Patents Assigned to AgJunction LLC
  • Patent number: 8594879
    Abstract: A global navigation satellite sensor system (GNSS) and gyroscope control system for vehicle steering control comprising a GNSS receiver and antennas at a fixed spacing to determine a vehicle position, velocity and at least one of a heading angle, a pitch angle and a roll angle based on carrier phase position differences. The roll angle facilitates correction of the lateral motion induced position errors resultant from motion of the antennae as the vehicle moves based on an offset to ground and the roll angle. The system also includes a control system configured to receive the vehicle position, heading, and at least one of roll and pitch, and configured to generate a steering command to a vehicle steering system. The system includes gyroscopes for determining system attitude change with respect to multiple axes for integrating with GNSS-derived positioning information to determine vehicle position, velocity, rate-of-turn, attitude and other operating characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: AgJunction LLC
    Inventors: André C. Roberge, Walter J. Feller, Michael L. Whitehead, John A. McClure, Steven R. Miller
  • Patent number: 8583315
    Abstract: A global navigation satellite sensor system (GNSS) and gyroscope control system for vehicle steering control comprising a GNSS receiver and antennas at a fixed spacing to determine a vehicle position, velocity and at least one of a heading angle, a pitch angle and a roll angle based on carrier phase position differences. A vehicle control method includes the steps of computing a position and a heading for the vehicle using GNSS positioning and a rate gyro for determining vehicle attitude, which is used for generating a steering command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: AgJunction LLC
    Inventors: Michael L. Whitehead, Steven R. Miller, John A. McClure, Walter J. Feller
  • Patent number: 8583326
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: AgJunction LLC
    Inventors: Dennis M. Collins, Michael D. Brown
  • Patent number: 8548649
    Abstract: A GNSS system in combination with a hydraulically-actuated, airborne dispenser for a dry material crop dusting system to optimize the distribution of dry materials over a particular tract of land. A GNSS subsystem is included using at least one GNSS antenna and one GNSS receiver located on the aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with an electronic/hydraulic crop dusting subsystem connected to a GNSS CPU. The GNSS ranging signals received by the antennas are processed by a receiver and processor system for determining the vehicle's position and dynamic attitude in three dimensions (3D). A graphical user interface (GUI) placed in the vehicle will give the driver a real-time view of his or her current bearing as well as a calculated “optimal path” based on calculations and variable data, such as wind speed and direction, material moisture content, altitude, air speed and other conditions. The system is adapted for operation in a differential GNSS (DGNSS) mode utilizing a base station at a fixed location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: AgJunction LLC
    Inventors: Greg S. Guyette, Ian McVay, Patrick H. Hennessey, Dennis M. Collins
  • Patent number: 8521372
    Abstract: A system and method for managing the collection and processing of agricultural field data from a single location is provided. The system includes functionality to create workorders for the taking of samples at a predetermined location, transmit the sampling workorders to the equipment or operators at a job site, e.g., an agricultural field, and log the results of a completed sampling workorder. The system also includes functionality to transmit log data related to the taken samples to a laboratory and receive analysis information on the taken samples from the laboratory. The system then combines log data and analysis information on the taken samples for use in determining additional actions at the predetermined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: AgJunction LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Dale Hunt, Jeffrey Allen Dearborn