Soil cultivation implement control apparatus and method

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a soil-cultivation apparatus and control apparatus and method therefor.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Cultivation of some types of crop, for example cotton, may be performed in cultivation rows that essentially follow the contours of the land. When tilling between plantings, this is desirably performed by reshaping of cultivation rows rather than by generating an entirely new series of rows.

[0003] In the past attempts have been made to provide an apparatus which facilitates reshaping of cultivation rows. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,317 to Mansur there is described a row cultivator including a fixed toolbar and a trailing moveable toolbar. Lateral displacement of the moveable toolbar relative to the fixed toolbar is facilitated by an actuator. A pair of mechanical sensors located on opposing ends of the trailing toolbar each determine the position of adjacent, pre-existing, furrows. A mechanical apparatus is responsive to the sensors and generates a difference signal that is used to control the actuator in order to reduce furrow spacing irregularities as the row cultivator is passed over the pre-existing furrows.

[0004] A problem with the prior art approach to reshaping the furrows is that the reshaping is partly a function of the position of the pre-existing furrows. Accordingly a calibration error in the apparatus may cause errors to accumulate so that over a number of seasons the re-shaped furrows become more, rather than less, irregular.

[0005] In addition, the practical limits imposed by wheelbase, steering scrub, towing pull and traction of the propulsion unit will necessarily limit the precision at which the cultivator may track the desired cultivation path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a soil cultivation apparatus including:

[0007] a fixed portion associated with propulsion means and guidable thereby substantially along a selected cultivation path;

[0008] a cultivator portion linked to said fixed portion;

[0009] an actuator operable between said fixed portion and said cultivator portion for effecting lateral displacement therebetween;

[0010] a position detector selected to provide position data for said cultivator portion;

[0011] a processor having data corresponding to said selected cultivation path and adapted to utilize said position data to generate a control signal for said actuator to effect corrected tracking of the cultivator portion along said cultivation path.

[0012] The fixed portion may be adapted to mount to the toolbar of a conventional tractor or the like. Alternatively, the fixed portion may comprise a part of a dedicated propulsion unit for the apparatus.

[0013] The fixed portion may be substantially guided along the cultivation path by any suitable means. For example, the fixed portion may be manually guided by steering the fixed portion along the previous-crop's rows to approximate the desired path. Alternatively, the fixed portion may be substantially guided along the path by steering actuators responsive to a control signal that references the desired cultivation path and the position of the fixed portion. The control signal may be generated by the same or different processor means as the cultivator portion, and may obtain position data from the same or different position indicator.

[0014] The position indicator may be associated directly with the cultivator portion or may be associated with the propulsion unit or fixed portion. For example, the position indicator may comprise a receiving element of a positioning system. Where the position indicator is associated with the propulsion unit or fixed portion, there is provided offset data means adapted to provide relative position data by which the processor may generate an accurate cultivator position fix from the positioning data generated by the position indicator.

[0015] The position detector may include a Differential GPS receiver adapted to accept position data from the satellite constellation, corrected locally by a further correction signal from a Differential GPS base station. In the alternative, or in addition, there may be provided a modified-algorithm base station adapted to provide more accurate correction data than commercial DGPS signals, and in this case the differential data receiver may also be modified.

[0016] Preferably the position detector further includes a relative position sensor arranged to generate a signal indicative of the relative position of the moveable portion to the fixed portion, wherein the software product further includes instructions for receiving signals from the relative position sensor. The relative position sensor may be the same or different to the aforementioned offset data means.

[0017] The relative position sensor may be arranged to monitor operation of the actuator. Alternatively the relative position sensor may be coupled between the fixed portion and the moveable portion and include a rotary transducer.

[0018] In another embodiment the relative position sensor includes a second Differential GPS system including an antenna located at a point stationary with respect to the fixed portion. For example the second antenna may be mounted on the fixed portion or operatively on the agricultural vehicle.

[0019] It is preferred that the processor include software include instructions for implementing a second order closed PID loop.

[0020] Alternatively the software may include instructions for implementing a bang-bang control algorithm.

[0021] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a control system for a soil cultivation implement of the type including a fixed portion for towing behind an agricultural vehicle and a moveable portion laterally offsettable from the fixed portion, the cultivation implement including an actuator for effecting lateral offset of the moveable portion, the control system including:

[0022] position detector means for generating signals indicative of the global position of the moveable portion; and

[0023] a processor operatively executing a software product including instructions for receiving the signals from the position detector means and generating a control signal for minimising divergence of the moveable portion from a globally desired path.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment the control system further includes a relative position detector means arranged to sense the position of the moveable portion relative to the fixed portion.

