Work support method, information processing system, and program

Abstract

To carry out a work assist capable of improving the work efficiency of entire work groups when the plurality of work groups is in charge of work at a plurality of farm fields.SOLUTION: A work assisting method includes deciding, on the basis of allocation information D2a representing a first allocation corresponding to work machines (20) and to farm fields (F1 to F10) allocated to a plurality of work groups, a first predicted time point predicted to complete work at the farm fields using the work machines allocated by the first allocation (the allocation represented by D2a) is predicted. The work assisting method also includes deciding a second allocation predicted to complete work at farm fields allocated by the second allocation (allocation represented by D2b) using work machines 20 allocated by the second allocation (allocation represented by D2b) at a second predicted time point that is earlier than the first predicted time point.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a task support method, an information processing system, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In some cases, the agricultural work required for each of a number of fields is shared among multiple work groups, each of which has a work machine such as a combine harvester or a rice planter. In this case, differences in work capacity may occur depending on the workers and work machines performing the work. As a result, there may be discrepancies in the time at which each work group finishes their work, which may reduce the overall work efficiency. Therefore, there is a need for technology to support work in order to improve the work efficiency of the entire work group.

[0003] As an example of such a work support technology, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that improves work efficiency by sequentially allocating workers and work machines belonging to the same work group to a field starting with the "pairs of workers and equipment" with the largest unit work volume, and proposing the placement of workers and work machines. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-254356 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 improves the work efficiency of a single work group, but cannot correct factors that reduce work efficiency across multiple work groups, such as a large difference in work efficiency between the work groups. Therefore, when multiple work groups are in charge of work in multiple fields, it is not possible to improve the work efficiency of the multiple work groups as a whole.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, one of the objects of the present disclosure is to provide work support that can improve the work efficiency of multiple work groups when the multiple work groups are in charge of work in multiple farm fields. Other objects can be understood from the following description and the description of the embodiments. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The means for solving the problems will be described below using the numbers and symbols used in the description of the embodiment of the invention. These numbers and symbols are added in parentheses for reference purposes to show an example of the correspondence between the description of the claims and the description of the embodiment of the invention. Therefore, the description in parentheses should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0008] To achieve the above object, a work support method according to one embodiment includes determining a first prediction time at which work on the fields assigned in the first assignment (assignment indicated by D2a) is predicted to be completed using the work machine (20) assigned in the first assignment, based on assignment information (D2a) indicating a first assignment corresponding to the work machines (20) assigned to the multiple work groups and the fields (F1-F10); and the first assignment is determined to be a first prediction time at which work on the fields assigned in the first assignment (assignment indicated by D2a) is predicted to be completed using the work machine (20) assigned in the first assignment, the second allocation (allocation indicated by D2b) being different from the first allocation and for at least one of the plurality of work groups, the second allocation (allocation indicated by D2b) being predicted to be completed by the work group in the field assigned in the second allocation (allocation indicated by D2b) at a second predicted time point earlier than the first predicted time point using the work machine (20) assigned in the second allocation; and outputting output information including information indicating the second allocation (allocation indicated by D2b) and information indicating the second predicted time point.

[0009] To achieve the above object, an information processing device (10) according to one embodiment includes a prediction determination unit (120) that determines a first prediction time point at which work on the field assigned in the first assignment (assignment indicated by D2a) is predicted to be completed using the work machine (20) assigned in the first assignment, based on assignment information (D2a) indicating a first assignment corresponding to the work machines (20) and fields assigned to a plurality of work groups; the other of the plurality of work groups is a different second allocation (allocation indicated by D2b), and for at least one of the plurality of work groups, the second allocation (allocation indicated by D2b) is predicted to be completed at a second predicted time point earlier than the first predicted time point by the work group using the work machine (20) assigned in the second allocation; and an output unit (150) that outputs output information including information indicating the second allocation and information indicating the second predicted time point.

[0010] A program (P1) according to one embodiment for achieving the above object causes a computer to: determine, based on assignment information (D2a) indicating a first assignment corresponding to the work machines (20) assigned to a plurality of work groups and the fields (F1-F10), a first prediction time at which work on the fields assigned in the first assignment is predicted to be completed using the work machines (20) assigned in the first assignment (assignment indicated by D2a); and the first assignment is at least one of the work machines (20) assigned to the plurality of work groups and the fields (F1-F10). the second allocation (allocation indicated by D2b) being different from the first allocation (allocation indicated by D2b) and for at least one of the multiple work groups, determining a second allocation (allocation of D2b) that is predicted to cause the work group to complete the work in the field assigned by the second allocation (allocation indicated by D2b) at a second predicted time point earlier than the first predicted time point using the work machine (20) assigned by the second allocation (allocation indicated by D2b); and outputting output information including information indicating the second allocation (allocation indicated by D2b) and information indicating the second predicted time point.

