Method and apparatus for presenting information associated with a multi-segment header of an agricultural harvester. The operational states of the segments are monitored and used to present information. Examples of presented information include graphics depicting which segments are operational and which segments are non-operational, crop coverage maps, and crop yield maps.

A computer-implemented method for controlling a vehicle includes receiving, via a processor, from two or more IX control devices disposed at a two or more stationary positions having known latitudes longitudes and orientations, first sensory data identifying the position and dimensions of a feature in a mapped region. The processor generates a plurality of IX nodes based on the first sensory data received from the IX control devices, and receives LiDAR point cloud that includes LiDAR and other vehicle sensory device data such as Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) data received from a Vehicle (AV) driving in the mapped region. The LiDAR point cloud includes a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) map having second dimension information and second position information associated with the feature in the mapped region. The processor generates, without GPS and/or real-time kinematics information, an optimized High-Definition (HD) map having Absolute accuracy using batch optimization and map smoothing.

A system, apparatus and method are provided for robotically assisting the harvest of a crop. Instrumented picker carts include sensors for detecting amounts of harvested crop (e.g., fill ratios) of containers carried by the carts, communication modules for communicating their locations and detected crop amounts to a field computer, and components for signaling for robotic service. The field computer predicts when a cart that requests service will have a full container and where it will be located at that time, then decides whether to approve the request. If the request is approved, a robot is assigned and is given (or generates) a path to the cart's predicted location, and begins moving toward the location so as to arrive near (and preferably before) the predicted time. Robots include means for moving (e.g., wheels, motors, steering components, power sources), navigation modules, computing components for controlling their movement, and communication modules.

An inspection robot, and methods and a controller thereof are disclosed. An inspection robot may include an inspection chassis including a plurality of inspection sensors and coupled to at least one drive module to drive the robot over an inspection surface. The inspection robot may also include a controller including an inspection data circuit to interpret inspection base data, an inspection processing circuit to determine refined inspection data, and an inspection configuration circuit to determine an inspection response value in response to the refined inspection data. The controller may further include an inspection response circuit to, in response to the inspection response value, provide an inspection command value while the inspection robot is interrogating the inspection surface.

Vehicle control systems and modules are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a vehicle control module includes a first module connector configured to connect to a vehicle in place of a vehicle input device configured to control an operational part of the vehicle, a second module connector configured to connect to the vehicle input device, and an electronic controller configured to (i) receive an input command regarding the operational part of the vehicle from the vehicle input device connected via the second module connector, (ii) modify the input command, and (iii) transmit the modified input command to the vehicle via the first module connector to cause the vehicle to operate the operational part in accordance with the modified input command.

A view-based method for controlling the driving of agricultural machinery includes collecting ground information from images; identifying a target operation area according to the ground image information; determining a navigation route for the agricultural machinery within the target operation area; and determining whether the navigation route is reliable; detecting manual driving signal of the user and allowing manual driving of the agricultural machinery according to the manual driving signal if the navigation route is not reliable; and determining driving adjustment parameters for the navigation route and current driving attitude if the navigation route is found reliable. A system for driving agricultural machinery, a device applying the method, and a non-volatile storage medium are also disclosed.

An autonomous vehicle (AV) includes a vehicle computing system configured to receive map data of a geographic location, obtain position estimate data of the autonomous vehicle and determine a route of the autonomous vehicle including a plurality of roadways in the plurality of submaps. The autonomous vehicle determines a route including a plurality of roadways, determines a first roadway in the plurality of roadways closest to the position estimate and a second roadway outside the plurality of roadways closest to the position estimate of the autonomous vehicle, and determines a pose relative to the first roadway or the second roadway based on a distance between the position estimate of the autonomous vehicle and a roadway associated with a prior pose of the autonomous vehicle to control travel of the autonomous vehicle based on the vehicle pose.

A coded localization system includes a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively distribute electromagnetic energy from at least one object onto a plurality of detectors. Each of the channels includes a localization code that is different from any other localization code in other channels, to modify electromagnetic energy passing therethrough. Digital outputs from the detectors are processable to determine sub-pixel localization of the object onto the detectors, such that a location of the object is determined more accurately than by detector geometry alone. Another coded localization system includes a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively distribute a partially polarized signal onto a plurality of pixels. Each of the channels includes a polarization code that is different from any other polarization code in other channels to uniquely polarize electromagnetic energy passing therethrough. Digital outputs from the detectors are processable to determine a polarization pattern.

Vision based guidance system and method for lawn mowing devices are disclosed. An exemplary method for operating an autonomous lawn mower includes receiving, via a receiver, a perimeter data set from a handheld computer. The perimeter data set includes a perimeter outline of at least one perimeter that is determined utilizing a GPS unit of the handheld computer. The exemplary method also includes collecting, via at least one camera, images of a set area within the perimeter outline and mowing, via a mowing blade, grass within the set area. The exemplary method also includes autonomously steering, via a controller, the autonomous lawn mower based on the perimeter outline of the at least one perimeter and the images captured by the at least one camera.

A method of path planning for a vehicle includes receiving a request for a turn from a current swath to a next swath, receiving information of the current swath and information of the next swath, determining a trajectory of the turn based on the information of the current swath and the information of the next swath, and outputting the trajectory to a control system of the vehicle for executing the turn. The trajectory includes a first segment and a second segment. The first segment starts from a beginning position of the turn at the current swath and ends at an intermediate position; and the second segment starts from the intermediate position and ends at an ending position of the turn at the next swath. The vehicle changes from a forward gear to a reverse gear, or vice versa, as the vehicle transitions from the first segment to the second segment.