Patents by Inventor Francisco Rovira-Mas

Francisco Rovira-Mas 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).

  • Patent number: 11751497
    Abstract: A method, system and robot, wherein the robot includes two or more sensing devices, sensor A and sensor B, mounted thereon and moves forward along an axis parallel to the rows of plants, being autonomously steered by exerting angular corrections to place the robot as close as possible to the centerline between the rows of plants, wherein the method and system includes the following: (ii) dividing a two-dimensional grid of square cells into groups of cells; (iii) obtaining data points using sensor A and sensor B; (vii) moving the robot: (a) by turning right; or (b) by turning left; or (c) forward without turning, depending on whether each group of cells is calculated as low-activated, high-activated or not activated using the data points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventors: Francisco Rovira Mas, Andrés Cuenca Cuenca, Verónica Saiz Rubio
  • Publication number: 20220030759
    Abstract: A method, system and robot for autonomous navigation thereof between two rows of plants, wherein said robot includes two or more sensing devices, sensor A and sensor B, mounted thereon and moves forward along an axis parallel to the rows of plants, being autonomously steered by exerting angular corrections to place the robot as close as possible to the centerline between the rows of plants, wherein the method and system includes the following: (ii) dividing a two-dimensional grid of square cells into IG·JG groups of cells; (iii) obtaining data points using sensor A and sensor B; (vii) moving the robot: (a) by turning right; or (b) by turning left; or (c) forward without turning, depending on whether each group of cells (i,j) is calculated as low-activated, high-activated or not activated using said data points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Francisco ROVIRA MAS, Andrés CUENCA CUENCA, Verónica SAIZ RUBIO
  • Patent number: 8855405
    Abstract: A system and method for creating 3-dimensional agricultural field scene maps are disclosed comprising producing a pair of images using a stereo camera and creating a disparity image based on the pair of images, the disparity image being a 3-dimensional representation of the stereo images. Coordinate arrays can be produced from the disparity image and the coordinate arrays can be used to render a 3-dimensional local map of the agricultural field scene. Global maps can also be made by using geographic location information associated with various local maps to fuse together multiple local maps into a 3-dimensional global representation of the field scene. The disparity images can be used to analyze a variety of agricultural features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignees: Deere & Company, University of Illinois Grant and Contract Administration
    Inventors: Francisco Rovira Mas, Qin Zhang, John Franklin Reid
  • Patent number: 8737720
    Abstract: A system and method for creating 3-dimensional agricultural field scene maps are disclosed comprising producing a pair of images using a stereo camera and creating a disparity images based on the pair of images, the disparity image being a 3-dimensional representation of the stereo images. Coordinate arrays can be produced from the disparity image and the coordinate arrays can be used to render a 3-dimensional local map of the agricultural field scene. Global maps can also be made by using geographic location information associated with various local maps to fuse together multiple local maps into a 3-dimensional global representation of the field scene. The disparity images can be used to analyze a variety of agricultural features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignees: Deere & Company, University of Illinois Grant and Contract Administration
    Inventors: Francisco Rovira Mas, Qin Zhang, John Franklin Reid
  • Patent number: 8712144
    Abstract: A system and method for creating 3-dimensional agricultural field scene maps are disclosed comprising producing a pair of images using a stereo camera and creating a disparity images based on the pair of images, the disparity image being a 3-dimensional representation of the stereo images. Coordinate arrays can be produced from the disparity image and the coordinate arrays can be used to render a 3-dimensional local map of the agricultural field scene. Global maps can also be made by using geographic location information associated with various local maps to fuse together multiple local maps into a 3-dimensional global representation of the field scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: Deere & Company, University of Illinois Grant and Contrect Administration
    Inventors: Francisco Rovira Mas, Qin Zhang, John Franklin Reid
  • Patent number: 8433483
    Abstract: A discriminator identifies windrow pixels associated with a windrow within a collected image. A definer defines a search space with respect to a vehicle. An evaluator determines respective spatial correlations between the defined search space and the windrow pixels for different angular displacements of the search space. An alignment detector or search engine determining a desired vehicular heading as a preferential angular displacement associated with a generally maximum spatial correlation between the defined search space and the windrow pixels. An offset calculator estimates an offset of the vehicle to a central point of the windrow or a depth axis to achieve the desired vehicle heading and desired position of the vehicle with respect to the windrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Shufeng Han, Jiantao Wei, Francisco Rovira-Mas
  • Patent number: 8185275
    Abstract: A discriminator identifies windrow pixels associated with a windrow within a collected image. A definer defines a search space with respect to a vehicle. An evaluator determines respective spatial correlations between the defined search space and the windrow pixels for different angular displacements of the search space. An alignment detector or search engine determining a desired vehicular heading as a preferential angular displacement associated with a generally maximum spatial correlation between the defined search space and the windrow pixels. An offset calculator estimates an offset of the vehicle to a central point of the windrow or a depth axis to achieve the desired vehicle heading and desired position of the vehicle with respect to the windrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Shufeng Han, Jiantao Wei, Francisco Rovira-Mas
  • Publication number: 20120101695
    Abstract: A discriminator identifies windrow pixels associated with a windrow within a collected image. A definer defines a search space with respect to a vehicle. An evaluator determines respective spatial correlations between the defined search space and the windrow pixels for different angular displacements of the search space. An alignment detector or search engine determining a desired vehicular heading as a preferential angular displacement associated with a generally maximum spatial correlation between the defined search space and the windrow pixels. An offset calculator estimates an offset of the vehicle to a central point of the windrow or a depth axis to achieve the desired vehicle heading and desired position of the vehicle with respect to the windrow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Shufeng Han, Jiantao Wei, Francisco Rovira-Mas
  • Patent number: 7792607
