Abstract: A method and system for zone mapping displays a geographic area to a user and receives input from the user identifying a zone of the geographic area. An identification of an agricultural material to be applied in the zone is also received and an application plan is generated in response. The application plan is generated based on features identified in the zone, the agricultural material to be applied, and application requirements and restrictions associated with the agricultural material that are identified by the manufacturer of the material and, in some cases, governmental agencies. The agricultural machine tracks the application of the agricultural material and transmits application information for storage in the zone mapping system for later retrieval in response to requests, such as compliance requests.

Abstract: A material independent mass flow sensor is used to generate signals that can be used to calculate mass flow of grain harvested by a combine. A method for determining a mass of material includes the steps of receiving data from a three-measurement transducer and determining an angular center of mass location of an object based on the data from the three-measurement transducer. A coefficient of friction of the object is determined. A velocity of the object is determined. A mass of the object is determined. The mass of the object can be determined based on the angular center of mass location of the object, the coefficient of friction of the object, and the velocity of the object.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming wideband pseudo random noise signals includes a set of channels each comprising an NCO having a controlled frequency and phase and a PRN code generator, the NCO generating a strobe that is output to the PRN code generator. The PRN code generator forms a new sequence element of +1 or ?1 in response to the strobe. The apparatus also comprises a first modulator having a plurality of weight coefficients, a plurality of multipliers each multiplying one of the weight coefficients, an adder outputting a sum of the plurality of multipliers output signals, and a mixer with a quadrature output signal multiplying the adder's output by sine and cosine of a low intermediate frequency. The apparatus also includes a processor controlling the set of channels, a transceiver module to receive and/or transmit quadrature signals, and an interface connecting the output of the mixer and the transceiver module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a position and attitude of a marker having encoded information includes the step of acquiring an image of a marker by a stereo camera. A center of the marker is determined and then a position of the marker is determined based on the center of the marker. A plurality of vertices on the marker about the center of the marker are then determined. Using the plurality of vertices, a pitch, roll, and heading of the marker are determined. An attitude of the marker is determined based on the pitch, roll, and heading of the marker. The method and/or apparatus for determining a position and attitude of a marker can be used in various applications to determine the position and attitude of objects on which the marker is located.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A navigation receiver receives a global navigation satellite system signal and processes the signal in a manner that lowers the load on a processor used in the navigation receiver. The navigation receiver includes multiple components that are assembled and configured to detect and respond to events, such as the generation of signals, using a relaxed tick signal that lowers the load on the processor of the navigation receiver.

Abstract: A combined cellular/GNSS (global navigation satellite systems) antenna is provided. The combined cellular/GNSS antenna comprises an external area and an internal area delineated by a circumference of a circle. The combined cellular GNSS antenna further comprises a cellular antenna and a GNSS antenna. The cellular antenna comprises a set of cellular radiators disposed in the external area and connected to a cellular feeding network for excitation of the set of cellular radiators. The GNSS antenna comprises radiation elements disposed in the internal area and has a center located substantially at a center of the circle.

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: A system and method are provided for determining the position and orientation of an implement on a work machine in a non-contact manner using machine vision. A 3D camera, which is mounted on the vehicle with a field of view that includes components on the implement (e.g., markers in some examples), determines a three-dimensional position in a local coordinate system of each of the components. A global positioning system in cooperation with an inertial measurement unit determines a three-dimensional position and orientation of the 3D camera in a global coordinate system. A computing system calculates a three-dimensional position in the global coordinate system for the components using the local three-dimensional positions of the components and the global three-dimensional position and orientation of the 3D camera. The position and orientation of the implement can then be calculated based on the calculated global three-dimensional positions of the components.

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: A right-hand circularly-polarized patch antenna comprising a ground plane and a patch connected to each other with one or more wires for which the wire shape and location of the end points are selected such that they do not cause an antenna mismatch, and the electrical current carried in the wires produces an extra electromagnetic field subtracted from the patch field in the nadir direction.