Trimble Navigation Limited

Trimble Inc.

Mark Edward Nichols

Nicholas C Talbot

Michael Timo Allison

John F Schipper

Eric B Rodal

James M Janky

Arthur Francis Lange

Charles N Branch

Kenneth W McBride

Richard Jackson

Arthur Taylor

Nicholas Charles Talbot

Arthur N Woo

Gregory Craig Wallace

Russell J Keller

Ian Timothy Viney

James L Sorden

Dominic G Farmer

Michael D Murphy

Charles Gilbert

Anthony W Serksnis

Darrin Hurd

Adam Bursill

A speech recognition equipped geographic information recording apparatus and method. In one embodiment, a mobile data terminal has a communication node therein. A geographic mapping system is integral with the mobile data terminal, and is coupled to the communication node. A speech recognition system adapted to receive verbal information is also coupled to the mobile data terminal. The speech recognition system is adapted to receive attribute data verbalized by an operator of the mobile data terminal. Additionally, the speech recognition system is adapted to receive operating commands verbalized by an operator of the mobile data terminal. The communication node of the mobile data terminal includes a transmitter for sending information from the mobile data terminal to a desired location, and a receiver for receiving information from a desired location. In the present embodiment, a real-time communication link exists between the mobile data terminal and the desired location.

Speech recognizing GIS/GPS/AVL system

A method of guiding a vehicle in adjacent swaths across terrain that may slope comprising the steps of: (1) determining the tilt of the vehicle with respect to Earth due to a slope of the terrain; (2) determining the position with respect to Earth of a predetermined location that is fixed relative to the vehicle; and (3) using the tilt and position determinations to provide information for guiding the vehicle to prevent gaps and overlaps between adjacent swaths as the slope changes.

Guiding vehicle in adjacent swaths across terrain via satellite navigation and tilt measurement

Real time kinematic (RTK) global positioning system (GPS) technology is integrated with precision farming methodologies to provide highly accurate seeding, cultivating, planting and/or harvesting operations. RTK GPS systems are used to control fully or semi-autonomous vehicles in these operations and may allow for precision planting of seeds (e.g., from a seeder equipped with an RTK GPS receiver and related equipment) and/or precision weed removal (e.g., using a vehicle fitted with weed eradication mechanisms such as augers and/or herbicide sprayers). Crop specific fertilizer/pesticide application is also enabled through the use of centimeter-level accurate positioning techniques.

Methods and apparatus for precision agriculture operations utilizing real time kinematic global positioning system systems

The satellite navigational system integrated with the tilt measurement system capable of precise measurement of the actual coordinates of the mobile unit that moves along a track with variable tilt is disclosed. Using the integrated satellite/tilt measurement system, a plurality of 3 dimensional lines separated by optimal swathing offset vector can be formed and followed in order to provide field guidance during a precision farming operation across variably inclined terrain.

Precise parallel swathing guidance via satellite navigation and tilt measurement

The integrated laser and satellite positional system receiver is disclosed. The integrated laser and satellite positioning system receiver can provide a plurality of mobile units with a laser plane data determined with a millimeter relative accuracy. The integrated laser and differential satellite positioning system receiver can also generate and transmit the differential correctional data to a plurality of mobile units. Each mobile unit equipped with a mobile satellite positioning system receiver can use the differential correction data and the high precision laser plane data to improve its position determination capabilities.

High precision GPS/RTK and laser machine control

Apparatus for measuring surveying parameters, such as distances and angular displacements between an instrument survey station and a mobile survey station, with improved accuracy. The invention combines a differential satellite positioning system (DSATPS), available with positioning systems such as GPS and GLONASS, with electromagnetic measurements of distances and optically encoded angles by a conventional electro-optical survey instrument to provide survey measurements that can be accurate to within a few millimeters in favorable situations. The DSATPS relies upon pseudorange measurements or upon carrier phase measurements, after removal of certain phase integer ambiguities associated with carrier phase SATPS signals. The SATPS may be retrofitted within the housing of the conventional electro-optical instrument. In a first approach, a remote station provides DSATPS corrections for the mobile station and/or for the instrument station. In a second approach, the mobile station provides DSATPS corrections for itself and for the instrument station. In a third approach, the instrument station provides DSATPS corrections for itself and for the mobile station.

Integrated SATPS total survey station

A first position determining device at a known position transmits a data signal identifying the known position. A second position determining device is responsive to the data signal and movable to a position near but displaced from a survey point. The position of the second position determining device is determined relative to the known position, and the range and bearing of the survey point is determined relative to the second position determining device.

