The patent describes a novel approach for efficiently planning the path of unmanned vehicles. This method has significant advantages over current methods and has many uses in operations such as agriculture, mine sweeping, security, surveillance, reconnaissance, automated testing, floor cleaning and vacuuming, and other air, land, water, and underwater commercial and military applications.

The patented system allows an unmanned vehicle to intelligently plan an optimal path for covering a given area while plowing, spraying, mowing, etc. The system also includes options for aesthetic striping, turning inside or outside the area, implement activation and deactivation, spiral and contour patterns, and highly efficient row-skipping patterns. Unmanned vehicles using this system can save distributed material by reducing row overlap, save time by planning the most efficient paths, and reduce skipped areas during operations.

The algorithm which is part of Mobius, ASI’s mission planning software, has been included in numerous products designed and developed by ASI including the Jaguar Unmanned Military Surveying Vehicle, Mine Sweeping vehicle, PGAP (Proving Grounds Automation Package) for autonomous endurance testing of new commercial vehicles, and Unmanned SUV Targets for military field exercises. 

The algorithm was designed to comply with a military standard called the Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS), which enables it to work with other JAUS components. “JAUS is migrating to an SAE Aerospace Standard and the fact that we have been awarded a patent for a key algorithm in our implementation is great news,” said Mel Torrie president of Autonomous Solutions Inc. 

The algorithm was developed for Deere & Company of Moline, Illinois, who are the patent assignees.  ASI holds the rights for its use outside of agricultural, construction, and lawn and grounds care applications.

Link to Patent >>