[0011] According to the above embodiment, when a plurality of work groups are in charge of work in a plurality of farm fields, it is possible to assist in the allocation of work machines to the work groups that can improve the efficiency of the work. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a work support system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a plurality of farm fields according to one embodiment. [Figure 3A] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of first allocation information in one embodiment. [Figure 3B] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of second allocation information in one embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic functional configuration diagram of an information processing device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 5] 1 is a flowchart showing a process performed by a work support system according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display image for supporting a task according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display image for supporting a task according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] (First embodiment) A work support system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, the work support system 1 includes an information processing device 10, a group of work machines 20a, and a terminal device 30. The information processing device 10 is communicatively connected to the group of work machines 20a and the terminal device 30 via a network NT. The network NT is, for example, the Internet, an intranet, or the like.

[0014] The group of work machines 20a includes a plurality of work machines 20. In this embodiment, each work machine 20 is a work machine managed by an administrator of the work support system 1. In this embodiment, the work machine 20 is a work machine that performs work in a field. The work machines 20 include machines that perform agricultural work in a field, such as a tractor that pulls various work machines such as a harvester, a tiller, and a fertilizer applicator, and a seedling transplanter such as a rice planter. The work machine 20 has a positioning device that acquires its own position and the current time (e.g., date, hour, minute, second, etc.) using a positioning system such as a global navigation satellite system (GNSS). The work machine 20 outputs position history information indicating the position where the work was performed in the field and the time of that work to the information processing device 10.

[0015] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, each of the multiple work groups performs work in an assigned field among multiple fields (e.g., fields F1 to F10). Hereinafter, when the multiple fields are not to be distinguished from one another, they may be simply referred to as field F.

[0016] In Fig. 2, fields F assigned to the same work group are shown with the same type of hatching. For example, fields F1-F4 are assigned to the first work group, fields F5-F7 are assigned to the second work group, fields F8-F9 are assigned to the third work group, and field F10 is assigned to the fourth work group. One or more work machines 20 are assigned to each of the multiple work groups (e.g., the first to fourth work groups). Each work group carries out work in the assigned field using the assigned work machine 20.

[0017] The total amount of work required in each field F (also referred to as the amount of work per field) may differ from one another. In this embodiment, the amount of work per field F corresponds to the area of ​​the field. In addition, the work amount per unit time (e.g., 1 hour) of each of the multiple work machines 20 may differ (e.g., the area that can be worked per unit time). Therefore, the time at which each of the multiple work groups completes work on the assigned field may differ from one another. Therefore, the work support system 1 of this embodiment predicts the time at which all work will be completed before the work of the multiple work groups performing work on the multiple fields F as shown in FIG. 2 is completed. Then, the work support system 1 can improve overall work efficiency by displaying a screen that recommends the user to change the allocation of the work machines 20 or the fields F to each work group so that the work is completed earlier than the predicted time.

[0018] 1, the information processing device 10 includes an input / output device 12, a calculation device 14, a communication device 16, and a storage device 18. The information processing device 10 is, for example, a computer or a server device.

[0019] Information for the arithmetic device 14 to execute processing is input to the input / output device 12. In addition, the input / output device 12 outputs a result of the processing executed by the arithmetic device 14. The input / output device 12 includes various input devices and output devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a display, a speaker, a touch panel, etc. The input / output device 12 may be omitted.

[0020] The communication device 16 is communicatively connected to the network NT, and communicates with devices external to the information processing device 10 (for example, the work machine 20 and the terminal device 30) via the network NT. The communication device 16 transfers information acquired from a plurality of work machines 20 and the terminal device 30 to the calculation device 14. The communication device 16 also transfers information generated by the calculation device 14 to either or both of the work machine 20 and the terminal device 30. The communication device 16 includes various interfaces, for example, a network interface card (NIC) and a universal serial bus (USB).

[0021] The storage device 18 stores various data for executing the work support of this embodiment, such as setting information D1, allocation information D2 including first allocation information D2a and second allocation information D2b, and program P1. The storage device 18 is used as a non-transitory tangible storage medium for storing these data. The program P1 may be provided as a computer program product recorded in a computer-readable storage medium M1. Alternatively, the storage medium M1 may be a storage device of an external server that stores data including the program P1. In this case, the data including the program P1 may be provided as a computer program product that can be downloaded from the server.

[0022] The setting information D1 includes, for example, field information including information indicating the amount of work required in the multiple fields F, machine information indicating the work capacities of the multiple work machines, and deadline information indicating the time when work in the multiple fields should be completed. As an example, the field information stores, for each of the multiple fields F, information identifying the field F (such as the field ID) and information indicating the amount of work required in that field in association with each other.

[0023] In this embodiment, the field information includes information indicating the area of ​​the field as information indicating the amount of work required in the field. The field information also includes information indicating a work period, which is the time during a day when work should be performed in the field F. In this embodiment, the field information includes information indicating the length of the work period common to all fields F (e.g., 8 hours per day).

[0024] The machine information stores, for a plurality of work machines, information identifying the work machine (such as the ID of the work machine) and information indicating the work capacity of the work machine 20 in association with each other. In this embodiment, the setting information D1 includes information indicating the area of ​​the field F that can be worked per unit time (e.g., 1 hour) as information indicating the work capacity of the work machine 20. For example, the area that can be worked per unit time indicates the average of the performance values ​​of the areas worked by the work machine 20 per unit time. The workable area can be calculated, for example, based on the total area worked by the work machine 20 in a certain period in the past (e.g., last year) and the total time worked. In addition, if work on the field F has already started in the current allocation, the work capacity of the work machine 20 may be calculated based on the performance from the start of work to the present. In addition, the deadline information includes deadline information indicating the time (e.g., date) at which work should be completed in all of the plurality of fields F. In this embodiment, the machine information includes, for each work machine 20, information indicating a working width (for example, the length of work performed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement when the work machine 20 moves forward).

