ryan R. White
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Patent number: 11914379Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to generate a path plan. An example method includes generating guidance lines for a next path of a vehicle based on an edge of a current path, generating a first path plan of a field within a field boundary, the first path plan generated using a first degree heading, generating a second path plan of the field within the field boundary, the second path plan generated using a second degree heading, and when the first path plan includes a first cost lower than a second cost of the second path plan, transmitting the first path plan to a vehicle to control the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Qiang R. Liu, Jeffery J. Adams, Ryan C. Burnley, Andrej Cygankov
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Publication number: 20230389462Abstract: A computer-implemented method of controlling a mobile agricultural machine includes receiving field map data representing a first agricultural operation performed on a field, receiving a location sensor signal indicative of a sensed geographic location of the mobile agricultural machine on the field, the mobile agricultural machine having a plurality of sections that are independently controllable to perform a second agricultural operation on the field that is different than the first agricultural operation, and generating a control signal to control the plurality of sections based on the field map data and the location sensor signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Qiang R. LIU, Patrick C. DOUGHERTY, Michael R. MOODY, Ajit K. THANKAPPAN PILLAI
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Patent number: 11825761Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for field operations based on historical field operation data. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a field map generator to generate a field map including locations of a plurality of crop rows, the locations of the plurality of crop rows determined based on a first implement path travelled by a first implement of a first vehicle during a first operation, the first implement having a first operational width, the first implement path different from a first vehicle path of the first vehicle during the first operation, and a guidance line generator to generate a guidance line for a second vehicle during a second operation on the field, the second vehicle including a second implement to perform the second operation, the second implement having a second operational width different from the first operational width, the guidance line based on (a) the field map and (b) the second operational width.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Curtis A. Maeder, Qiang R. Liu, Terence D. Pickett, Jeffery J. Adams
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Patent number: 11778938Abstract: A computer-implemented method of controlling a mobile agricultural machine includes receiving field map data representing a first agricultural operation performed on a field, receiving a location sensor signal indicative of a sensed geographic location of the mobile agricultural machine on the field, the mobile agricultural machine having a plurality of sections that are independently controllable to perform a second agricultural operation on the field that is different than the first agricultural operation, and generating a control signal to control the plurality of sections based on the field map data and the location sensor signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Qiang R. Liu, Patrick C. Dougherty, Michael R. Moody, Ajit Thankappan Pillai
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Publication number: 20230121416Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture to select track paths for one or more vehicles in a field are disclosed. An example apparatus includes input interface circuitry to obtain a request for a first track path for a first vehicle, path instruction generation circuitry to, in response to the request, obtain information defining a plurality of track paths in a field, and select, based on the request, the first track path from the plurality of track paths, and update circuitry to update the information to indicate that the first track path is claimed by the first vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2021Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: Curtis A. Maeder, Qiang R. Liu
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Publication number: 20230065712Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to generate a turn path for a vehicle are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes input interface circuitry to obtain a guidance path for a vehicle, turn identification circuitry to identify a turn in the guidance path, and turn pattern selection circuitry to select, from a plurality of predetermined turn patterns, a turn pattern for the turn, wherein the turn pattern satisfies a condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2021Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: Qiang R. Liu, Jeffrey E. Runde, Simon Schaefer
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Publication number: 20220408627Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for determining a heading of a vehicle and a heading of an implement of a farming machine when the farming machine is stationary or moving at a speed below a threshold speed. The vehicle and the heading are attached together via a pivot hitch. A farming machine management system receives coordinates from a first location sensor coupled to the vehicle and a second location sensor coupled to the implement. The farming machine management system determines intersection points between a first circle centered at the first location sensor and a second circle centered at the second location sensor. The farming machine management system selects one of the intersection points based on an output of a machine learning model. The farming machine management system determines the headings of the vehicle and the implement and generates instructions for operating the farming machine based on the headings.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2021Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Steven R. Procuniar, Qiang R. Liu, Curtis A. Maeder
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Publication number: 20220197291Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to generate a path plan. An example method includes generating guidance lines for a next path of a vehicle based on an edge of a current path, generating a first path plan of a field within a field boundary, the first path plan generated using a first degree heading, generating a second path plan of the field within the field boundary, the second path plan generated using a second degree heading, and when the first path plan includes a first cost lower than a second cost of the second path plan, transmitting the first path plan to a vehicle to control the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Qiang R. Liu, Jeffery J. Adams, Ryan C. Burnley, Andrej Cygankov
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Publication number: 20220110240Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for field operations based on historical field operation data. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a field map generator to generate a field map including locations of a plurality of crop rows, the locations of the plurality of crop rows determined based on a first implement path travelled by a first implement of a first vehicle during a first operation, the first implement having a first operational width, the first implement path different from a first vehicle path of the first vehicle during the first operation, and a guidance line generator to generate a guidance line for a second vehicle during a second operation on the field, the second vehicle including a second implement to perform the second operation, the second implement having a second operational width different from the first operational width, the guidance line based on (a) the field map and (b) the second operational width.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Inventors: Curtis A. Maeder, Qiang R. Liu, Terence D. Pickett, Jeffery J. Adams