Location and generation of high accuracy survey control marks using satellites

A geographical position/image capturing system stores object images and position coordinates as digital data. The system incorporates a geo-addressed map data base and geo-positioning device for relating the position of the system at the time the image is captured to the captured digital image data and the geo-addressed map. A point-of-interest feature data base is linked to the image data and the position data, by hyper-media links. Digital multi-media entities such as graphics, video clips, audio streams and the like can be digitally stored and retrieved based on hyper-media links coupling the entities to the object images, the map position and feature data base. A playback unit incorporating an image viewer communicates with the stored digital digital image data, the multi-media entities, the map data base, and the feature data base and allows modified images of selected portions of the images and other data to be viewed by a user. An audio reproduction device may be included to reproduce the audio media entities when they are selected by the appropriate hyper-media link. In one embodiment of the system, the image capturing function and the geo-positioning function are physically remote from the viewing function until the captured data is transferred to the retrieval and playback unit. In another embodiment, the capture functions and playback functions are combined in a compact, hand-held, portable unit for consumer or industrial field use. The images, position data and multi-media entities may be stored as a single, compressed, linked digital data file. The data file is provided with hyper-media connections between the various entities, which connections are actuated by clicking on icons displayed on the viewer, or by actuating buttons or switches provided on the system console. Angular orientation determining device for providing angular orientation data may also be incorporated such that the system angular orientation at the time of image capture may be captured and stored for subsequent retrieval and display.

Geographical position/image digital recording and display system

The mobile unit equipped with the satellite positioning system augmented by the laser positioning system is disclosed. The usage of the satellite positioning system allows the user to determine the coordinate of the laser reflectors prior to the range measurements. The range measurements are performed by the navigational computer using the laser scanning and rotating beam to obtain the range data between the mobile unit and a plurality of laser reflectors, and using the satellite positioning system to obtain the range data between the mobile unit and a plurality of visible navigational satellites. The obtained range data and the laser reflector coordinate data allows the user to perform the navigation of the mobile unit.

GPS positioning utilizing laser based reflectors augmentation

The real time differential satellite navigational system integrated with the tilt measurement system is disclosed. The integrated positioning system allows one to perform the real time precise navigation of a mobile unit in a variable tilt environment. In another embodiment, the map generating system is disclosed. The map generating system utilizes the low cost post-processing differential GPS receiver. The map generating system allows one to record the map of an actual area covered by a mobile unit in a variable tilt environment.

All-terrain error correction

A handheld survey device includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving position information, a pointer to point to the location to be measured, a measuring device to measure the distance between the handheld device and the location to be measured and a level and heading device to determine the level and heading of the handheld device. The GPS receiver may be a real time kinematic (RTK) GPS receiver and may be augmented by the use of a dead reckoning (DR) positioning unit. A processor located within the handheld device computes the position of the location using the position information provided by the GPS receiver and/or the DR system, the distance measured between the handheld device and the location, and the level and heading information. The position computed meets the stringent accuracy requirements dictated by survey applications without the use of a range pole.

Handheld surveying device and method

A surveying system for accurate determination of the position of a target based on ranging information provided by a positioning system is disclosed. A target is configured with a receiver to receive positioning signals from a positioning system, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS). The target transmits to a total station system position information estimating the target's location. The total station system, based on the location and orientation of the total station and the estimated location of the target, determines the angular displacement which is used to control a servo mechanism to align the total station unit with the target. Finer adjustments can thereafter be performed to more accurately align the total station to the target.

GPS-aided autolock in a robotic total station system

A system for selecting an optimal transformation T(G2;G1) between a first ellipsoid E1 (e.g., WGS 84) in a first global coordinate system G1, relative to which the survey measurements are made, and a second ellipsoid E2 (e.g., NAD 27) in a second global coordinate system G2. Location coordinates (x'.sub.m,2,y'.sub.m,2,z'.sub.m,2) for M previously-surveyed locations, numbered m=1, . . . , M (M&gt;1) in the second system, and location coordinates (x'.sub.n,1,y'.sub.n,1,z'.sub.n,1) for N presently-surveyed locations, numbered n=1, . . . , N (M&lt;N), in the first system are provided, where M presently-surveyed locations coincide with the M previously-surveyed locations. The transformation is chose.sub.n so that the images of previously-surveyed locations in the first system under the transformation T are as close as possible to the corresponding [previously-surveyed] locations in the second system. Give.sub.n an ellipsoid and a selected survey plane .tau.0 that is tangent to the ellipsoid, a set of selected locations can be surveyed with reference to the ellipsoid, and the location coordinates of each such surveyed location can be mapped into a corresponding 'survey location,' defined by reference to a local coordinate system that uses the survey plane .tau.0 as its base. These transformations and projections are determined and optimized in real time, at the time a surveyor is measuring the presently-surveyed locations in the field. The instruments used for surveying may be part of a location determination system, such as GPS, GLONASS or Loran.

Survey coordinate transformation optimization

A handheld survey device includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving position information, a pointer to point to the location to be measured, a measuring device to measure the distance between the handheld device and the location to be measured and a level and heading device to determine the level and heading of the handheld device. A processor located within the handheld device computes the position of the location using the position information, the distance measured between the handheld device and the location, and the level and heading information. The position computed meets the stringent accuracy requirements dictated by survey applications without the use of a range pole.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Mark Edward Nichols