    Abstract: A method and system for guiding a vehicle comprises a location determining receiver for collecting location data for the vehicle. A vision module collects vision data for the vehicle. A location quality estimator estimates the location quality data for the location data during an evaluation time window. A vision module estimates vision quality data for the vision data during the evaluation time window. A supervisor module selects a mixing ratio for the vision data and location data (or error signals associated therewith) based on the quality data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Shufeng Han, John Franklin Reid, Francisco Rovira-Más
  • Patent number: 7610123
    Abstract: A method and system for guiding a vehicle comprises a location determining receiver for collecting location data for the vehicle. A vision module collects vision data for the vehicle. A location quality estimator estimates the location quality data for the location data during an evaluation time window. A vision module estimates vision quality data for the vision data during the evaluation time window. A supervisor module selects at least one of a location data weight and a vision data weight based on the quality data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Shufeng Han, John Franklin Reid, Francisco Rovira-Más
  • Patent number: 7587081
    Abstract: An image collection system collects stereo image data comprising left image data and right image data of a particular scene. An estimator estimates a reference three dimensional image density rating for corresponding reference volumetric cell within the particular scene at a reference range from an imaging unit. An image density compensator compensates for the change in image density rating between the reference volumetric cell and an evaluated volumetric cell by using a compensated three dimensional image density rating based on a range or relative displacement between the reference volumetric cell and the evaluated volumetric cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignees: Deere & Company, The University of Illinois
    Inventors: Francisco Rovira-Mas, Qin Zhang, John Franklin Reid
  • Publication number: 20070071311
    Abstract: An image collection system collects stereo image data comprising left image data and right image data of a particular scene. An estimator estimates a reference three dimensional image density rating for corresponding reference volumetric cell within the particular scene at a reference range from an imaging unit. An image density compensator compensates for the change in image density rating between the reference volumetric cell and an evaluated volumetric cell by using a compensated three dimensional image density rating based on a range or relative displacement between the reference volumetric cell and the evaluated volumetric cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Francisco Rovira-Mas, Qin Zhang, John Reid
  • Publication number: 20070005208
    Abstract: The entire right, title and interest in and to this application and all subject matter disclosed and/or claimed therein, including any and all divisions, continuations, reissues, etc., thereof are, effective as of the date of execution of this application, assigned, transferred, sold and set over by the applicant(s) named herein to Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation having offices at Moline, Ill. 61265, U.S.A., together with all rights to file, and to claim priorities in connection with, corresponding patent applications in any and all foreign countries in the name of Deere & Company or otherwise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Shufeng Han, Jiantao Wei, Francisco Rovira-Mas
  • Publication number: 20060149472
    Abstract: A method and system for guiding a vehicle comprises a location determining receiver for collecting location data for the vehicle. A vision module collects vision data for the vehicle. A location quality estimator estimates the location quality data for the location data during an evaluation time window. A vision module estimates vision quality data for the vision data during the evaluation time window. A supervisor module selects at least one of a location data weight and a vision data weight based on the quality data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Shufeng Han, John Reid, Francisco Rovira-Mas
  • Publication number: 20060149417
    Abstract: A method and system for guiding a vehicle comprises a location determining receiver for collecting location data for the vehicle. A vision module collects vision data for the vehicle. A location quality estimator estimates the location quality data for the location data during an evaluation time window. A vision module estimates vision quality data for the vision data during the evaluation time window. A supervisor module selects a mixing ratio for the vision data and location data (or error signals associated therewith) based on the quality data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Shufeng Han, John Reid, Francisco Rovira-Mas
  • Publication number: 20040264761
    Abstract: A system and method for creating 3-dimensional agricultural field scene maps are disclosed comprising producing a pair of images using a stereo camera and creating a disparity images based on the pair of images, the disparity image being a 3-dimensional representation of the stereo images. Coordinate arrays can be produced from the disparity image and the coordinate arrays can be used to render a 3-dimensional local map of the agricultural field scene. Global maps can also be made by using geographic location information associated with various local maps to fuse together multiple local maps into a 3-dimensional global representation of the field scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Francisco Rovira Mas, Qin Zhang, John Franklin Reid
  • Publication number: 20040264763
    Abstract: A system and method for creating 3-dimensional agricultural field scene maps are disclosed comprising producing a pair of images using a stereo camera and creating a disparity image based on the pair of images, the disparity image being a 3-dimensional representation of the stereo images. Coordinate arrays can be produced from the disparity image and the coordinate arrays can be used to render a 3-dimensional local map of the agricultural field scene. Global maps can also be made by using geographic location information associated with various local maps to fuse together multiple local maps into a 3-dimensional global representation of the field scene. The disparity images can be used to analyze a variety of agricultural features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Francisco Rovira Mas, Qin Zhang, John Franklin Reid
  • Publication number: 20040264762
    Abstract: A system and method for creating 3-dimensional agricultural field scene maps are disclosed comprising producing a pair of images using a stereo camera and creating a disparity images based on the pair of images, the disparity image being a 3-dimensional representation of the stereo images. Coordinate arrays can be produced from the disparity image and the coordinate arrays can be used to render a 3-dimensional local map of the agricultural field scene. Global maps can also be made by using geographic location information associated with various local maps to fuse together multiple local maps into a 3-dimensional global representation of the field scene. The disparity images can be used to analyze a variety of agricultural features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Francisco Rovira Mas, Qin Zhang, John Franklin Reid