Deere + Company

Jeffrey E Runde

Curtis A Maeder

Margaux M Ascherl

Qiang R Liu

Noel Wayne Anderson

Tyler David Schleicher

Troy K Maddox

Tyler Niday

David A Johnson

Jordan L Zerr

Shufeng Han

Mario L Donini

William J Vande Haar

Erich Wassilak

Simon W Schaefer

Benjamin E Shores

A mobile device includes a processor and memory, coupled to the processor, which memory contains instructions that when executed cause the processor to provide an autonomy management application. The autonomy management application includes an autonomy approval function. The autonomy approval function provides a user interface configured to display at least one aspect of an autonomy job to a user and receive user acceptance of the autonomy job. The autonomy approval function is configured to instruct the user to move within a pre-determined distance from an autonomous work machine that will execute the autonomy job and provide a machine-verified indication of user proximity within the pre-determined distance. The autonomy approval function includes a begin mission user interface element displayable after verification that a user has moved within the pre-determined distance of the autonomous work machine, which begin mission user interface element, when selected, causes the autonomy approval function to initiate motion. A computer-implemented method is also provided.

System and method for autonomous work machine approval

An implement management system detects implement wear and monitors implement states to modify operating modes of a vehicle. The system can determine implement wear using the pull of the implement on the vehicle, the force and angle of which is represented by an orientation vector. The system may measure a current orientation vector and determine an expected orientation vector using sensors and a model (e.g., a machine learned model). Additionally, the implement management system can determine an implement state based on images of the soil and the implement captured by a camera onboard the vehicle during operation. The system may apply different models to the images to determine a likely state of the implement. The difference between the expected and current orientation vectors or the determined implement state may be used to determine whether and how the vehicle's operating mode should be modified.

Implement management system for determining implement state

A rear perception module is utilized in conjunction with a work vehicle having a work vehicle cabin and a cabin roof. In an embodiment, the rear perception module includes an environmental depth perception (EDP) sensor system including a first EDP device having a field of view encompassing an environmental region to a rear of the work vehicle, a rear module housing mounted to an upper trailing edge portion of the cabin roof, and vents formed in exterior walls of the rear module housing to facilitate airflow through the rear module housing along a cooling airflow path. A heat-generating electronic component is electrically coupled to the first EDP device and positioned in or adjacent the cooling airflow path such that excess heat generated by the heat-generating electronic component is dissipated by convective transfer to airflow conducted along the cooling airflow path during operation of the rear perception module.

Work vehicle perception systems and rear modules

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to generate a turn path for a vehicle are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes input interface circuitry to obtain a guidance path for a vehicle, turn identification circuitry to identify a turn in the guidance path, and turn pattern selection circuitry to select, from a plurality of predetermined turn patterns, a turn pattern for the turn, wherein the turn pattern satisfies a condition.

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to generate a turn path for a vehicle

A control system for an autonomous work machine includes a robotic controller, a position detection system coupled to the robotic controller, and a sensor coupled to the robotic controller and configured to provide a sensor signal. A controlled system is coupled to the robotic controller to receive control signals from the robotic controller. The robotic controller is configured to generate an event relative to an object in an environment around the autonomous work machine or a machine health/job quality issue, document the event, and store the documented event. The robotic controller is further configured to selectively generate a communication containing at least some information relative to the documented event to a supervisor and to receive user input from the supervisor and take responsive action based on the user input.

System and method for autonomous work machine exception handling

A front perception module is utilized in conjunction with a front ballast system, which is included in a work vehicle and which has a laterally-extending hanger bracket supporting a number of removable ballast weights. In various embodiments, the front perception module includes an environmental depth perception (EDP) sensor system including a first EDP device having a field of view (FOV) encompassing an environmental region forward of the work vehicle, a mounting base attached to the work vehicle, and a front module housing containing the EDP sensor system and joined to the work vehicle through the mounting base. The front module housing is positioned over and vertically spaced from the laterally-extending hanger bracket in a manner enabling positioning of the removable ballast weights beneath the front module housing.

Work vehicle perception systems and front modules

A control system for operating a work vehicle powertrain includes an engine configured to generate power for an output shaft. The control system includes a transmission positioned operatively between the engine and the output shaft and configured to selectively transfer the power along a power flow path between the engine and the output shaft. The transmission includes an input shaft; at least one intermediate shaft; at least one directional clutch; and intermediate clutches configured for selective engagement to transfer power between the at least one intermediate shaft and the output shaft. A controller is configured to receive a vehicle stop request to stop the work vehicle; implement, upon receiving the vehicle stop request, a clutch braking function; and generate, upon the implementation of the clutch braking function, clutch commands to engage at least two of the intermediate clutches selected such that the output shaft is slowed and stopped.

Power control system with clutch braking function

An automatic turning control system for a work vehicle having a ground engaging traction device directed by a manual steering device. The automatic turning control system includes an electronic control unit (ECU), a traction device angle sensor configured to generate an angle signal representative of an angle of the traction device with respect to an axis of the work vehicle, and a vehicle guidance system. The ECU is configured to generate a manual path signal representing an actual path of the work vehicle based on the angle signal. The ECU is operatively connected to a vehicle guidance system and determines a learned path signal based on the manual path signal. The vehicle guidance system automatically directs the work vehicle along the learned path signal when the vehicle moves from a working area, to a non-working area, and back to the working area of a field.

Automatic end of row turning control system for a work vehicle by learning from operator

A method and apparatus for automatically controlling ground speed of a work vehicle. The apparatus includes a speed sensor generating a vehicle speed signal, the speed sensor operatively connected to a controller. A traction device angle sensor generates an angle signal which represents an angle of the traction device with respect to an axis of the work vehicle, wherein the traction device angle sensor operatively connected to the controller. A vehicle guidance system is configured to generate a vehicle position signal, wherein the controller determines the ground speed of the vehicle based on at least one of: i) a tracking error of the vehicle relative to the vehicle position signal; ii) a planned curved vehicle path; iii) a planned location of the vehicle within a defined portion of a field; and iv) a planned path segment and an associated change in direction of travel of the work vehicle.

Automatic ground speed control system for a work vehicle

An operation management system for a vehicle controllable by an operator to perform various vehicle actions, the system including a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface. The processor is configured to store, in the memory, sequences of operator initiated vehicle actions, each operator initiated vehicle action corresponding to an operational response of the vehicle. The processor is further configured to receive a new sequence of operator initiated vehicle actions, and compare the operator initiated vehicle actions of the new sequence to the operator initiated vehicle actions of the stored sequences. If the operator initiated vehicle actions of the new sequence correspond to the operator initiated vehicle actions of at least one of the stored sequences, identify a recommended sequence based on at least one of the new sequence or the at least one of the stored sequences.

Vehicle operation management system with automatic sequence detection

An operation management system for a vehicle controllable by an operator to perform various vehicle actions, the system including a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface. The processor is configured to record sequences of operator-initiated vehicle actions into the memory, record a distance value associated with each vehicle action relative to a previous vehicle action in the sequence into the memory, and generate a new sequence in the memory beginning with each vehicle action.

An operation management system for a vehicle controllable by an operator to perform various vehicle actions, the system including a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface. The processor is configured to record sequences of operator-initiated vehicle actions and compare the sequences. If at least two of the sequences contain the same operator-initiated vehicle actions, identify the at least two of the sequences as matching sequences, and communicate, by way of the human-machine interface, to the operator of the vehicle a suggested operating sequence based on the matching sequences.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Falls, IA, United States of America

Jeffrey E Runde