Domain management method, domain management system, and domain management program

Abstract

To assist efficient confirmation of a working region performed by a user.SOLUTION: A region management method includes a step of determining, based on an area of a target working region 400 in which a working device 30 has performed work, whether the target working region 400 is a confirmation region 410 which may be incorrect in the range of the region. The region management method also includes a step of outputting, when the target working region 400 is the confirmation region 410, confirmation information representing the confirmation region 410 in an identifiable manner. The determining whether the target working region 400 is the confirmation region may include determining, based on the area of a plurality of working regions 400, a statistic value related to the area of the plurality of working regions 400. The determining whether the target working region 400 is the confirmation region 410 may include comparing the statistic value with the area of the target working regions 400 to determine whether the target working region 400 is the confirmation region 410.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a region management method, a region management system, and a region management program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, research has been conducted on performing cultivation management analysis using information on work performed in fields. In order to perform cultivation management analysis, the fields where work is performed may be registered in the system.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for estimating a work area where a work vehicle has performed work based on the position information of the work vehicle that has performed work in a field.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the estimated work area may not match the area where the work vehicle has actually performed work. For example, a plurality of adjacent work areas may be estimated as one work area. As a result, it may be difficult to perform cultivation management analysis. Therefore, the user needs to confirm whether the estimated work area matches the area where work has been performed by the actual work vehicle. However, when there are a large number of work areas, the user's workload is not small.

[0006] In view of the above situation, one of the objectives of the present disclosure is to assist the user in efficiently confirming the work area. Other objectives can be understood from the following description and the explanation of the embodiments.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The means for solving the problem are described below using the numbers and symbols used in the embodiments for carrying out the invention. These numbers and symbols are added in parentheses for reference to show an example of the correspondence between the claims and the embodiments for carrying out the invention. Therefore, the claims should not be interpreted restrictively because of the parenthetical statements.

[0008] An area management method according to one embodiment for achieving the above objective includes determining whether the target work area (400) is a verification area (410) in which the area boundaries may be incorrect, based on the area of ​​the target work area (400) in which work has been performed by the work device (30). The area management method also includes outputting verification information that identifies the verification area (410) when the target work area (400) is a verification area (410).

[0009] An area management system (1000) according to one embodiment for achieving the above objective comprises a confirmation area determination unit (160) and an output unit (170). The confirmation area determination unit (160) determines whether the target work area (400) is a confirmation area (410) in which the area boundaries may be incorrect, based on the area of ​​the target work area (400) in which work has been performed by the work device (30). When the target work area (400) is a confirmation area (410), the output unit (170) outputs confirmation information that identifies the confirmation area (410).

[0010] An area management program (310) according to one embodiment for achieving the above objective causes the arithmetic units (120, 220) to determine whether the target work area (400) is a verification area (410) where the area boundaries may be incorrect, based on the area of ​​the target work area (400) where work has been performed by the work device (30). Furthermore, when the target work area (400) is a verification area (410), the area management program (310) causes the arithmetic units (120, 220) to output verification information that identifies the verification area (410). [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The above configuration can support users in efficiently identifying their workspace. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the configuration of a domain management system in one embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows a confirmation image displayed on the terminal in one embodiment. [Figure 3] This diagram shows a functional block executed by a domain management system in one embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the domain management system in one embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram of a domain management system in one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] (Embodiment 1) An area management system 1000 according to this embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the area management system 1000 comprises an area management device 100 and a terminal 200. The area management device 100 is communicated with the terminal 200 and the work device 30 via a network 20, for example, the Internet.

[0014] The work device 30 is equipped with a positioning device, such as a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver, and acquires position information representing the position at each time, for example, the position measured at one-minute intervals. Therefore, the position information represents the position along the trajectory of the work device 30's movement. The work device 30 outputs the acquired position information to the area management device 100. The work device 30 includes devices that perform work in the field, such as a combine harvester that performs harvesting work on its own, a tractor that tows work machinery (for example, a rotary tiller that performs tilling), and a drone that sprays pesticides.