[0025] The allocation information D2 includes information indicating the fields F and work machines 20 assigned to each of the multiple work groups. The allocation information D2 includes first allocation information D2a indicating the fields F and work machines 20 currently assigned to the multiple work groups, and second allocation information D2b indicating an allocation changed to improve work efficiency for at least one of the fields and the work machines. As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the first allocation information D2a and the second allocation information D2b store, for each of the multiple work groups, information identifying the work group ("group ID"), information identifying one or more fields F assigned to the work group in the first and second allocations ("assigned field IDs"), and information identifying one or more work machines 20 assigned to the work group in the first and second allocations ("assigned machine IDs") in association with each other.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 3A, the first allocation information D2a indicates that work in the fields assigned in the first allocation, which is the current allocation, will be performed using the work machines assigned in the first allocation. In the example of Fig. 3A, a group indicated by a group ID G0001 will perform work in four fields with assigned field IDs F0001-F0004 using two work machines with assigned machine IDs M0001 and M0002. Similarly, a group indicated by a group ID G0002 will perform work in three fields with assigned field IDs F0005-F0007 using two work machines with assigned machine IDs M0003 and M0004. Additionally, the group indicated by group ID G0003 will work in two fields with assigned field IDs F0008-F0009 using three work machines with assigned machine IDs M0005-M0007. Furthermore, the group indicated by group ID G0004 will work in one field with assigned field ID F0010 using three work machines with assigned machine IDs M0008-M0010. Note that field F with assigned field IDs "F0001"-"F0010" respectively correspond to fields F1-F10 shown in Figure 2.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 3B, the second allocation information D2b indicates a second allocation in which the work efficiency of multiple work groups is higher than that of the first allocation. In the second allocation in Fig. 3B, as underlined, the allocation of the field F0001, which was assigned to the work group G0001 in the first allocation, has been changed to the work group G0004. Furthermore, the allocation of the work machine M0010, which was assigned to the work group G0004 in the first allocation, has been changed to the work group G0001.

[0028] Note that the setting information D1 may include change setting information indicating how to change the allocation of the work machines 20 and the field F from the current allocation when recommending to the user to change the allocation of the work machines 20 or the field F to each work group. The change setting information includes information indicating a setting to be adopted in actual processing from a plurality of options, such as, for example, changing only the allocation of the work machines 20 from the current allocation, changing only the allocation of the field F, changing both but giving priority to the allocation of the work machines 20, or changing both but giving priority to the allocation of the field F. In this embodiment, the change setting information further includes changeable information indicating the maximum number of changes that can be made when changing the allocation of the work machines 20 and the field F from the current allocation to the recommended allocation.

[0029] The arithmetic device 14 reads data including the program P1 from the storage device 18, and performs various data processing for work support that recommends changing the allocation of at least one of the field F and the work machine 20. For example, the arithmetic device 14 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and the like.

[0030] The calculation device 14 reads out and executes the program P1 to thereby realize an information acquisition unit 110, a prediction determination unit 120, an allocation determination unit 130, and an output unit 150, as shown in FIG.

[0031] The information acquisition unit 110 acquires the program P1 and information required for its execution (for example, setting information D1 and first allocation information D2a described later) from, for example, the storage device 18, user input using the input / output device 12, and the terminal device 30. The information acquisition unit 110 supplies the acquired information to each functional part such as the prediction determination unit 120, the allocation determination unit 130, and the output unit 150.

[0032] As described below, the prediction determination unit 120 determines a first prediction time point at which a plurality of work groups are predicted to complete work in the field F assigned to the work groups, based on the setting information D1 and the first allocation information D2a. For example, the first prediction time point determined by the first determination unit 120 may represent a date.

[0033] As described below, the allocation determination unit 130 determines a second allocation in which at least one of the work machines 20 assigned to the multiple work groups and the field F is different from the first allocation indicated by the first allocation information D2a. Here, the allocation determination unit 130 determines the second allocation such that the work in the field assigned in the second allocation by the multiple work groups is predicted to be completed at a second prediction time point that is earlier than the first prediction time point. The allocation determination unit 130 stores second allocation information D2b indicating the determined second allocation in the storage device 18.

[0034] The output unit 150 outputs output information including second allocation information D2b indicating the second allocation and information indicating the second prediction time point to the terminal device 30. The output information may include first allocation information D2a indicating the first allocation and information indicating the first prediction time point.

[0035] The terminal device 30 shown in Fig. 1 includes an input / output device 32, a calculation device 34, a communication device 36, and a storage device 38. Examples of the terminal device 30 may include a computer, a tablet, a mobile phone, and the like. Information is input to the input / output device 32 for the calculation device 34 to execute a process of displaying a screen based on the output information. The input / output device 32 also outputs a result of the calculation device 34 executing the process. The input / output device 32 includes various input devices and output devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a display, a speaker, and a touch panel.

