Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Foster

Christopher A. Foster has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20190014723
    Abstract: A method for avoiding collisions when actuating wing assemblies of an agricultural implement may include accessing vision-related data associated with an obstacle collision zone for the agricultural implement and determining whether a wing movement operation can be executed without collision between the agricultural implement and an obstacle based at least in part on the vision-related data. The wing movement operation is associated with moving a wing assembly of the agricultural implement across at least a portion of the obstacle collision zone between a work position of the wing assembly and a transport position of the wing assembly. Additionally, when it is determined that the wing movement operation can be executed without collision, the method may include actively controlling an operation of at least one component configured to facilitate initiation of the wing movement operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: TREVOR STANHOPE, CHRISTOPHER A. FOSTER, KEVIN M. SMITH
  • Patent number: 10152891
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for conducting agricultural operations in a field using autonomous vehicles in which a collision avoidance mechanism may be provided. The system may include providing a mission plan for autonomous vehicles to conduct agricultural operations, establishing a hierarchy for the vehicles, and monitoring for an event conditions indicating vehicles are traveling toward a collision with respect to one another. Upon receiving an event condition, the system may revise the mission plan to adjust a path of one of the vehicles based on the hierarchy in order to avoid the collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Adam Rusciolelli, Tyson Dollinger, John Posselius, Christopher A. Foster, Brian Ray
  • Publication number: 20180326989
    Abstract: A slip control system for an off-road vehicle includes a control system configured to output a signal indicative of a first action if a magnitude of slippage of the off-road vehicle relative to a soil surface is greater than a first threshold value and less than or equal to a second threshold value. Furthermore, the control system is configured to output a signal indicative of a second action, different than the first action, if the magnitude of slippage is greater than the second threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, John H. Posselius, Eric Emerson Veikle, Michael G. Hornberger, Bret Todd Turpin, Daniel John Morwood
  • Patent number: 10073457
    Abstract: A control system for an off-road vehicle configured to traverse an off-road vehicle through a field by determining whether a partial row exist or contour differences exist between opposite edges if a route of traversal is used. If a partial row or a contour difference exist adjust the route to increase overlap of rows of the off-road vehicle to distribute the width of the field evenly among the rows or incrementally adjust each row from a first contour of a first edge to a second contour of a second edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Bret T. Turpin, Daniel John Morwood
  • Patent number: 10053100
    Abstract: A slip control system for an off-road vehicle includes a control system configured to output a signal indicative of a first action if a magnitude of slippage of the off-road vehicle relative to a soil surface is greater than a first threshold value and less than or equal to a second threshold value. Furthermore, the control system is configured to output a signal indicative of a second action, different than the first action, if the magnitude of slippage is greater than the second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, John H. Posselius, Eric Emerson Veikle, Michael G. Hornberger, Bret Todd Turpin, Daniel John Morwood
  • Patent number: 10053105
    Abstract: A method for controlling an off-road vehicle includes selecting an operating mode from a plurality of candidate operating modes. The plurality of candidate operating modes includes a first operating mode that includes substantially maintaining a first desired vehicle speed of the off-road vehicle; a second operating mode that includes substantially maintaining a first desired gear ratio of the transmission and substantially maintaining a first desired engine speed of the engine; a third operating mode that includes substantially maintaining a second desired vehicle speed of the off-road vehicle and substantially maintaining a second desired engine speed of the engine; and a fourth operating mode that includes substantially maintaining a third desired gear ratio of the transmission and substantially maintaining a third desired vehicle speed of the off-road vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, John H. Posselius, Michael G. Hornberger, Daniel John Morwood, Bret Todd Turpin, Benjamin Craig Spendlove
  • Patent number: 10037484
    Abstract: A system for tracking a harvested agricultural product unit includes a magazine configured to be disposed on an agricultural implement and to facilitate insertion of one or more stakes into the harvested agricultural product unit. The magazine is also configured to store the one or more stakes having a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag is configured to identify the harvested agricultural product unit and to associate the harvested agricultural product unit with harvesting data. Further, the system includes an insertion device configured to insert one of the stakes from the magazine into the harvested agricultural product unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Douglas S. Fitzkee, John H. Posselius, Edward H. Priepke, Justin R. Ringwald