[0015] The area management device 100 estimates the work area, such as a field, where the work device 30 performed its work, based on the location information of the work device 30. On the other hand, generally, the area of ​​fields in the same region is often the same. Therefore, when the estimated area of ​​a work area in the same region differs significantly from the area of ​​other work areas, there is a relatively high possibility that the range of this work area is incorrect. Accordingly, the area management device 100 compares the determined area of ​​the work area with the area of ​​fields in the same region and determines a verification area among multiple work areas that may have an incorrect range. The area management device 100 outputs verification information representing one or more work areas, including the verification area, to the terminal 200.

[0016] Terminal 200 displays an image that clearly distinguishes the verification area from other work areas based on verification information obtained from the area management device 100. For example, as shown in Figure 2, terminal 200 displays a verification image 500 on a map that clearly distinguishes the verification area 410, which may have an incorrect area range, from other work areas 400. For example, terminal 200 displays the area representing the verification area 410 in a different color from the area representing the other work areas 400.

[0017] Therefore, users, such as workers, can easily identify the work area 400 that should be checked with higher priority, and can efficiently check the work area 400.

[0018] (Configuration of the Area Management System) The configuration of the area management device 100 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The area management device 100 includes an input / output device 110, an arithmetic device 120, a communication device 130, and a storage device 140. The area management device 100 is, for example, a computer. Information for the arithmetic device 120 to execute processing is input to the input / output device 110. Also, the input / output device 110 outputs the result of the processing executed by the arithmetic device 120. The input / output device 110 includes various input devices and output devices, and includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a display, a speaker, a touch panel, and the like. The input / output device 110 may be omitted.

[0019] The communication device 130 is electrically connected to the network 20 and communicates with each device via the network 20. The communication device 130 transfers the position information acquired from the work device 30 to the arithmetic device 120. Also, it transfers the signal generated by the arithmetic device 120 to the terminal 200. The communication device 130 includes various interfaces such as, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card), a USB (Universal Serial Bus), and the like.

[0020] The storage device 140 stores various data for estimating the work area 400, such as the field data 300, and the area management program 310. The storage device 140 is used as a non-transitory tangible storage medium that stores the area management program 310. The area management program 310 may be provided as a computer program product recorded on a computer-readable storage medium 1, or may be provided as a computer program product downloadable from a server.

[0021] The field data 300 stores area information representing a plurality of work areas 400, for example, the area of a field. For example, the area information includes information representing the work area 400 estimated based on the position information of the work device 30.

[0022] The arithmetic unit 120 reads and executes the area management program 310 from the storage device 140 and performs various data processing to estimate the working area 400. For example, the arithmetic unit 120 includes a central processing unit (CPU).

[0023] The arithmetic unit 120 reads and executes the area management program 310, thereby realizing the area estimation unit 150, the verification area determination unit 160, and the output unit 170, as shown in Figure 3. The area estimation unit 150 estimates the work area 400 where work has been performed by the work device 30 based on the position information of the work device 30. The verification area determination unit 160 determines the verification area 410 from the estimated work area 400 where the area boundaries may be incorrect, based on the field data 300. The output unit 170 outputs verification information representing one or more work areas 400 to the terminal 200. The output unit 170 also updates the area information representing the work area 400 stored in the field data 300 based on correction information obtained from the terminal 200.

[0024] Next, the configuration of terminal 200 will be described. As shown in Figure 1, terminal 200 comprises an input / output device 210, an arithmetic unit 220, a communication device 230, and a storage device 240. Terminal 200 includes, for example, a computer, a tablet, a mobile phone, etc. Information for the arithmetic unit 220 to perform processing is input to the input / output device 210. The input / output device 210 also outputs the results of the processing performed by the arithmetic unit 220. The input / output device 210 includes various input and output devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, microphone, display, speaker, touch panel, etc.

[0025] The communication device 230 is electrically connected to the network 20 and communicates with the area management device 100 via the network 20. The communication device 230 transfers signals received from the area management device 100 to the arithmetic unit 220. It also transfers signals generated by the arithmetic unit 220 to the area management device 100. The communication device 230 includes various interfaces such as transceivers used in wireless communication such as wireless LAN (Local Area Network) and cellular networks, NIC (Network Interface Card), and USB (Universal Serial Bus).

