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).

  • Publication number: 20240126269
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Ashraf Qadir, Qiang Ray Liu, Ryan R. White
  • Patent number: 11914379
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Qiang R. Liu, Jeffery J. Adams, Ryan C. Burnley, Andrej Cygankov
  • Publication number: 20230389462
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Qiang R. LIU, Patrick C. DOUGHERTY, Michael R. MOODY, Ajit K. THANKAPPAN PILLAI
  • Patent number: 11825761
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Curtis A. Maeder, Qiang R. Liu, Terence D. Pickett, Jeffery J. Adams
  • Patent number: 11778938
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Qiang R. Liu, Patrick C. Dougherty, Michael R. Moody, Ajit Thankappan Pillai
  • Publication number: 20230121416
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Curtis A. Maeder, Qiang R. Liu
  • Publication number: 20230065712
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Qiang R. Liu, Jeffrey E. Runde, Simon Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20220408627
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Steven R. Procuniar, Qiang R. Liu, Curtis A. Maeder
  • Publication number: 20220197291
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Qiang R. Liu, Jeffery J. Adams, Ryan C. Burnley, Andrej Cygankov
  • Publication number: 20220110240
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Curtis A. Maeder, Qiang R. Liu, Terence D. Pickett, Jeffery J. Adams
  • Patent number: 11212954
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Curtis A. Maeder, Qiang R. Liu, Terence D. Pickett, Jeffery J. Adams
  • Publication number: 20210321554
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Qiang R. Liu, Patrick C. Dougherty, Michael R. Moody, Ajit Thankappan Pillai
  • Publication number: 20210064050
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Terence D. Pickett, Qiang R. Liu, Daniel R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200352082
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Curtis A. Maeder, Qiang R. Liu, Terence D. Pickett, Jeffery J. Adams
  • Patent number: 10795372
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Runde, Qiang R. Liu, Shufeng Han
  • Patent number: 10627824
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Runde, Qiang R. Liu
  • Publication number: 20180373256
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Runde, Qiang R. Liu, Shufeng Han
  • Publication number: 20180373257
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Runde, Qiang R. Liu