  • Patent number: 9983589
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a control system for a base station includes a first transceiver configured to receive a first signal and send a second signal to an agricultural vehicle. The first signal indicates at least an acceleration of the vehicle, a current velocity of the vehicle, and a location relative to a terrain where the vehicle experienced the acceleration, and the second signal indicates a vehicle target velocity. The control system includes a controller configured to determine a bump severity value based on the acceleration and the current velocity of the vehicle, mark an area indicative of the bump on a map of the terrain when the bump severity value exceeds a threshold, and automatically generate the second signal when the vehicle enters the area. The target velocity is based on a proximity of the vehicle to the bump, the bump severity value, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Benoit Debilde, Daniel John Morwood, Michael G. Hornberger, Bret Todd Turpin
  • Patent number: 9849828
    Abstract: An indicator system for an autonomous agricultural vehicle includes a multicolor lighting assembly. The indicator system includes a controller comprising a memory operatively coupled to a processor. The processor is configured to select a status indication from a plurality of status indications that corresponds to a current operating state of a plurality of operating states. The processor is configured to output a second signal indicative of instructions to control the multicolor lighting assembly based on the status indication. The multicolor lighting assembly emits a light in response to the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Bret Todd Turpin, Mitchel R. Torrie, John H. Posselius
  • Publication number: 20170357261
    Abstract: A control system for an off-road vehicle configured to traverse an off-road vehicle through a field by determining whether a partial row exist or contour differences exist between opposite edges if a route of traversal is used. If a partial row or a contour difference exist adjust the route to increase overlap of rows of the off-road vehicle to distribute the width of the field evenly among the rows or incrementally adjust each row from a first contour of a first edge to a second contour of a second edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Bret T. Turpin, Daniel J. Morwood
  • Publication number: 20170344004
    Abstract: One embodiment describes a control system in an automation system including a first portion located at a first vehicle, which includes a first autonomous module that autonomously controls operation of the first vehicle to perform operations in a first area based at least in part on a first target operation result while the first portion is in an autonomous mode; and a second portion located at a second vehicle, in which the second portion includes a second autonomous module that autonomously controls operation of the second vehicle to perform operations in a second area based at least in part on a second target operation result while the second portion is in the autonomous mode and a first command module that determines the first target operation result and the second target operation result based at least in part on a global plan that indicates a total target operation result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, John H. Posselius, Bret T. Turpin, Daniel J. Morwood
  • Publication number: 20170339820
    Abstract: A system includes a scouting vehicle. The scouting vehicle includes a spatial location system configured to derive a geographic position of the scouting vehicle. The scouting vehicle further includes a computing device communicatively coupled to the spatial location system and to a communication system, the computing device comprising a processor configured to create a shape on a map based on a drive of the scouting vehicle. The scouting vehicle also includes the communication system configured to transmit the geographic position, a recording of the drive, the shape, or a combination thereof, to a base station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, John H. Posselius, Bret Todd Turpin, Daniel John Morwood, Michael G. Hornberger, Erik E. Veikle
  • Patent number: 9825589
    Abstract: Various emitters and emitter systems are disclosed. For instance, in various embodiments, an emitter can comprise a substrate, an insulator bonded to the substrate, a graphene layer bonded to the insulator, and a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. The first electrical contact can be bonded over a first portion of the graphene layer, and the second electrical contact can be bonded over a second portion of the graphene layer. The graphene layer electrically couples the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact and is configured to receive the application of a pulsed input voltage between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact and to radiate radio frequency (RF) energy. An emitter system can comprise a plurality of emitters, each disposed on a single integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jordan Rudolph Pagayanan Planillo, Michael A. Torres, Christopher A. Foster
  • Patent number: 9825195
