Abstract: A vehicle control system having a controller and a spatial database adapted to provide spatial data to the controller at control speed. The spatial data provided from the spatial database to the controller can be any kind of data or information that has some relationship or association with “real world” geographical location, or if it is stored somehow with reference to geographical location. The spatial data received by the controller from the database forms at least part of the control inputs that the controller operates on to control the vehicle. The fact that the controller operates directly on information that is inherently associated with “real world” geographic location represents a change in thinking compared with existing vehicle control systems. In particular, it means that the control system of the present invention “thinks” directly in terms of spatial location.

Abstract: There is disclosed a guidance assisting apparatus for aiding in the guidance of an agricultural vehicle (5) over arable land. The apparatus makes use of a GPS positional receiver (81) in order to determine if the vehicle (5) is overlapping previous passes of a paddock thereby reducing the likelihood of strips of land being double processed or left unprocessed. Guidance may be provided by a visual display or by power assisted steering.