[0025] Preferably the relative position detector means includes position detector means of the fixed portion.

[0026] Alternatively the first absolute position sensor may determine the position of the fixed portion.

[0027] In a further embodiment the position detector means comprises the first absolute position sensor and a second absolute position sensor.

[0028] Preferably the relative position sensor is arranged to determine lateral offset of the movable portion relative to the fixed portion.

[0029] Alternatively the relative position sensor may be arranged to monitor operation of the actuator.

[0030] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for controlling a soil cultivation implement of the type including a fixed portion for towing behind an agricultural vehicle and a moveable portion laterally offsettable from the fixed portion, the method including the steps of:

[0031] towing the implement behind an agricultural vehicle;

[0032] monitoring the global position of the moveable portion;

[0033] comparing said global position to a predetermined globally specified desired path; and

[0034] offsetting the moveable portion relative to the fixed portion in order that the moveable portion tracks the desired path.

[0035] Preferably the method includes the further step of monitoring the position of the moveable portion relative to the fixed portion and using said monitored relative position to determine the offset required to track the desired path.

[0036] Preferably the step of offsetting the moveable portion includes generating a control signal for controlling an actuator located to effect motion of the moveable portion relative to the fixed portion.

[0037] Preferably the control signal is generated by means of a PID algorithm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0038] In order that this invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0039]FIG. 1 is a stylised plan view of an agricultural vehicle towing a controllable soil cultivation implement according to the present invention.

[0040]FIG. 1A is a close up of a portion of FIG. 1 showing a relative position sensor.

[0041]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0042]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a dual loop PID control system implemented by a software product as used in the present invention.

[0043]FIG. 4 is a diagram used to explain the operation of an embodiment of the invention.

[0044]FIG. 5 depicts a desired path of travel of a moveable portion of a soil conditioning implement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0045] With reference to FIG. 1 there is depicted a stylised plan view of a tractor <b>2</b> towing a soil conditioning implement in the form of row-cultivator <b>4</b>. Row-cultivator <b>4</b> is attached to tractor <b>2</b> by means of a three-point linkage <b>6</b>. The row-cultivator includes a fixed portion <b>8</b> and a moveable portion <b>10</b>. Attached to the moveable portion are a number of soil scarifying tools <b>18</b><i>a</i>-<b>18</b><i>n</i>. The movable portion is able to be laterally offset relative to the fixed tool bar by means of pivotally connected linkages. Left and right lateral offset of moveable portion <b>10</b> relative to fixed portion <b>8</b> is indicated by arrows <b>14</b> and <b>16</b>. Lateral offset of the moveable tool bar is effected by hydraulic actuator <b>22</b> under control of tool-bar control system <b>20</b>. Tool bar control system <b>20</b> is able to determine the position of the moveable tool-bar relative to the fixed tool-bar by means of sensor <b>24</b>. A close-up view of sensor <b>24</b> is shown in FIG. 1A.

[0046] The relative position sensor <b>24</b> includes a primary connection member <b>21</b> having a first end <b>23</b> rotably attached to the moveable portion <b>10</b> via a first anchor member <b>25</b>. Similarly, the second end <b>27</b> is rotably attached to the fixed portion <b>8</b>, via a second anchor member <b>25</b><i>a. </i>

[0047] A secondary connection member <b>28</b>, having a double arm <b>28</b><i>a</i>-<b>28</b><i>b </i>arrangement is rotably attached to the mid point of the primary connection member <b>21</b> and fixedly attached to the moveable portion.

[0048] A rotary transducer <b>29</b> detects lateral offset of the moveable portion <b>10</b> relative to the fixed portion <b>8</b>, via the arms <b>28</b><i>a</i>-<b>28</b><i>b </i>of the secondary connection member. The displacement is converted to an electrical signal by the rotary transducer, which is communicated to the analog to digital converter

[0049] Mounted upon the moveable portion <b>10</b> is a differential geographical positioning system (DGPS) antenna means <b>26</b>. The output from the GPS antenna means is coupled to a DGPS receiver that forms part of the tool bar control system <b>20</b>. The differential DGPS receiver is able to calculate the current longitude, latitude and altitude of the DGPS antenna from the output of the DGPS antenna. The antenna means is communicatively coupled with a plurality of satellites (not shown) which provide the necessary signals to the antenna means, that are used by the receiver in calculating the current longitude, latitude and altitude.