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Patent number: 11212954Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for field operations based on historical field operation data. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a guidance line generator to generate a guidance line for operation of a vehicle during a second operation on a field, the guidance line based on (1) a field map generated from location data collected during a first operation in the field, the field map including a plurality of crop rows and (2) an implement of the vehicle, the implement to perform the second operation on the field. The example apparatus further includes a drive commander to cause the vehicle to traverse the field along the guidance line, and an implement commander to cause the implement to perform the second operation as the vehicle traverses the field along the guidance line.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Curtis A. Maeder, Qiang R. Liu, Terence D. Pickett, Jeffery J. Adams
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Publication number: 20210321554Abstract: A computer-implemented method of controlling a mobile agricultural machine includes receiving field map data representing a first agricultural operation performed on a field, receiving a location sensor signal indicative of a sensed geographic location of the mobile agricultural machine on the field, the mobile agricultural machine having a plurality of sections that are independently controllable to perform a second agricultural operation on the field that is different than the first agricultural operation, and generating a control signal to control the plurality of sections based on the field map data and the location sensor signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2020Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Qiang R. Liu, Patrick C. Dougherty, Michael R. Moody, Ajit Thankappan Pillai
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Publication number: 20210064050Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed to record and execute mission plans. An example apparatus includes a data collection memory to collect first and second data, the first data corresponding to a machine and the second data corresponding to an implement, a mission aggregator to determine a machine path based on the first data, determine an implement path based on the second data, and determine a machine speed and an implement action based on the first and second data, a mission generator to generate a three-dimensional mission plan including the machine path, the implement path, the machine speed, and the implement action for subsequent use, and a mission application controller to, when an interface determines the mission plan is available, instruct the machine and the implement to follow the machine path, the implement path, the machine speed, and the implement action to execute the mission plan.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Terence D. Pickett, Qiang R. Liu, Daniel R. Smith
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Publication number: 20200352082Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for field operations based on historical field operation data. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a guidance line generator to generate a guidance line for operation of a vehicle during a second operation on a field, the guidance line based on (1) a field map generated from location data collected during a first operation in the field, the field map including a plurality of crop rows and (2) an implement of the vehicle, the implement to perform the second operation on the field. The example apparatus further includes a drive commander to cause the vehicle to traverse the field along the guidance line, and an implement commander to cause the implement to perform the second operation as the vehicle traverses the field along the guidance line.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2019Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Curtis A. Maeder, Qiang R. Liu, Terence D. Pickett, Jeffery J. Adams
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Patent number: 10795372Abstract: An automatic turning control system for a work vehicle having a ground engaging traction device directed by a manual steering device. The automatic turning control system includes an electronic control unit (ECU), a traction device angle sensor configured to generate an angle signal representative of an angle of the traction device with respect to an axis of the work vehicle, and a vehicle guidance system. The ECU is configured to generate a manual path signal representing an actual path of the work vehicle based on the angle signal. The ECU is operatively connected to a vehicle guidance system and determines a learned path signal based on the manual path signal. The vehicle guidance system automatically directs the work vehicle along the learned path signal when the vehicle moves from a working area, to a non-working area, and back to the working area of a field.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2017Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Jeffrey E. Runde, Qiang R. Liu, Shufeng Han
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Patent number: 10627824Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically controlling ground speed of a work vehicle. The apparatus includes a speed sensor generating a vehicle speed signal, the speed sensor operatively connected to a controller. A traction device angle sensor generates an angle signal which represents an angle of the traction device with respect to an axis of the work vehicle, wherein the traction device angle sensor operatively connected to the controller. A vehicle guidance system is configured to generate a vehicle position signal, wherein the controller determines the ground speed of the vehicle based on at least one of: i) a tracking error of the vehicle relative to the vehicle position signal; ii) a planned curved vehicle path; iii) a planned location of the vehicle within a defined portion of a field; and iv) a planned path segment and an associated change in direction of travel of the work vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2017Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Jeffrey E. Runde, Qiang R. Liu
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Publication number: 20180373256Abstract: An automatic turning control system for a work vehicle having a ground engaging traction device directed by a manual steering device. The automatic turning control system includes an electronic control unit (ECU), a traction device angle sensor configured to generate an angle signal representative of an angle of the traction device with respect to an axis of the work vehicle, and a vehicle guidance system. The ECU is configured to generate a manual path signal representing an actual path of the work vehicle based on the angle signal. The ECU is operatively connected to a vehicle guidance system and determines a learned path signal based on the manual path signal. The vehicle guidance system automatically directs the work vehicle along the learned path signal when the vehicle moves from a working area, to a non-working area, and back to the working area of a field.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Jeffrey E. Runde, Qiang R. Liu, Shufeng Han
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Publication number: 20180373257Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically controlling ground speed of a work vehicle. The apparatus includes a speed sensor generating a vehicle speed signal, the speed sensor operatively connected to a controller. A traction device angle sensor generates an angle signal which represents an angle of the traction device with respect to an axis of the work vehicle, wherein the traction device angle sensor operatively connected to the controller. A vehicle guidance system is configured to generate a vehicle position signal, wherein the controller determines the ground speed of the vehicle based on at least one of: i) a tracking error of the vehicle relative to the vehicle position signal; ii) a planned curved vehicle path; iii) a planned location of the vehicle within a defined portion of a field; and iv) a planned path segment and an associated change in direction of travel of the work vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Jeffrey E. Runde, Qiang R. Liu