[0026] The storage device 240 stores various data for displaying confirmation information, such as a display program 320. The storage device 240 is used as a non-transitory tangible storage medium for storing the display program 320. The display program 320 may be provided as a computer program product recorded on a computer-readable storage medium 2, or as a computer program product downloadable from a server.

[0027] The arithmetic unit 220 reads and executes the display program 320, and in cooperation with the input / output device 210, as shown in Figure 3, realizes the display unit 250. The display unit 250 acquires confirmation information from the area management device 100 and displays the confirmation information, for example, a confirmation image 500 that shows the confirmation area 410 where the area boundaries may be incorrect on the map. The display unit 250 also receives correction information indicating that the work area 400 needs to be corrected and outputs the correction information to the area management device 100.

[0028] (Operation of the domain management system) The work device 30 shown in Figure 1 transmits its location information to the computing unit 120 of the area management device 100 when it performs work in the field. When the computing unit 120 receives the location information from the work device 30, it reads and executes the area management program 310. Once the area management program 310 is read and executed, the computing unit 120 starts the process shown in Figure 4, which is part of the area management method.

[0029] In step S110, the area estimation unit 150, implemented by the calculation unit 120, estimates the work area 400, for example, the area of ​​a field, where the work device 30 performed work, based on the position information of the work device 30. For example, the area estimation unit 150 estimates the work area 400 as the convex hull for the position represented in the position information of the work device 30. The convex hull represents the smallest area that includes all positions. Alternatively, the work area 400 may represent the area obtained by extending the contour of the convex hull outward by the working width of the work device 30. The working width of the work device 30 is pre-registered by the work device 30. For example, the working width represents the distance from the position of the device on the work device 30 to the edge of the area where the work device 30 performs work, in the width direction of the work device 30. When a tractor is towing agricultural machinery, the working width represents the distance from the position of the device on the work device 30 to the edge of the area where the agricultural machinery performs work, in the width direction of the work device 30. Alternatively, the region estimation unit 150 may estimate the work area 400 as a concave hull corresponding to the position represented in the position information of the work device 30. The region information representing the estimated work area 400 is stored in the field data 300 by the region estimation unit 150.

[0030] In step S120, the verification area determination unit 160 determines verification areas 410 whose area range may be incorrect, based on area information representing multiple work areas 400 stored in the field data 300. For example, first, the verification area determination unit 160 determines statistical values, such as the mean and median, regarding the area of ​​multiple work areas 400, based on the area of ​​multiple work areas 400 stored in the work information. For example, the verification area determination unit 160 extracts multiple work areas 400 that are included in the same region from the field data 300 and determines statistical values ​​regarding the area of ​​the extracted multiple work areas 400. Multiple work areas 400 that are included in the same region may be determined, for example, based on administrative divisions, such as cities and counties. Alternatively, multiple work areas 400 that are included in the same region may be determined based on the distance from the target work area 400. For example, the verification area determination unit 160 may determine work areas 400 that are within a threshold distance from the target work area 400 as work areas 400 included in the same region. The distance between the two work areas 400 represents any distance between the two work areas 400, for example, the distance between the geometric centers of each work area 400.

[0031] Next, the verification area determination unit 160 compares the statistical values ​​for the area of ​​the multiple determined work areas 400 with the area of ​​the multiple work areas 400 to determine the verification area 410 from the multiple work areas 400. For example, the verification area determination unit 160 determines the work areas 400 in which the difference between the statistical value and the area of ​​the work area 400 is greater than a threshold as the verification area 410.

[0032] In step S130, the output unit 170 outputs confirmation information to the terminal 200 that distinguishes the determined confirmation area 410 from other work areas 400. For example, the confirmation information includes information for constructing a confirmation image 500 that displays the confirmation area 410 and other work areas 400 on a map in a distinguishable manner, as shown in Figure 2. In this case, the area representing the confirmation area 410 is represented in a different display form from the display form of the area representing the other work areas 400, such as color or pattern. Alternatively, the confirmation information may represent a list that distinguishes the confirmation area 410 and other work areas 400.