[0036] The communication device 36 is communicatively connected to the network NT and communicates with each device (e.g., the information processing device 10, the work machine 20, etc.) via the network NT. The communication device 36 transfers information acquired from the information processing device 10 to the arithmetic device 34. The communication device 36 also transfers information generated by the arithmetic device 34 to the information processing device 10. The communication device 36 includes various interfaces, such as a transceiver used for wireless communication such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or a cellular network, a NIC (Network Interface Card), a USB (Universal Serial Bus), etc.

[0037] The storage device 38 stores various data, for example, the program P2, for displaying a screen based on the output information acquired from the information processing device 10. The storage device 38 is used as a non-transitory tangible storage medium for storing the program P2. The program P2 may be provided as a computer program product recorded on a computer-readable storage medium M2. Alternatively, the storage medium M2 may be a storage device of an external server that stores the program P2. In this case, the program P2 may be provided as a computer program product that can be downloaded from the server.

[0038] The arithmetic device 34 reads and executes the program P2 to realize a display unit 310 that cooperates with the input / output device 32 to display a screen based on output information acquired from the information processing device 10, as shown in FIG.

[0039] (Operation of work support system) The arithmetic device 14 of the information processing device 10 shown in Fig. 1 reads and executes the program P1 in response to, for example, the input from the user received by the input / output device 12 to start work support. As a result, the work support process shown in Fig. 5 is started. The work support process in Fig. 5 may be started in response to the input received by the input / output device 32 of the terminal device 30 to start work support. In this case, the communication device 36 of the terminal device 30 transmits information to the effect that the input to start work support has been received, and the arithmetic device 14 starts the work support process based on the information received by the communication device 16 of the information processing device 10.

[0040] First, in step S1002 of the work support processing, the information acquisition unit 110 realized by the calculation device 14 acquires setting information D1 and allocation information D2. For example, the information acquisition unit 110 acquires setting information D1 including machine information, field information, and deadline information from the storage device 18. Furthermore, the information acquisition unit 110 acquires first allocation information D2a from the storage device 18. In addition, the information acquisition unit 110 acquires, from the work machine 20, position history information indicating the position of the work machine 20 and the time (including, for example, the date and the hour, minute, and second) when the work machine 20 was at that position.

[0041] The information acquisition unit 110 may acquire at least a part of the necessary information including the setting information D1 and the first allocation information D2a as information based on a user input accepted by the terminal device 30. Furthermore, the information acquisition unit 110 may acquire at least a part of the necessary information including the setting information D1 and the first allocation information D2a from an external device, such as an external server owned by the manufacturer of the work machine 20, via the network NT.

[0042] Next, in step S1004, the prediction determination unit 120 determines the amount of work that has been performed by the multiple work groups on the multiple fields F up to the present. For example, the prediction determination unit 120 determines the area of ​​the field F that has been worked on for each work group based on location information including information indicating the location and time of the work machine 20, acquired from the work machine 20 assigned to the work group. For example, in determining the area of ​​the field F that has been worked on, the prediction determination unit 120 first determines the total length of the path traveled by the work machine 20 based on the location information. Then, the prediction determination unit 120 calculates the area as the product of the determined length and the work width of the work machine 20 indicated by the machine information. Alternatively, instead of this, the prediction determination unit 120 may obtain information indicating the area of ​​the field F that has been worked on, obtained based on user input using the input / output device of the work machine 20 or the input / output device 32 of the terminal device 30, via the network NT. The work machines 20 and the fields F assigned to each work group here correspond to the work machines 20 and the fields F currently assigned to the work group indicated by the first assignment in the first assignment information D2a. The prediction determination unit 120 determines that the amount of work done to date for a field F where work has not yet started is 0.

[0043] Then, in step S1006, the prediction determination unit 120 determines a first prediction time when the work of all the fields F assigned to the multiple work groups is predicted to be completed by the multiple work groups. In this embodiment, the prediction determination unit 120 refers to the field information in the setting information D1 to acquire the area of ​​each field F assigned to each work group in the first allocation. Then, the prediction determination unit 120 subtracts the area of ​​each field F that has been worked up to the present determined in step S1004 from the acquired area of ​​each field F, and calculates the sum of the areas of each field F that have not yet been worked. In this embodiment, the sum of the unworked areas of each field F that each work group is responsible for corresponds to the sum of the remaining amount of work to be performed from the present time on the fields F that each work group is responsible for. Then, the prediction determination unit 120 refers to the machine information in the setting information D1 to calculate the sum of the work areas per unit time of the work machines 20 assigned to each work group. Then, for each work group, the prediction determination unit 120 divides the total area of ​​the fields F assigned to the work group that has not yet been worked by the total work area per unit time of the work machines 20 assigned to each work group to calculate a predicted completion time until the work is completed. The prediction determination unit 120 determines the date of the first prediction point in time by adding the calculated predicted work time to the current time, taking into account the work time to be worked in the field F. For example, the prediction determination unit 120 determines the first prediction point in time by adding the number of days obtained by dividing the predicted completion time by the work time in one day to the current date.

