Importance

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Abstract

Two GPS units are mounted at two separate points on the body of a work machine to periodically measure their three-dimensional coordinates with respect to a chosen reference system. As soon as two sets of measurements are recorded, a plane is fitted through the four points so collected and it is used to determined the current orientation of the machine. As each additional set of position data is collected at predetermined intervals for the two points on the machine, a new plane equation is calculated to update the orientation of the machine based on a predetermined number of prior measurements. Standard-deviation analysis is used to check the validity of each plane calculation and the process is restarted when the deviation is found to be greater than an acceptable parameter. Based on the current coordinates of the two GPS antennae, the current orientation plane so calculated, and the known geometry of the work machine, the current position of its critical components can be determined as well irrespective of the specific motion pattern of the machine.

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First Claim