Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vfjqv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-29T12:24:17.705Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Realistic Autofarming Closed-Loop Tractor Control over Irregular Paths Using Kinematic GPS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 1998

Thomas Bell
Affiliation:
Stanford University, CA, USA
Michael O'Connor
Affiliation:
Stanford University, CA, USA
V. K. Jones
Affiliation:
Stanford University, CA, USA
Andrew Rekow
Affiliation:
Stanford University, CA, USA
Gabriel Elkaim
Affiliation:
Stanford University, CA, USA
Bradford Parkinson
Affiliation:
Stanford University, CA, USA

Abstract

High-precision ‘autofarming’ makes possible farming techniques previously impractical using metre-level Differential GPS-based control systems: techniques such as tape irrigation, the elimination of guess rows, and precise contour farming. A Carrier-Phase Differential gps positioning and attitude system with centimetre-level and 0·1° accuracy was installed in a large farm tractor. Four types of trajectories (lines, arcs, spirals, and curves) were identified as basic building blocks necessary to generate a ‘global’ trajectory for a realistic autofarming path. Information about each trajectory type was translated into reference state specifications that a linear controller used to control the tractor over velocities between 0·7 and 2·8 m/s to within approximately 6 cm (1 σ) without implement and 10 cm (1 σ) with implement on sloped terrain using a previously developed tractor model. These results are a significant step towards a realistic autofarming system because they not only demonstrate accurate control over various realistic operating speeds but over different types of trajectories necessary for a commercial system.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1998 The Royal Institute of Navigation

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)