[0044] Then, in step S1008, the prediction determination unit 120 determines whether the first prediction time is before the deadline when the work should be completed. If the first prediction time is the same as or earlier than the deadline (step S1008; YES), the process proceeds to step S1014. If the first prediction time is later than the deadline (step S1008; NO), the process proceeds to step S1010. The deadline may be, for example, the time indicated by the deadline information included in the setting information D1. In this embodiment, the prediction determination unit 120 compares the latest first prediction time determined for each of the multiple work groups in step S1006 with the deadline. If the first prediction time is the same as or earlier than the deadline, the process proceeds to step S1014. If the first prediction time is later than the deadline, the process proceeds to step S1010.

[0045] In step S1010, the allocation determination unit 130 determines the second allocation and the second prediction time point. For example, the allocation determination unit 130 determines the second allocation for at least one work group in which at least one of the work machine 20 and the field F has been changed from the first allocation. Second allocation information D2b indicating the second allocation is stored at least temporarily in the storage device 18. Then, the allocation determination unit 130 determines the second prediction time point based on the determined second allocation. In this embodiment, the allocation determination unit 130 changes the allocation of at least one of the field F and the work machine 20 assigned in the first allocation so that the time at which the work group with the latest first prediction time point completes the work among the first allocations indicated by the first allocation information D2a is brought forward.

[0046] For example, when the change setting information of the setting information D1 indicates a change in the allocation of the work machines 20, the allocation determination unit 130 changes the allocation of the work machines 20 allocated in the first allocation to determine the changed second allocation. For example, in step S1010, the allocation determination unit 130 deletes the allocation of a predetermined number of work machines 20 (for example, one) from the work machines 20 allocated to the work group with the earliest first prediction time in the first allocation, and additionally allocates the work machine 20 to the work group with the latest first prediction time, and provisionally determines it as the second allocation. As an example, the allocation of the work machine 20 with the lowest work capacity (smallest work area per unit time) among the work machines 20 allocated to the work group with the earliest first prediction time is changed to the work group with the latest first prediction time. Alternatively, the allocation determination unit 130 may change the allocation of the work machine 20 with the highest work capacity (largest work area per unit time) among the work machines 20 allocated to the work group with the earliest first prediction time.

[0047] Furthermore, for example, when there is a work machine 20 that is not assigned to any work group, the assignment determination section 130 may additionally assign that work machine 20 to the work group whose first prediction time point is the latest.

[0048] If the change setting information of the setting information D1 indicates a change in the allocation of field F, in step S1010, the allocation determination unit 130 deletes the allocation of field F assigned to the work group with the latest first prediction time point in the first allocation, and additionally assigns the field F to the work group with the earliest first prediction time point, and provisionally determines this as the second allocation. As an example, the allocation of the field F with the smallest area among the fields F assigned to the work group with the latest first prediction time point is changed to the work group with the earliest first prediction time point. Alternatively, the allocation determination unit 130 may change the allocation of the field F with the largest area among the fields F assigned to the work group with the latest first prediction time point. In addition, if the existence of a field F that is not assigned to any work group is permitted, the allocation determination unit 130 may simply remove the field F assigned to the work group with the latest first prediction time point from the allocation of that work group.

[0049] Then, the allocation determination unit 130 determines a second prediction time point at which each work group is predicted to complete the work in the assigned field F in the second allocation of the provisionally determined second allocation information D2b. The allocation determination unit 130 determines the second prediction time point in a similar manner to the first prediction time point determined by the prediction determination unit 120 in step S1006 in the first allocation.

[0050] Next, in step S1012, the allocation determination unit 130 determines whether the second prediction time is before the deadline time. If the latest second prediction time is later than the deadline time (step S1012; NO), the process proceeds to step S1010, and if it is the same as or earlier than the deadline time (step S1012; YES), the process proceeds to step S1014. If the latest second prediction time is later than the deadline time, specifically, the process returns to step S1010, and the allocation determination unit 130 determines a new second allocation and second prediction time using the second allocation provisionally determined in the previous step S1010 as the first allocation and the provisionally calculated second prediction time as the first prediction time. For example, the allocation determination unit 130 changes the allocation of at least one of the field F and the work machines 20 allocated to each work group in the second allocation provisionally determined in the most recently executed step S1010 of step S1010 which may be executed multiple times, in the same manner as in the previous time, and provisionally determines this as a new second allocation. Then, the allocation determination unit 130 determines the second prediction time point for each work group for the second allocation in the same manner as in the previous step S1010.

[0051] The allocation determination unit 130 repeats the processing of steps S1010 and S1012 until it is determined that the second prediction time point is before the deadline time point. In the loop of steps S1010 and S1012, an upper limit may be set for the number of work machines 20 or fields F for which the allocation can be changed, based on the changed setting information of the setting information D1 or the like. For example, if the changed setting information sets that the allocation of the work machines 20 is changed with priority, the allocation determination unit 130 may process to change the allocation of the field F in step S1010 in the loop after the allocation of the work machines 20 has been changed the upper limit number of times. Alternatively, the allocation determination unit 130 may update the second allocation information D2b in any manner, such as changing the allocation of the work machines 20 in odd-numbered loops and changing the allocation of the field F in even-numbered loops. On the other hand, if the change setting information is set to give priority to changing the allocation of field F, the allocation determination unit 130 may change the allocation of the work machines 20 in step S1010 in the loop after changing the allocation of field F the upper limit number of times.

