Abstract: There is disclosed a mobile autonomous agricultural system comprising a powered mobile unit, two distance sensors, an attitude sensor, a path determination module and a controller. The powered mobile unit extends from a front end to a back end along a longitudinal axis, and is configured for carrying agricultural equipment and to move along rows of posts along the longitudinal axis. The powered mobile unit comprises a chassis supported by wheel units, each wheel unit comprising a wheel with a suspension assembly. The suspension assembly comprises a suspension unit comprising passive spring around a shock absorber coupled to the wheel, and a linear actuator configured to move the suspension unit relative to the chassis of the mobile unit to thereby move the wheel relative to the chassis independently of the suspension unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for determining a location of a tow hitch (280) mounted to a vehicle (250), comprising imaging means (260) disposed in relation to the vehicle to output image data corresponding to an image (105), and processing means (200, 210) arranged to receive the image data (270), wherein the processing means is arranged to select image data corresponding to a region (310) of the image and to search within the selected data for image data corresponding to the tow hitch (280) to determine the location of the tow hitch within the image.

Abstract: A crest detection system (10, 19, 185C) for a vehicle (100), the system comprising a processing means (10, 19) arranged to receive, from terrain data capture means (185C) arranged to capture data in respect of terrain ahead of the vehicle by means of one or more sensors, terrain information indicative of the topography of an area extending ahead of the vehicle (100), wherein the processing means (10, 19) is configured to, in dependence upon a predicted path of the vehicle (100) over said terrain extending ahead of the vehicle (100), determine that a crest exists in the predicted path in dependence at least in part on the detection of a discontinuity in terrain along the predicted path ahead of the vehicle (100) based on the terrain information, and information in respect of slope of terrain before the discontinuity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a control system for a vehicle, the control system comprising at least one controller and being configured to: obtain image data relating to terrain to be traversed by the vehicle, and for each of a plurality of sub-regions of the image data: determine probability data relating to whether the respective sub-region relates to a path region or a non-path region of the terrain; and determine a cost for the vehicle to traverse a portion of the terrain to which the sub-region relates depending on the probability data meeting one or more path probability criteria indicating that the sub-region relates to the path region, one or more non-path probability criteria indicating that the sub-region relates to the non-path region or neither the path probability criteria nor the non-path probability criteria; and determining a vehicle path in dependence on the determined costs.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for use in a non-lead vehicle in a convoy, particularly an off-road convoy. The system comprises an image handling module adapted to obtain non-lead image data of the scene in the vicinity of the non-lead vehicle; a communications module adapted to receive data from a preceding vehicle in the convoy, the data comprising at least lead image data of the scene in the vicinity of the preceding vehicle; a processing module adapted to: obtain pose data of the preceding vehicle and a sparse map, both derived from the lead image data, wherein the sparse map comprises coordinates of a set of identifying features in the scene, and derive pose data of the non-lead vehicle relative to the preceding vehicle from the non-lead image data and the sparse map via visual odometry.

Abstract: A slope detection system (10, 19, 185C) for a vehicle (100) is provided. The system has a processor (10, 19) that receives, from one or more sensors (185C) arranged to capture data in respect of terrain ahead of the vehicle, terrain information indicative of the topography of an area extending ahead of the vehicle (100). The processor (10, 19), in dependence upon a predicted path of the vehicle (100) over the terrain extending ahead of the vehicle (100), generates, for the predicted path of the vehicle (100), information indicative of an angle of slope of the predicted path, being the slope of the predicted path along a direction of travel of the vehicle (100).

Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle speed control system having a side-slope detection system (10, 19, 185C). The system comprises a processor (10, 19) arranged to receive, from one or more sensors (185C) arranged to capture data in respect of terrain ahead of the vehicle, terrain information indicative of the topography of an area extending ahead of the vehicle (100). The processor (10, 19), in dependence upon a predicted path of the vehicle (100) over said terrain extending ahead of the vehicle (100), generates, for the predicted path of the vehicle (100), information indicative of the angle of side-slope of the predicted path, being the slope of the predicted path transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle (100). The vehicle speed control system is configured to control vehicle speed in dependence at least in part on the information indicative of the angle of side-slope of the predicted path generated by the side-slope detection system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for determining a location of a tow hitch (280) mounted to a vehicle (250), comprising imaging means (260) disposed in relation to the vehicle to output image data corresponding to an image (105), and processing means (200, 210) arranged to receive the image data (270), wherein the processing means is arranged to select image data corresponding to a region (310) of the image and to search within the selected data for image data corresponding to the tow hitch (280) to determine the location of the tow hitch within the image.

Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle speed control system having a side-slope detection system (10, 19, 185C). The system comprises a processor (10, 19) arranged to receive, from one or more sensors (185C) arranged to capture data in respect of terrain ahead of the vehicle, terrain information indicative of the topography of an area extending ahead of the vehicle (100). The processor (10, 19), in dependence upon a predicted path of the vehicle (100) over said terrain extending ahead of the vehicle (100), generates, for the predicted path of the vehicle (100), information indicative of the angle of side-slope of the predicted path, being the slope of the predicted path transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle (100). The vehicle speed control system is configured to control vehicle speed in dependence at least in part on the information indicative of the angle of side-slope of the predicted path generated by the side-slope detection system.

Abstract: A crest detection system (10, 19, 185C) for a vehicle (100), the system comprising a processing means (10, 19) arranged to receive, from terrain data capture means (185C) arranged to capture data in respect of terrain ahead of the vehicle by means of one or more sensors, terrain information indicative of the topography of an area extending ahead of the vehicle (100), wherein the processing means (10, 19) is configured to, in dependence upon a predicted path of the vehicle (100) over said terrain extending ahead of the vehicle (100), determine that a crest exists in the predicted path in dependence at least in part on the detection of a discontinuity in terrain along the predicted path ahead of the vehicle (100) based on the terrain information, and information in respect of slope of terrain before the discontinuity.

Abstract: A slope detection system (10, 19, 185C) for a vehicle (100) is provided. The system has a processor (10, 19) that receives, from one or more sensors (185C) arranged to capture data in respect of terrain ahead of the vehicle, terrain information indicative of the topography of an area extending ahead of the vehicle (100). The processor (10, 19), in dependence upon a predicted path of the vehicle (100) over the terrain extending ahead of the vehicle (100), generates, for the predicted path of the vehicle (100), information indicative of an angle of slope of the predicted path, being the slope of the predicted path along a direction of travel of the vehicle (100).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for use in a non-lead vehicle in a convoy, particularly an off-road convoy. The system comprises an image handling module adapted to obtain non-lead image data of the scene in the vicinity of the non-lead vehicle; a communications module adapted to receive data from a preceding vehicle in the convoy, the data comprising at least lead image data of the scene in the vicinity of the preceding vehicle; a processing module adapted to: obtain pose data of the preceding vehicle and a sparse map, both derived from the lead image data, wherein the sparse map comprises coordinates of a set of identifying features in the scene, and derive pose data of the non-lead vehicle relative to the preceding vehicle from the non-lead image data and the sparse map via visual odometry.