Control of vehicle position within defined field - is esp. for automated agricultural applications by using reflectors mounted along opposite boundaries of field

摘要

The position of a powered vehicle (10) within a defined field (5) is determined by positioning suitable transmitters (6, 7) at two corners of the field and using a receiver mounted on the vehicle with suitable electronics (11) to determine the relative signal strengths of the two signals to determine and display (12) the vehicle position. Alternatively, the two transmitters (6, 7) can be mounted on the vehicle itself and reflectors (13, 14) used at the corners of the field. In the case of a field which is being repeatedly transversed by a vehicle (10), rows of reflectors (13', 14') can be mounted along opposite boundaries of the field and backwards and forwards signals transmitted from the vehicle by IR and ultrasonic transmitters.