[0052] Then, in step S1014, the output unit 150 outputs the output information. As an example, the output unit 150 outputs the output information including information indicating the work history up to the present, the deadline information, the first predicted time point, and the first allocation information D2a to the terminal device 30. When the second allocation information D2b is generated, the output information further includes the second predicted time point and the second allocation information D2b.

[0053] In step S1016, the display unit 310 of the terminal device 30 displays an allocation screen. For example, the display unit 310 displays a current allocation screen 400 showing information indicating work performed up to the present, the first prediction time point, and the first allocation information D2a for each work group based on the output information, as shown in Fig. 6. When the output information includes the second prediction time point and the second allocation information D2b, the display unit 310 displays a changed allocation screen 500 showing information indicating work performed up to the present, the second prediction time point, and the second allocation information D2b for each of a plurality of work groups, as shown in Fig. 7.

[0054] The current allocation screen 400 includes a field list 410, a work machine list 420, an assigned field list 430, an assigned machine list 440, and a work graph 450. The field list 410 displays all fields F where work is to be performed in association with the area of ​​each field F. Specifically, an ID representing each field F and the area of ​​the corresponding field F are displayed side by side. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the area of ​​the field F represented by "F0001" is 130a (ares), and the area of ​​the field F represented by "F0002" is 80a.

[0055] The work machine list 420 displays all of the work machines 20 used in the work in association with the work efficiency (working area per unit time) of each work machine 20. Specifically, the ID representing each work machine 20 and the working area per unit time of the corresponding work machine 20 are displayed side by side. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the working area per unit time of the work machine 20 represented by "M0001" is 1.8a / h, and the working area per unit time of the work machine 20 represented by "M0002" is 1.9a / h.

[0056] The assigned field list 430 displays, as information corresponding to the first assignment information D2a, the IDs of the fields F currently assigned to each of the four work groups, "Group1" to "Group4," in the first assignment. In the example of Fig. 6, the four fields F, indicated by "F0001" to "F0004," have been assigned to the work group, "Group1."

[0057] For the four work groups, "Group1" to "Group4", the IDs of the work machines 20 currently assigned to each group in the first assignment are shown in "Assigned Machines" as information corresponding to the first assignment information D2a for the locations shown in the assigned machine list 440. In the example of Fig. 6, two work machines 20, indicated by "M0001" and "M0002", have been assigned to the work group "Group1".

[0058] In the work graph 450, the progress rate of work performed or predicted to be performed by each work group is displayed on the horizontal axis with time as the horizontal axis. In the example of FIG. 6, in the work graph 450, line L1 corresponds to the progress rate of "Group1" at each time. Similarly, lines L2, L3, and L4 correspond to the progress rates of "Group2", "Group3", and "Group4", respectively. Here, the work performed up to the current time for each work group is shown by a solid line, and the future work progress schedule is shown by a dotted line. Line Ln indicates the current time. Note that the time at which the dashed line of lines L1-L4 intersects with the axis of 100% progress rate corresponds to the first predicted time for each group. Furthermore, the deadline time is displayed visibly by line Lm.

[0059] In this embodiment, a changed allocation screen 500 based on the second allocation information D2b and the second prediction time point is displayed as shown in Fig. 7, switchable with Fig. 6. The changed allocation screen 500 includes a field list 510, a work machine list 520, an assigned field list 530, an assigned machine list 540, and a work graph 550. The contents displayed in the field list 510 and the work machine list 520 are the same as the field list 410 and the work machine list 420 in Fig. 6.

[0060] Furthermore, in the assigned field list 530 in Fig. 7, the ID of field F after the allocation change recommended for each of the four work groups, "Group1" to "Group4", in the second allocation is shown in the "Assigned field" field as information corresponding to the second allocation information D2b. In the example in Fig. 7, field F indicated by "F0004", which was assigned to the work group "Group1" in the first allocation in Fig. 6, is assigned to the work group "Group4" in the second allocation.

[0061] In the assigned machine list 540 in Fig. 7, the IDs of the work machines 20 recommended for each of the four work groups, "Group1" to "Group4", after the change in allocation in the second allocation are shown in the "assigned machine" field as information corresponding to the second allocation information D2b. In the example in Fig. 7, the work machine 20 indicated by "M0010", which was assigned to the work group "Group4" in the first allocation in Fig. 6, is assigned to the work group "Group1" in the second allocation. By changing the allocation of the field F and the work machines 20 in this way, it is predicted that the work group "Group4" will complete the work earlier than the deadline according to the schedule shown in the work graph 550.

[0062] In the graph displayed in the work graph 550 in Fig. 7, the work that each work group has performed up to the present is displayed in the same manner as in Fig. 6. Then, a prediction of the progress rate of the work from the time indicated by the line Ln is displayed based on the second predicted time point. In the example of Fig. 7, as a prediction in the case where the first allocation is changed to the second allocation midway through the work as described above, the second predicted time point at which the work of Group1 indicated by the line L1 will be completed is earlier than the deadline time point. By displaying such a screen, the user can recommend that the allocation of at least one of the field F and the work machine 20 to the multiple work groups be changed as indicated by the second allocation information D2b.