[0050] The differential GPS system works in co-operation with a differential GPS base station (not shown). The base station is situated at a known latitude, longitude, altitude position and receives signals from the same satellite as the DGPS antenna <b>26</b>. The base station compares the position determined from the received signal to its known position, and calculates an error signal indicative of the difference between the two valves. The error signal is communicated to the DGPS receiver <b>36</b> for correction of the positional data received from the differential DGPS antenna <b>26</b>.

[0051] Differential DGPS base stations are available from a number of manufacturers. The applicant has found the best results to be obtained from its own differential GPS base station.

[0052]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of tool bar control system <b>20</b>. System <b>20</b> is built around microprocessor <b>30</b> which operatively executes a program <b>34</b> stored in system memory <b>32</b>. Microprocessor <b>30</b> receives data from intra-rig sensor <b>24</b> via analog-to-digital converter <b>27</b>. The microprocessor also receives data from GPS receiver <b>36</b>. GPS receiver <b>36</b> receives an RF signal from GPS antenna <b>26</b> mounted on movable tool-bar <b>10</b>. The GPS receiver <b>36</b> generates a stream of data specifying the absolute coordinate of the movable tool-bar relative to the earth. On the basis of the data received from A/D converter <b>27</b> and GPS receiver <b>36</b>, and in accordance with the instructions in program <b>34</b>, the microprocessor generates a series of lateral motion commands which are converted to analog form by D/A converter <b>38</b>. The output signal from D/A converter <b>38</b> controls intra-rig actuator <b>22</b>. Intra-rig actuator <b>22</b> typically consists of a hydraulic cylinder under solenoid control with the control input of the solenoid coupled to D/A converter <b>38</b>.

[0053] An operator of the system <b>20</b> may enter coordinates defining a desired line of travel of the movable portion by means of data entry device <b>11</b>. The line of travel can be a representation of a set of longitude-latitude pairs along which the desired line of travel lies. Command prompts and other feedback to the operator are displayed by means of screen <b>13</b>.

[0054] With reference to FIG. 3 there is depicted a diagram of the control system implemented by program <b>34</b>. Program <b>34</b> makes use of the movement provided by the intra-rig actuator to minimise the error between a point on a desired line of travel and the current position as measured by the GPS system.

[0055] The program implements a pair of cascaded parallel PID control loops with the output <b>51</b> for the first loop corresponding to the PID conditioned across track error of the movable toolbar relative to a point on the desired line of travel. This valve is then used as the input to the second loop. The across track error calculated by the first loop is conditioned to minimise the effect of noise present in the signal delivered from the GPS antenna <b>26</b>. The PID algorithm operates as a closed loop in that any lateral offset effected by the intra-rig actuator will result in updated GPS data for the moveable portion. This data is then input for the first loop.

[0056] PID (proportional, integral, derivative) controllers use a number of techniques to generate an output that cause a specified corrective effort to be applied to a process, so as to drive a measurable process variable towards a desired value, known as the set point. The aim of the applied corrective effort is to eliminate the error between the measured process variable and the setpoint. Various PID algorithms used to calculate the quantities that represent the corrective effort are known in the art, and a full discussion of those algorithms is not necessary to fully describe the present invention. Indeed, the present invention is independent of the particular PID algorithm that is used to calculate the lateral motion commands communicated to the intra-rig actuator <b>22</b>.

[0057] The across track error is the perpendicular distance along the surface of the earth to the current position of the moveable portion <b>10</b> from a point on the desired line of travel. The across track error is the shortest distance from the desired line of travel to a reference point or “control position” on the movable tool-bar. Typically the reference point will coincide with the location of antenna <b>26</b>.

[0058] The process variable of the first loop is the actual across track error as determined by the desired line of travel and the current absolute global position given by the GPS receiver <b>36</b>.

[0059] The output <b>51</b>, of the first loop is used as the setpoint of the second loop. An adjustable gain may be applied to the output of the first loop to match the amplitudes of the signal from the relative position sensor. Intra-rig displacement is used as the process variable of the second control loop. An adjustable dead band is applied to the output of the second loop before it is delivered to the actuator. Therefore the output of the second loop is limited in its response to prevent excessive activation of the intra-rig actuator.

[0060] It will be noted that program <b>34</b> includes a program module <b>36</b> generating data defining a desired line of travel for movable tool bar <b>10</b>. The desired line of travel data may be predetermined. Alternatively the desired line of travel may be manually entered by an operator of tractor <b>2</b> while the tractor is in motion. The desired line of travel may consist of a series of points along which a reference point, for example the midpoint, of moveable tool bar <b>10</b> is to travel.

