Deere + Company

Rachel Bruflodt

Giovanni Ananda Wuisan

Brett S Graham

Michael G Kean

Nathaniel M Czarnecki

Gordon Edward Miller

Amy K Jones

Keith J Lensing

Donald A Fuller

Christopher B Howard

Tianshuang Gao

Drake A VanDerZyl

Derek K Pickett

A body swing collision avoidance system and method for a machine with steerable traction devices for moving the machine. Sensors monitor obstacles around the machine. A commanded body swing path is calculated based on operator steering commands. If an obstacle is in the commanded body swing path, the system automatically adjusts the steering commands to avoid collision with the obstacle. A time to collision can be calculated, and the steering commands adjusted only when it is below a threshold. Adjusting the steering commands to avoid collision can include determining propel and steer components based on the steering commands; and if propel is greater than a threshold then adjusting the steering commands to adjust the swing path to avoid collision; and if propel is less than the threshold then adjusting the steering commands to slow the machine to avoid collision.

Multiple mode body swing collision avoidance system and method

A work vehicle is provided with a first portion having a frame supported by ground engaging units, and an operator cab with a first (forward) side and opposing second and third sides having respective (i.e., left and right) fields of view. At least a first portion of terrain proximate to the frame (i.e., an area of interest) is obscured from view of an operator in the operator cab during at least a portion of a trajectory of movement of a second portion of the work vehicle (e.g., a boom assembly). At least one imaging device is mounted on the work vehicle and has a field of view including the area of interest throughout the trajectory of movement of the second portion.

Work vehicle having a work implement and sensors for maintaining a view of an area of interest throughout movement of the work implement

A computer-implemented system and method provide visual representation of an area of interest proximate to a work vehicle (e.g., a loader) during operative movement. A first vehicle portion comprises a frame, and a second vehicle portion (e.g., front-mounted bucket) is moveable relative to the first portion, and may for example obscure the area of interest from view during at least part of a trajectory of bucket movement. At least two imaging devices are mounted on the work vehicle, at least one of which has a field of view including the area of interest at any given time throughout the trajectory of bucket movement. Image data is provided to a display unit representing the area of interest and based on inputs from one or more of the imaging devices, wherein a display of the area of interest is substantially maintained thereon throughout bucket movement.

Work vehicle having enhanced visibility throughout implement movement

A system and method are provided for object detection for a work machine. In an embodiment, data may be received from at least one sensor associated with the work machine and corresponding to a field of view extending from the main frame. Objects are classified in respective locations in the field of view, and at least one segmentation mask is generated corresponding to contours for at least one portion of, or attachment to, the work machine as determined to be in the field of view, wherein each of the at least one segmentation mask defines a respective masked zone in the field of view. One or more of the classified objects may then be determined as separate from the portion/attachment, wherein the at least one segmentation mask is applied to the portion/attachment independently of the one or more separate objects in the field of view. The at least one segmentation mask may be dynamic in nature to account for detected movements of, e.g., attachments to the work machine.

Object detection system and method for a work machine using work implement masking

A method is provided for displaying an area of interest proximate a work vehicle. A first portion of the work vehicle includes a frame supporting an operator cab. A second portion of the work vehicle, e.g., a boom assembly, is moveable relative to the first portion, and at least partially obscure the area of interest from an operator seated in the operator cab during at least a portion of a trajectory of movement for the second portion. An imaging device is mounted on the boom assembly and has a field of view including the defined area of interest throughout the available trajectory of movement. The method may include dynamically processing (e.g., cropping and resizing) raw image data to maintain display parameters throughout the available trajectory of movement.

System and method for maintaining a view of an area of interest proximate a work vehicle

A method is provided for visually representing areas of interest associated with and/or proximate a work vehicle which includes a first portion (e.g., frame) and a second portion (e.g., work implement) moveable relative thereto, wherein for example a first area of interest comprising terrain proximate a ground-engaging work tool is obscured from direct operator view. An imaging device is mounted on the work vehicle and has a field of view including the first area of interest at least while the tool is proximate a ground-engaging position. Selections may accordingly be made from among various areas of interest, wherein image display parameters associated with perimeter contours of the selected area of interest are substantially maintained throughout movement of the second portion. For example, display parameters corresponding to the first area of interest may be maintained while the tool and the imaging device move relative thereto.

Work vehicle having multi-purpose camera for selective monitoring of an area of interest

A self-propelled work vehicle is provided with a control system enabling the use of gestures on a touch screen interface to provide a simple and intuitive way to manipulate displayed images, and/or automatically changing a region of interest of a surround view camera unit. Exemplary automatic manipulation may be implemented if a work vehicle is detected as performing a certain function, wherein surround view images can automatically change to a smaller sub-view which gives more focused visibility appropriate to that function. The distortion and simulated field of view of surround view images may also/otherwise be automatically manipulated based on a detected operation/function. The control system can also/otherwise dynamically modify surround view images in accordance with a detected work state, and/or based on outputs from an obstacle detection system. The control system can also/otherwise lock the sub-view to recognized objects of interest, such as trucks or trenches.

System and method for customized visualization of the surroundings of self-propelled work vehicles

A work machine has a backup camera that captures images of an area of a worksite behind the work machine. A controller identifies pre-defined markings in the worksite and localizes the pre-defined markings to the work machine, based on the images. A control signal generator generates control signals to automatically control the work machine based upon the localized markings.

Using generated markings for vehicle control and object avoidance

A work vehicle display system utilized in piloting a work vehicle includes a display device having a display screen, a context camera mounted to the work vehicle and positioned to capture a context camera feed of the work vehicle's exterior environment, and a controller architecture. The controller architecture is configured to: (i) receive the context camera feed from the context camera; (ii) generate a visually-manipulated context view utilizing the context camera feed; and (iii) output the visually-manipulated context view to the display device for presentation on the display screen. In the process of generating the visually-manipulated context view, the controller architecture applies a dynamic distortion-perspective (D/P) modification effect to the context camera feed, while gradually adjusting a parameter of the dynamic D/P modification effect in response to changes in operator viewing preferences or in response to changes in a current operating condition of the work vehicle.

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Dubuque, IA, United States of America

Rachel Bruflodt