[0063] In this way, based on the output information, the work support system 1 can display a screen that supports the allocation of work machines to work groups that can make work more efficient when multiple work groups are in charge of work in multiple fields.

[0064] In this embodiment, in a loop including steps S1010 and S1012, the allocations of the work machines 20 and the field F indicated by the first allocation information D2a are changed one by one, and it is determined whether the second prediction point is before the deadline. For this reason, the second allocation, which is the smallest change from the first allocation that has been used up to the present, can be recommended as an allocation that is predicted to complete the work by the deadline. Because there is no need to significantly change the allocations of the work machines 20 and the field F, the work support system 1 of this embodiment can recommend to the user content that can improve the efficiency of multiple work groups as a whole.

[0065] (Modification) The configuration described in the embodiment is an example, and the configuration can be changed within a range that does not impair the function. For example, in the above embodiment, the field information of the setting information D1 uses the area of ​​the field as information indicating the amount of work required in each field, but is not limited to this. For example, the amount of work may be calculated based on the area and information that affects the time required for work on a unit area, such as the yield per unit area or the amount of pesticide to be sprayed per unit area. The amount of work may also be the harvest volume expected in the field F. In this case, the information indicating the work capacity of the work machine represents, for example, the harvest volume that can be worked per unit time (for example, per hour). Then, in steps S1006 and S1010, the first prediction time point and the second prediction time point may be calculated using the expected harvest volume instead of the area of ​​the field and the harvest volume instead of the area that can be worked per unit time.

[0066] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, information regarding the amount of work done up to the present was acquired from the work machine 20. However, this is not limiting, and information regarding the amount of work done up to the present may be acquired from a source other than the work machine 20. For example, the information acquisition unit 110 may acquire information indicating the amount of work done up to the present by each work machine 20 and the field F that is the target of work, based on user input using the input / output device 12 of the information processing device 10. In such a configuration, the work support system 1 does not need to include the work machine 20.

[0067] Furthermore, the output unit 150 of the information processing device 10 may output output information to an information processing device such as the work machine 20 or an external server device, without being limited to the terminal device 30. Here, the device to which the output information is input has a function of performing work support using the output information, such as a function of displaying a work support screen based on the output information and a function of outputting the contents of the output information as audio. The device to which the output information is output uses such a function of performing work support to recommend to the user that the allocation of the work machine 20 and the field F be changed to the second allocation indicated by the second allocation information D2b.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the current allocation screen 400 in Fig. 6 and the changed allocation screen 500 in Fig. 7 are displayed on the terminal device 30. Alternatively, these screens may be displayed on a display included in the input / output device 12 of the information processing device 10. In this case, the work support system 1 does not need to include the terminal device 30.

[0069] In addition, the process shown in FIG. 5 may be modified in terms of the process contents and the order of the processes as long as the effects of the above embodiment can be achieved. For example, in steps S1008 and S1012, the latest of the first and second prediction times is compared with the deadline. However, in step S1008, the prediction determination unit 120 may compare the average value of the first prediction times determined for each work group with the deadline to determine whether the first prediction time is before the deadline. Similarly, in step S1010, the allocation determination unit 130 may compare the average value of the second prediction times determined for each work group with the deadline to determine whether the second prediction time is before the deadline.

[0070] The work support system 1 predicts the dates when the work is predicted to end as the first prediction time point and the second prediction time point. However, the work support system 1 may predict the "time" when the work will end precisely down to the hour and minute in addition to the date (for example, 19:30 on August 20). In this case, the field information stores the work period when work should be done in the field F (for example, from 8:30 to 18:30 in one day). Then, the prediction determination unit and the allocation determination unit determine the first prediction time point and the second prediction time point by calculating the time when the work for the predicted work time will be completed from the current time if work is done during the work period.

[0071] The field information in the setting information D1 may set the work period to different times for each fixed period (for example, different times for each season, such as 8:00 to 17:00 in spring and 7:00 to 19:00 in summer). Also, different work hours may be stored for each field F. In this case, the prediction determination unit and the allocation determination unit determine the first prediction time point and the second prediction time point taking into account the different work hours for each period or for each field F.

[0072] Also, in the description of Fig. 5, in step S1010, the allocation determination unit 130 has been described as changing at least one of the field F and the work machines 20 one by one. This is not limiting, and the allocation determination unit 130 may change the allocation of both the field F and the work machines 20 simultaneously in step S1010. The allocation determination unit 130 may change only the allocation of two or more work machines 20 simultaneously in step S1010. Moreover, the allocation determination unit 130 may change only the allocation of two or more work machines 20 simultaneously in step S1010. Moreover, steps S1002 and S1004 may be executed in the reverse order to that in Fig. 5.

[0073] 6, the field list 410, work machine list 420, assigned field list 430, assigned machine list 440, and work graph 450 are displayed on one screen. However, some of the displayed content may be omitted or added, so long as the user can grasp the current allocation corresponding to the first allocation. Also, some of the field list 410, work machine list 420, assigned field list 430, assigned machine list 440, and work graph 450 may be displayed on separate screens, and the display may be switched by user operation. The same applies to FIG. 7.