[0061] An example of the operation of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In the example given the tractor follows a path <b>40</b> which typically is represented as an idealized smooth curve

[0062] The path followed by the tractor will in practice vary from the desired line because of local conditions. To minimise this error, the tractor itself may operate under the control of a vehicle guidance system which may also make use of a differential GPS system. The use of such a system will enable the tractor to stay within a desired band of error <b>40</b><i>a</i>, <b>40</b><i>b </i>along the desired path <b>40</b>. This is further detailed below.

[0063] The desired path of a reference point on moveable tool-bar <b>10</b> is shown by line <b>43</b>. It will be noted that the desired path of the tool-bar divergs from the straight line path twice. Initially at position <b>42</b> there is zero lateral offset between moveable portion <b>10</b> and the fixed portion <b>8</b>. When the moveable portion <b>10</b> reaches position <b>44</b> it is desired that the moveable portion <b>10</b> be offset from the fixed tool bar <b>8</b> by a distance D in the indicated direction.

[0064] As tractor <b>2</b> proceeds along its path system <b>20</b> compares GPS data from receiver <b>36</b> to desired path information stored in memory <b>32</b>. Divergence of the position of movable tool bar <b>10</b> from th desired point data is detected by the dual loop control algorithm implemented by program <b>34</b>. Microprocessor <b>30</b>, in accordance with the program generates control signals in order to cause intra-rig actuator <b>22</b> to laterally offset moveable tool bar <b>10</b> so that the desired path is tracked with little cross track error. Consequently at position <b>44</b> moveable tool bar <b>10</b> is laterally offset a distance D as is desired.

[0065] The apparatus of FIG. 1 might also be operated by firstly defining a desired line of travel or “wayline” in memory <b>32</b>. For example the wayline might be defined by first driving the tractor <b>2</b> to a position which will be a first way point for defining a wayline. Once at the way point the current global position can be downloaded, for example by a DGPS antenna with a correctional signal from a DGPS base station. The tractor <b>2</b> may then be driven to a second way point, with the global position of the second way point also being downloaded. The direction vector between the way points is called the wayline.

[0066] Further details of this process are given in the applicants published international patent application number PCT/AU99/00930.

[0067] The vehicle is then driven manually by an operator on an approximately parallel path to that of the wayline. Once the operator is satisfied that the vehicle is travelling with an appropriate perpendicular offset to the wayline, the operator issues a command to the control system to continue travelling with the selected offset.

[0068] The above steps can then be repeated each time a new wayline is to be travelled.

[0069] The purpose of the above operational mode is to facilitate the vehicle travelling at an offset to the position of the desired wayline at which the effects of the implement are to be made.

[0070] It will be understood that tractor <b>2</b> may take another path other than a straight-line path such as path <b>40</b>.

[0071] Variations to the apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are also possible. For example, in one embodiment intra-rig sensor <b>24</b> may be omitted. In that case program <b>34</b> implements a bang-bang control system that moves the antenna and the moveable toolbar to minimise offset from the desired line of travel.

[0072] In order for the embodiment of the invention described with reference to FIG. 1 to function effectively, the combination of actuator force and field conditions must be such that the bandwidth of the actuation is less than half that of the rate at which coordinate updates are received from the GPS system.

[0073] A further variation is to fit the actuator with an intra-rig displacement observer.

[0074] In that case program <b>34</b> will, include instructions to mathematically integrate output from the intra-rig displacement observer in order to enable the estimation of rig position without the presence of a separate intra-rig sensor <b>24</b>. Calibration of the intra-rig actuator position is regularly required to ensure that control positions are not outside the physical limitations of the tool bar being controlled.

[0075] In another variation the intra-rig sensor is replaced by using a further GPS system including a second GPS antenna mounted on the tractor <b>2</b> or on the fixed toolbar <b>8</b>. This arrangement assumes that the toolbar is towed directly behind the tractor and that lateral offset of the moveable towbar may be determined by a comparison performed in software of the data from the first and second GPS receiver.

[0076] It will be realised by those skilled in the art that preferred embodiments of the present invention are an advance over soil cultivation implements found in the prior art. Specifically, prior art implements provide for lateral displacement of the moveable portion where an irregularity in the spacing of existing mounds and furrows is sensed by a mechanical probe. This type of sensing means operates by monitoring the spacing between the probes and a defined reference position located on the cultivator.

[0077] In contrast, the present inventions use of the global position of the cultivator relative to a predefined path of travel, results in an actual path of travel more closely reflecting the desired path of travel. Further, the use of a reference position independent of a position on the cultivator ameliorates the accumulation of calibration errors as occurred in the prior art.

[0078] It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is defined in the appended claims.