Abstract: A vision-based sensor system is provided for heavy equipment or other machinery that determines the pose or position of the blade with respect to the heavy equipment vehicle where the sensor system comprises a vision-based blade position system having an image acquisition device and vision system processor.

Abstract: An optical measurement system and method that utilizes a single camera in combination with a specially configured target object which significantly improves optical measuring accuracy with respect to the measurement of distance, height difference and position.

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 method and apparatus for processing global navigation satellite signals, or radar signals, specifies an arrival time of a signal having a shape similar to a known pseudo-random noise sequence (PRN) of rectangular pulses. Two quadrature signals are generated and six correlations are calculated and multiplied by a correlation coefficient. The results of one of quadrature signals are summed and a timing error is estimated. An improved signal arrival time is generated by adding the estimated timing error to the predicted signal arrival time is generated.

Abstract: System for monitoring stability of autonomous robot, including a GNSS navigation receiver including antenna, analog front end, plurality of channels, inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a processor, all generating navigation and orientation data for the robot; based on the navigation and orientation data, calculating position and direction of movement for the robot; calculating spatial and orientation coordinates z1, z2 of the robot, relating to the position and direction of movement; continuing with programmed path for the robot for any spatial and orientation coordinates z1, z2 within an attraction domain, where a measure V(z) of distance from zero in z1, z2 plane are defined by Lurie-Postnikov functions and is less than 1; for spatial and orientation coordinates outside the attraction domain with V(z)>1, terminating the programmed path and generating notification.

Abstract: A method for determining an elevation of a laser detector assembly includes calculating an estimated elevation of a laser detector assembly based on data from an inertial measurement unit and a detected laser strike. The estimated elevation is then output. A detected elevation of the laser detector assembly is calculated based on the detected laser strike and the detected elevation is output in response to the detected laser strike. The estimated elevation is calculated and output between outputs of detected elevations.

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: Systems and methods for determining a swing angle of a swing boom of a vehicle are provided. Sensor data is received from sensors disposed on a swing boom and a body of a vehicle. It is determined whether the swing boom is static or moving relative to the body based on the sensor data. In response to determining that the swing boom is static, the received sensor data is corrected based on an observed swing angle and an estimated swing angle is calculated based on the corrected sensor data. In response to determining that the swing boom is moving, the estimated swing angle is calculated based on the received sensor data. The estimated swing angle is output.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an antenna, RF path, Analog to Digital convertor (ADC), filter, and navigation channel for processing a received GNSS signal based on a navigation clock. A communication modem is configured to receive the signal via a first antenna, RF path, and ADC and process the received signal in order to generate a signal based on a modem clock. The communication modem is further configured to transmit the signal based on the modem clock using a R+1 antenna via a R+1 RF path and a Digital to Analog Convertor (DAC). A multichannel synchronous signal analysis system (MSSAS) receives outputs of the ADCs and processes them using a plurality of decimators and plurality data receivers. Each of the decimators is configured to process the outputs of the ADCs and output data to one of a plurality of data receivers. A CPU is configured to control all of the devices.

Abstract: A method for machine grade assist includes determining whether user input will cause an implement of a machine to dig below a desired grade. User input to move a stick of an excavator can be blocked and/or delayed using hydraulic pressure so that movement of both the stick and the boom of the excavator can be synchronized to prevent a bucket of the excavator from digging below a desired grade when the stick is moved.

Abstract: System for navigating to a trajectory starting point by autonomous robot includes a GNSS navigation receiver including antenna, analog front end, plurality of channels, and a processor, generating navigation and orientation data for the robot; based on the navigation and the orientation data, the system calculating a position and a direction of movement for the robot towards the starting point of the trajectory, given known physical constraints for movement of the robot; the system calculating spatial and orientation coordinates z1, z2 of the robot, which relate to the position and the direction of movement, where z1 represents lateral deviation, and z2 represents angular deviation; the system continuing with a programmed path for the robot for any spatial and orientation coordinates z1, z2 within an attraction domain; and for any spatial and orientation coordinates of the robot outside the attraction domain, the system continues maneuvering until the robot is inside the attraction domain.