    Abstract: Various emitters and emitter systems are disclosed. For instance, in various embodiments, an emitter can comprise a substrate, an insulator bonded to the substrate, a graphene layer bonded to the insulator, and a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. The first electrical contact can be bonded over a first portion of the graphene layer, and the second electrical contact can be bonded over a second portion of the graphene layer. The graphene layer electrically couples the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact and is configured to receive the application of a pulsed input voltage between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact and to radiate radio frequency (RF) energy. An emitter system can comprise a plurality of emitters, each disposed on a single integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jordan Rudolph Pagayanan Planillo, Michael A. Torres, Christopher A. Foster
  • Patent number: 9819925
    Abstract: A vehicle including a chassis, a drive system carrying the chassis, and a vision system carried by the chassis. The vision system having a stereo visible light camera producing a colorized 3D point cloud and a stereo long wave infrared camera producing 3D data. The vision system being configured to fuse the 3D data with the 3D point cloud thereby producing an enhanced 3D point cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Posselius, Christopher A. Foster, Bret T. Turpin, Daniel J. Morwood, Thomas M. Petroff, Brad A. Baillio, Chad B. Jeppesen
  • Publication number: 20170311534
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for conducting agricultural operations in a field using one or more autonomous vehicles in which the agricultural operations may be optimized during run time. The system includes providing a mission plan for an autonomous vehicle, receiving progress updates from the vehicle as it conducts an agricultural operation according to the mission plan, and monitoring for event conditions which may he reported by the vehicle. Event conditions may include, for example, detection of an obstacle, or an oncoming vehicle, or a disablement of the vehicle. Upon receiving an event condition, the system may revise the mission plan to resolve the event condition while providing an optimization based on current agricultural conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Adam Rusciolelli, Tyson Dollinger, John Posselius, Christopher A. Foster, Brian Ray
  • Publication number: 20170316692
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for conducting agricultural operations in a field using autonomous vehicles in which a collision avoidance mechanism may be provided. The system may include providing a mission plan for autonomous vehicles to conduct agricultural operations, establishing a hierarchy for the vehicles, and monitoring for an event conditions indicating vehicles are traveling toward a collision with respect to one another. Upon receiving an event condition, the system may revise the mission plan to adjust a path of one of the vehicles based on the hierarchy in order to avoid the collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Aam Rusciolelli, Tyson Dollinger, John Posselius, Christopher A. Foster, Brian Ray
  • Patent number: 9801331
    Abstract: A system includes an electronic control system for an agricultural system including a controller. The controller is configured to instruct a display of a user interface to present a gauge having a first indication of a current state of operation of a controllable device of the agricultural system. Moreover, the controller is configured to receive an input indicative of a desired state of operation of the controllable device. Furthermore, the controller is configured to output a signal to the controllable device indicative of the desired state of operation, and to instruct the display to present a second indication on the gauge indicative of the desired state of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, John H. Posselius, Brandon Chamberlain Adams, James Brian Stewart, Paul J. Lewis, Bret Todd Turpin, Joshua Hill Henrie, Max J. Barfuss, Jeremy Alexander Harris
  • Publication number: 20170282784
    Abstract: An indicator system for an autonomous agricultural vehicle includes a multicolor lighting assembly. The indicator system includes a controller comprising a memory operatively coupled to a processor. The processor is configured to select a status indication from a plurality of status indications that corresponds to a current operating state of a plurality of operating states. The processor is configured to output a second signal indicative of instructions to control the multicolor lighting assembly based on the status indication. The multicolor lighting assembly emits a light in response to the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Bret Todd Turpin, Mitchel R. Torrie, John H. Posselius
  • Publication number: 20170197621
    Abstract: A method for controlling an off-road vehicle includes selecting an operating mode from a plurality of candidate operating modes. The plurality of candidate operating modes includes a first operating mode that includes substantially maintaining a first desired vehicle speed of the off-road vehicle; a second operating mode that includes substantially maintaining a first desired gear ratio of the transmission and substantially maintaining a first desired engine speed of the engine; a third operating mode that includes substantially maintaining a second desired vehicle speed of the off-road vehicle and substantially maintaining a second desired engine speed of the engine; and a fourth operating mode that includes substantially maintaining a third desired gear ratio of the transmission and substantially maintaining a third desired vehicle speed of the off-road vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, John H. Posselius, Michael G. Hornberger, Daniel John Morwood, Bret Todd Turpin, Benjamin Craig Spendlove