System and method for providing guidance towards a far-point position for a vehicle implementing a satellite-based guidance system

Abstract

The present invention is a method for providing guidance towards a far-point position for a vehicle implementing a satellite-based guidance system. The method 200 includes capturing an image 202. The method 200 further includes providing the image in a digital format to an algorithm 204. The method 200 further includes isolating far-point pixelized data of the provided image 206. The method 200 further includes generating data for causing a steering control system of the vehicle implementing the satellite-based guidance system to maintain the vehicle on a straight-line path towards the far-point position 208.

1 . A method for providing guidance towards a far-point position for a vehicle implementing a satellite-based guidance system, comprising:
 capturing a provided image and subsequently captured images;   providing the images in a digital format to an algorithm;   isolating far-point pixelized data of the images; and   generating data for causing a steering control system of the vehicle to maintain the vehicle on a straight-line path towards the far-point position based on a detection of change in yaw position for the far-point pixelized data in the provided image with respect to the subsequently captured images.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating data for causing the steering control system of the vehicle to maintain the vehicle on the straight-line path towards the far-point position includes:
 maintaining the isolated far-point pixelized data of the provided image in a fixed yaw position on the subsequently captured images.   
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the step of generating data for causing the steering control system of the vehicle to maintain the vehicle on the straight-line path towards the far-point position further includes:
 combining the far-point pixelized data with satellite-based guidance system data.   
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the satellite-based guidance system data is satellite-based guidance system course information 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the image is captured via a digital camera, the digital camera being focused on the far-point position. 
     
     
         6 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A guidance system, comprising:
 a satellite-based navigation system including:   an antenna configured for collecting satellite-based navigation system signals; a receiver communicatively coupled with the antenna, the receiver configured for receiving the collected satellite-based navigation system signals and determining location of a vehicle implementing the guidance system;   a display communicatively coupled with the receiver, the display configured for displaying satellite-based navigation system course information; and   a controller communicatively coupled with the display and the receiver, the controller configured for allowing user input commands to be entered via the display; and   a vision recognition augmentation system communicatively coupled with the satellite-based navigation system, the vision recognition augmentation system comprising:   a camera configured for providing a provided image and subsequently captured images to the guidance system, wherein an algorithm isolates far-point pixelized data of the provided image and generates at least one steering error for causing a steering control system of the vehicle to maintain the vehicle implementing the guidance system on a straight-line path towards the far-point position based on a detection of change in yaw position for the far-point pixelized data in the provided image with respect to the subsequently captured images.   
     
     
         12 . A guidance system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the provided image is a digital image. 
     
     
         13 . A guidance system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the guidance system further includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for providing vehicular attitude, location and motion information. 
     
     
         14 . A guidance system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the guidance system further includes a terrain compensation unit (TCU). 
     
     
         15 . A guidance system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the guidance system further includes a data logger configured for storing field attribute data. 
     
     
         16 . A guidance system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the guidance system further includes a sound device configured for alerting a user of field attributes. 
     
     
         17 . A guidance system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the camera is a digital camera. 
     
     
         18 . A guidance system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the isolated far-point pixelized data of the provided image is maintained in a fixed yaw position on subsequently captured images, thereby allowing the guidance system to maintain the vehicle on the straight-line path towards the far-point position. 
     
     
         19 . A guidance system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the satellite-based navigation system is a global positioning system (GPS) navigation system 
     
     
         20 . A guidance system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the receiver is a Differential GPS (DGPS) receiver. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the generating data comprises generating data for causing a steering control system of the vehicle to maintain the vehicle on a straight-line path towards the far-point position based on the detection of change in yaw position for the far-point pixelized data, and detecting attitude, location and motion of the vehicle via an inertial measurement unit, where a fixed yaw position in the provided image and the subsequently captured images facilitates provision of drift correction to the inertial measurement unit.