[0074] Furthermore, the prediction determination unit 120 has determined the worked area of ​​the field F based on the length of the movement trajectory of the work machine 20 and the working width of the work machine 20. Alternatively, the prediction determination unit 120 may determine the worked area by a method using the convex hull of the positioning positions where the work machine 20 has worked. For example, the prediction determination unit 120 detects an area including position information at each time when the work machine 20 moved within the field F as the working area. Then, the prediction determination unit 120 detects a convex hull including the positioning positions measured by the positioning device of the work machine 20 as the worked area, and determines its area. Note that the convex hull represents the smallest area including all the positioning positions. Furthermore, the working area may represent an area obtained by expanding the convex outline outward by the working width of the work machine 20 indicated by the machine information in the setting information D1.

[0075] The above-described embodiments and modifications are merely examples, and the configurations described in each embodiment and modification may be arbitrarily modified and / or arbitrarily combined as long as the functions are not impaired. Furthermore, some of the functions described in the embodiments and modifications may be omitted as long as the necessary functions can be realized. For example, the work support system 1 may not include the terminal device 30. Alternatively, some of the processes performed by the information processing device 10 may be performed by the terminal device 30. Furthermore, the terminal device 30 may take on all of the functions of the information processing device 10. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is determined by the claims described below. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1: Work support system 10: Information processing device 12: Input / Output device 14: Arithmetic device 16: Communication equipment 18:Storage device 110: Information acquisition department 120: Prediction decision section 130: Allocation decision unit 150: Output section 20:Work machinery 20a: Working machines 30: Terminal device 32: Input / Output device 34: Arithmetic device 36: Communication equipment 38: Storage device 310:Display section 400: Quota screen 420: Machine list 430: List of allocated fields 440: Allocated Machine List 450: Work Graph 500: Quota screen 520: Machine list 530: List of allocated fields 540: Allocated Machine List 550: Work Graph D1: Setting information D2: Allocation information D2a: First allocation information D2b: Second allocation information M1-M2: Storage medium P1-P2: Program F1-F10: Field Ln: Line L1-L4: Line P1-P4: Part Lm: Line NT: Network

Claims

1. A work support method executed in a work support system constructed by a computer, comprising: determining, based on a first assignment indicating work machines and fields assigned to a plurality of work groups, a first prediction time at which work on the fields assigned in the first assignment is predicted to be completed using the work machines assigned in the first assignment; determining a second assignment in which at least one of the work machines and the fields assigned to the plurality of work groups is different from the first assignment, and for at least one of the plurality of work groups, the second assignment is predicted to be completed by the work group at a second prediction time earlier than the first prediction time using the work machines assigned in the second assignment; outputting output information including information indicating the second allocation and information indicating the second prediction time point; Including, Work support method.

2. the step of determining the first prediction time point includes a step of predicting the first prediction time point based on a history of work performed by the multiple work groups on the field assigned in the first assignment using the work machines assigned in the first assignment prior to determining the first prediction time point. The work support method according to claim 1 .

3. The output information further includes information indicating the first prediction time point and the first allocation, and outputting a screen proposing to change at least one of the work machines and the fields assigned to the plurality of work groups from the first assignment to the second assignment based on the output information. The work support method according to claim 2 .

4. determining the first prediction time point includes predicting the first prediction time point for each of the plurality of work groups; the step of determining the second allocation includes, when the latest of the first predicted time points is later than a deadline time point indicating a time point when work should be completed in a plurality of fields, determining a second allocation in which an allocation of at least one of the work machines and the fields assigned to the work group corresponding to the latest of the first predicted time points is changed from the first allocation. The work support method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the step of determining the first prediction time point includes a step of predicting the first prediction time point based on field information including information indicating an amount of work required in a plurality of fields and machine information indicating work capacities of a plurality of work machines. The work support method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. the step of determining the second allocation includes a step of determining the second allocation by changing at least one of the work machines and the fields assigned to the plurality of work groups in the first allocation by a predetermined changeable number or less. A work support method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. a prediction determination unit that determines a first prediction time point at which work on the fields assigned in the first assignment will be completed using the work machines assigned in the first assignment, based on assignment information indicating a first assignment corresponding to the work machines and fields assigned to a plurality of work groups; an allocation determination unit that determines a second allocation in which at least one of the work machines and the fields assigned to the plurality of work groups is different from the first allocation, and that predicts that, for at least one of the plurality of work groups, the work group will complete work on the field assigned in the second allocation using the work machines assigned in the second allocation at a second prediction time point earlier than the first prediction time point; an output unit that outputs output information including information indicating the second allocation and information indicating the second prediction time point; Equipped with Information processing system.

8. On the computer, determining a first prediction time point at which work on the fields assigned in the first assignment will be completed using the work machines assigned in the first assignment, based on assignment information indicating a first assignment corresponding to the work machines and the fields assigned to a plurality of work groups; determining a second allocation in which at least one of the work machines and the fields assigned to the plurality of work groups is different from the first allocation, and for at least one of the plurality of work groups, the second allocation is predicted to be completed by the work group at a second prediction time point earlier than the first prediction time point using the work machines assigned in the second allocation; outputting output information including information indicating the second allocation and information indicating the second prediction time point; A program for executing the above.

Images