Abstract: A GNSS-UHF antenna, including a first PCB having four sets of radiating elements, a second PCB below the first PCB, a metal plate below the second PCB, which form a quadrifilar helical antenna for operating with right-hand circularly polarized GNSS signals and simultaneously form a monopole antenna for operating with linearly polarized UHF signals; for each set of radiating elements, a corresponding downward-extending conductor connected to the second PCB at a first end and connected to the set of radiating elements at a second end through an inductor; a first coaxial cable outputting GNSS signals; the first cable includes a partial loop between the second shield and the metal plate; and a second cable outputting the UHF and its braiding connected to the metal plate.

Abstract: GNSS receiver which includes RF front end, connected to GNSS antenna, an ADC converting the satellite signals into digitized signals, a digital section, including a processor receiving the digitized signals, forming raw measurements with pseudoranges measured between the antenna and satellites, and estimating target parameters, including receiver position and receiver time offset by (i) extrapolating the target parameters from previous epoch to current epoch using a dynamic model; (ii) computing a quasi-measurement for each satellite based on extrapolated target parameters and GNSS satellite positions; (iii) detecting and rejecting raw measurements with anomalous errors by testing differences between the raw measurements and respective quasi-measurements against predefined thresholds; (iv) substituting quasi-measurements for rejected raw measurements; (v) estimating target parameters using unrejected raw measurements and substituted quasi-measurements; (vi) outputting estimated target parameters.

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 self-leveling laser transmitter is provided. The laser transmitter comprises a rotation head and an accelerometer mounted on the rotation head. An acceleration signal is received from the accelerometer and one or more tilt adjustment signals for adjusting a tilt of the rotation head to a leveled orientation are generated based on the acceleration signal. One or more actuators adjust the tilt of the rotation head based on the one or more tilt adjustment signals.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods of accuracy improving for code measurements in GLONASS GNSS receivers. One component of error budget in code measurements of GLONASS receivers is caused by a difference in signal delays arising in the receiver analog Front End and antenna filter on different channel frequencies specific to GLONASS satellites. Methods to compensate for differences in delays for different GLONASS channel frequencies have been proposed using data collected from a GLONASS signals simulator.

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: A system for displaying information to an operator of a machine comprises a head tracking system and a projection system. One system for displaying information uses a projection system and a see-through display to present two-dimensional images to an operator. One system uses a projection system and a see-through display to present three-dimensional images to an operator. One system uses a pair of smart glasses to display information to a user based a direction a user is looking.

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: 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: A laser measuring system including first and second laser base stations and a laser receiver is provided. The laser receiver detects a first laser signal from the first laser base station. Location information associated with the first laser base station is extracted from the detected first laser signal. The laser receiver detects a second laser signal from the second laser base station. Location information associated with the second laser base station is extracted from the detected second laser signal. A position of the laser receiver is determined based on the extracted location information associated with the first laser base station and the extracted location information associated with the second laser base station.

Abstract: Navigation receiver includes antennas receiving signals from different satellite constellations, Low Noise Amplifiers, a Block of Analog Filters, a Block of Quadrature mixers (BQM) translating in phase and quadrature signals to an intermediate frequency, analog converters digitizing the in phase and quadrature signals, a Block of Digital Quadrature Mixers (BDQM) shifting the digitized signals to zero frequency, a Set Block of Digital Filters (SBDF) band-pass filtering the shifted signals, and reducing a sampling rate, and a Block of Digital Processing (BDP) calculating coordinates, all series-connected; a Block of Digital Generators (BDG) for fine control of the BDQM; and a Block of Analog Generators (BAG) that defines which signal is processed by its corresponding BQM; SBDF including Blocks of Digital Filters (BDFs), each BDF including a chain of Blocks of MultiRate Filters for antialiasing filtering/down-sampling of shifted signals, programmable commutators for controlling decimation, and FIR-filters; each

Abstract: A method of determining coordinates, including receiving GNSS (global navigation satellite system) signals from at least five satellites, wherein at least two of the five satellites belong to one constellation, and the remaining satellites belong to at least one other constellation; processing the GNSS signals to measure code and phase measurements for each of the satellites and each of the GNSS signals; selecting a subset of the GNSS signals as an optimal set for coordinate calculation, where the selecting is based on Semi-Definite Programming (SDP) relaxation as applied to an optimization of a PDOP (positional dilution of precision) criterion; calculating coordinates of a receiver based on the code and phase measurements of the selected subset; and outputting the calculated coordinates. The total number of signals in the optimal set should not exceed the predefined number of m signals.

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 are provided for determining a soil roughness measure. A transducer transmits an ultrasonic signal towards a soil surface and receives a first echo signal of the ultrasonic signal and a second echo signal of the ultrasonic signal. A first distance between the transducer and a first point on the soil surface is calculated based on the first echo signal of the ultrasonic signal. A second distance between the transducer and a second point on the soil surface is calculated based on the second echo signal of the ultrasonic signal. A soil roughness measure of the soil surface is determined based on a difference between the first distance and the second distance.

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: A method and apparatus for dithering hydraulic valves to mitigate static friction (“stiction”) associated with the hydraulic valves. A first hydraulic valve and a second hydraulic valve are dithered to mitigate stiction associated with those valves. The dithering of the first and second hydraulic valves also cause dithering of a main hydraulic valve associated with the first and second hydraulic valves. Accordingly, stiction of three hydraulic valves of a hydraulic system is mitigated.

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: A method for coordinating machines to perform a task includes establishing a plurality of communication channels between a plurality of agricultural machines located in a geographic area. Data pertaining to capabilities of each of the plurality of machines, and location in some cases, is received and a collaborative plan to complete a task using the plurality of machines is determined. At least a portion of the collaborative plan is transmitted to each of the plurality of machines. The collaborative plan can be based on the location and capabilities of each of the plurality of machines. The collaborative plan can include a plurality of operations for each of the plurality of machines to perform.

Abstract: A method for determining attitude of an object having multiple GNSS antennas, the method including receiving GNSS signals from at least five satellites, wherein at least 2 of the five belong to a different satellite constellation than the other satellites; processing each of the GNSS signals to generate pseudorange code and carrier phase measurements; resolving carrier phase ambiguities for all the received GNSS signals; generating unbiased carrier phase measurements based on the resolving; determining the attitude, including heading, pitch, and roll angles ?,?,?, respectively, by solving a quadratically constrained quadratic minimization problem through finding a minimum of a linear function subject to a linear matrix inequality constraint; and outputting the attitude.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for processing harvest yield data includes the steps of receiving load data from a grain cart and receiving harvest yield data from a combine harvester. The load data and harvest yield data are post-processed to generate enhanced harvest yield data. The combine harvester and the grain cart can operate in an on-the-go unloading harvest operation or a stationary unloading harvest operation. Post-processing can include creating a field boundary for a harvest area, determining a start time and start position for the combine harvester within the field boundary, and determining an end time and end position for the combine harvester within the field boundary. The total grain yield weight estimated by a yield monitor can be calibrated to match the grain cart total scale weight.