Abstract: Method of demodulation of M-CPFSK signal, includes receiving the M-CPFSK radio signal; moving it to zero frequency; sampling at no less than double a frequency of symbols; storing the samples with their amplitude and phase for at least L4 symbols; demodulating the sampled signal in three stages, wherein each stage includes iterating over symbol values within a block of symbols, of length is L1, L2 and then L3; in the first stage, N1 symbol sequences out of all possible symbol sequences are iterated over, at the second stage, N2 symbol sequences out of all possible symbol sequences are iterated over, and at the third stage, N3 symbol sequences out of all possible symbol sequences are iterated over, to obtain final symbol values; symbol values obtained at previous stage is used in a next stage to reduce a number of symbol sequences; and determining encoded bits based on final symbol values.

Abstract: A method of receiving two chip-by-chip multiplexed CSK signals (e.g., GNSS signals) and searching for a non-CSK signal with optimal performance at a given digit capacity of a sampling memory resided in parallel correlators. For CSK signals Prompt, Early and Late results for each of possible code shift are calculated as different sums of four punctured convolutions. Depending on configuration, the method allows to receive both multiplexed CSK signals with lesser quality or one of the CSK signals with better quality. The method can be implemented as an apparatus with four punctured correlators, a set of multipliers by 1 or 2N, another set of multipliers by 1 or 0, summers of four input to one result, a RAM, searchers of maximum, and conditional commutators.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fast searching GNSS signals performed on a GNSS receiver includes the steps of receiving a signal having a known pseudo random noise code. State information of a code generator is stored when a pseudo random noise code is generated. Several NCO, including a Doppler NCO are used to search GNSS signal for several supposed Doppler’s simultaneously. A search window associated with the received signal is reviewed a first time to identify a source of the received signal. After it is determined if a source of the received signal can be identified, the state information is loaded into the code generator prior to reviewing the search window a second time etc. Search windows is shifting by all length PRN Code. The loading of state information allows sequential review of the search window without readjustment of a fast search module which speeds the process of analyzing the received signals.

Abstract: An antenna comprising a ground plane, a composite radiation patch, and an excitation circuit is described herein. The composite radiation patch is disposed on a printed circuit board and comprises a conducting plate and a plurality of conductive strips. The composite radiation patch comprises an outer region and an inner region separated by a circle of a given radius. The conducting plate comprises 1) a first set of arcuate slots disposed on the circle and 2) a second set of slots each contacting an external perimeter of the conducting plate at one end and a corresponding slot of the first set of arcuate slots at another end. The plurality of conductive strips is disposed within the outer region of the composite radiation patch, with one or more of the plurality of conductive strips galvanically contacting the conducting plate. The excitation circuit is disposed on the printed circuit board for exciting a right hand circularly polarized wave.

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: Method of reducing multipath effects on phase measurements, including receiving radio signals with different pseudo-random codes transmitted by at least four base stations, each at particular frequency received by one channel; measuring delay difference and phase difference from different pairs of base stations; calculating a current position of the receiver based on the measured phase differences and delay differences, wherein the base stations differ in pseudo-random codes at same frequencies or differ in carrier frequency or polarization type if using the same pseudo-random codes, and wherein a number of channels in the receiver exceeds a number of channels needed for the calculating of the current position; detecting anomalous jumps in phase of one or more channels, based on first or second derivative of the phase, as being indicative of multipath signal reception; removing those channels from calculation of current position; and calculating current position based on remaining channels.

Abstract: A laser measuring system comprising a laser transmitter and a laser receiver is provided. The laser transmitter includes one or more laser sources for projecting an initial laser pulse and a reflective surface. The laser receiver includes a first reflective surface for reflecting the initial laser pulse to provide a first reflected laser pulse, and a second reflective surface for reflecting the initial laser pulse to provide a second reflected laser pulse. The laser receiver further includes a photo detection unit for receiving 1) a first double reflected laser pulse produced by the first reflected laser pulse reflecting off the reflective surface of the laser transmitter, and 2) a second double reflected laser pulse produced by the second reflected laser pulse reflecting off the reflective surface of the laser transmitter. The laser receiver determines an orientation angle associated with the laser receiver based on the first and second double reflected laser pulse.

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 method for path planning for a machine to traverse an area includes calculating a spline trajectory based on a plurality of control points of a first path. A subset of the plurality of control points having an equal step is selected. A direction of the normal to the spline trajectory for each of the selected points is determined. Control points within the subset that are a solution to a second order cone programming class optimization problem along each normal to the spline trajectory are searched for and the spline trajectory is extended to a border of the area to create a second path adjacent to the first path based on the control points. The optimization problem can minimize the weighted sum of the average curvature at junction points of elementary sections of the spline trajectory and/or the average width overlap of adjacent paths.