Integrated vehicle guidance and steering system
Cost of a precision farming guidance system is driven in part by the number of discrete system elements installed in a tractor including the steering actuator, guidance computer, user terminals, and the associated cable harnesses. An integrated guidance system arranges and integrates these separate elements into a base chassis and removable computer module to reduce cost and complexity while retaining flexibility to adapt to different vehicle configurations and to incorporate improved guidance computer technology into a common design platform.
1. An integrated steering and guidance system for steering a vehicle, the integrated steering and guidance system comprising: a base chassis configured to attach to a steering column and a steering wheel, the base chassis containing a motor and drive gear configured to steer the vehicle by turning the steering wheel or turning a steering shaft in the steering column; a computer module including an enclosure detachably connected to the base chassis, the computer module retaining a computing device detachably connected to the motor in the base chassis and configured to send steering commands to the motor to automatically steer the vehicle; and a shelf formed in the base chassis configured to retain the computer module, wherein the shelf is formed in a front end of the base chassis and has a profile that substantially conforms with a profile of the computer module.
2. The integrated steering and guidance system of claim 1 , wherein the shelf includes: a wall extending vertically down from a top surface of the base chassis; and a floor extending horizontally out from the wall to a front end of the base chassis.
3. The integrated steering and guidance system of claim 2 , including one or more couplers extending out from the wall configured to attach to a back end of the computer module.
4. The integrated steering and guidance system of claim 2 , including one or more retention pins extending down from a bottom side of the computer module, the retention pins configured to insert into retention pin holes formed in the floor of the shelf.
5. The integrated steering and guidance system of claim 4 , including: a locking mechanism located inside of the base chassis configured to lock onto the retention pins; and a latch attached to the locking mechanism configured to unlock the locking mechanism from the retention pins.
6. The integrated steering and guidance system of claim 1 , including: an upper power and data connector extending down from a bottom surface of the computer module; and a lower power and data connector extending up from the shelf configured to attach to the upper power and data connector when the computer module is seated into the shelf.
7. The integrated steering and guidance system of claim 6 , including: a gasket extending around one or more of the upper and lower power and data connectors configured to provide a seal around the upper and lower power and data connectors when the computer module is seated in the shelf.
8. The integrated steering and guidance system of claim 1 , including: a protuberance extending out a lateral side of the base chassis; and one or more of a power switch and a power and data connector located on the protuberance.
9. The integrated steering and guidance system of claim 8 , wherein the power switch extends up from a top exterior surface of the protuberance; and the power and data connector extends out of a back wall of the protuberance.
10. The integrated steering and guidance system of claim 1 , including a user interface located on a top surface of the computer module, the user interface including one or more buttons configured to communicate with the computing device and control operation of the motor in the base chassis.
11. The integrated steering and guidance system of claim 1 , including a seal track extending around a perimeter of the base chassis, the seal track including an outside perimeter volume and an inner gasket configured to press against a bottom cover of the base chassis.
12. An apparatus for controlling a steering wheel, the apparatus comprising: an enclosure configured to attach to a steering wheel column; a drive mechanism located in the enclosure; a motor located in the enclosure and coupled to the drive mechanism; a control module detachably seating into a docking platform formed in the enclosure, the control module configured to electrically connect to the motor when seated in the docking platform and send steering commands to the motor for turning the steering wheel; and wherein a front side of the control module is substantially flush with a front side of the enclosure and lateral sides of the control module are substantially flush with lateral sides of the enclosure when the control module is seated in the docking platform.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a top side of the control module is substantially flush with a top side of the enclosure when the control module is seated in the docking platform.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the docking platform includes a wall that extends vertically down from a top surface of the enclosure and a floor that extend horizontally out from a bottom end of the wall to a front end of the enclosure.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 , including an upper connector extending down from a bottom side of the control module and a lower connector extending up from the docking platform, wherein the upper connector is configured to attach to the lower connector when the control module is seated into the docking platform.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising: a locking mechanism located in the enclosure configured to detachably lock the control module into the docking platform.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , including a latch coupled to the locking mechanism and located on an exterior surface of the enclosure, the latch configured to unlock the locking mechanism from the control module.