[0033] In step S140, the display unit 250 of the terminal 200 displays the confirmation information acquired from the output unit 170 of the area management device 100 on the input / output device 210. The display unit 250 displays a confirmation image 500 on a map that clearly distinguishes the confirmation area 410 from other work areas 400, for example, as shown in Figure 2. The user, for example, the worker, confirms the estimated work area 400 and the confirmation area 410 based on the confirmation image 500.

[0034] In step S150, the display unit 250 receives correction information indicating that the range of the work area 400, particularly the verification area 410, needs to be corrected. For example, if the work area 400 and the verification area 410 shown in the verification image 500 are incorrect, the user inputs correction operations to the input / output device 210 to correct the incorrect work area 400 and verification area 410. For example, the user selects the incorrect work area 400 and sequentially inputs the range of the correct work area 400, such as the corners (e.g., the four corners) of the area. Based on the input correction operations, the display unit 250 outputs correction information to the area management device 100 indicating that the range of the work area 400 needs to be corrected. For example, the correction information represents the range of the corrected work area 400. The correction information may also include information representing the verification area 410 that does not need to be corrected.

[0035] In step S160, the output unit 170 of the area management device 100 updates the work area 400 represented in the area information stored in the field data 300 based on the correction information obtained from the display unit 250 of the terminal 200. For example, the output unit 170 extracts the work area 400 corrected by the user and the range of that work area 400 from the correction information. The output unit 170 updates the range of the area in the area information stored in the field data 300 that corresponds to the extracted work area 400 to the range of the work area 400 extracted from the correction information. Furthermore, if the correction information includes information representing a confirmation area 410 that is not corrected, the output unit 170 updates the field data 300 with the confirmation area 410 that is not corrected as the work area 400 confirmed by the user.

[0036] In this way, users can easily identify the verification area 410 that should be checked with higher priority, and correct the range of the verification area 410 if the estimated verification area 410 is incorrect.

[0037] (modified version) The configuration described in the embodiment is just one example, and the configuration can be changed as long as it does not impede the function. For example, in step S120 shown in Figure 4, the confirmation area determination unit 160 of the area management device 100 may use any statistical value that represents a representative value for the area of ​​the multiple work areas 400. For example, the statistical value may include the mode. In this case, the area management device 100 determines the area represented in the class with the highest frequency in the histogram representing the distribution of the areas of the multiple work areas 400 as the statistical value.

[0038] Furthermore, the verification area determination unit 160 may use statistical area values ​​for some of the work areas 400 out of the multiple work areas 400. For example, when the multiple work areas 400 are arranged in order of area size, the verification area determination unit 160 may determine the statistical area values ​​by excluding work areas 400 that fall within a predetermined upper or lower range, for example, 5%.

[0039] The area estimation unit 150 may estimate the extent of the work area 400 by any method. For example, the area estimation unit 150 may estimate the work area 400 based on an image captured from above of the field. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the area management device 100 may estimate the work area 400 based on an image captured by an imaging device 45, for example, an artificial satellite. In this case, the artificial satellite captures an area including the field from above and outputs image information representing the captured image to the image acquisition device 40. The area management device 100 acquires the image information stored in the image acquisition device 40 and estimates the work area 400 by performing image processing, such as etching, on the captured image represented in the image information. The captured image may be captured by any method and may include radio wave images, such as SAR images, captured using radio waves, for example, synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The captured image may also include optical wave images, such as visible light images, captured by receiving optical waves.

[0040] Furthermore, the area estimation unit 150 may estimate multiple work areas 400 using both the captured image and the position information of the work device 30. For example, when the work device 30 performs work in a part of the multiple work areas 400, the area estimation unit 150 estimates a part of the multiple work areas 400 based on the position information of the work device 30. Also, the imaging device 45 images a region from above that has a group of work areas including at least a part of the multiple work areas 400. Based on the captured image taken by the imaging device 45, the area estimation unit 150 estimates at least a part of the work areas 400 included in the captured group of work areas. In this way, the area estimation unit 150 may estimate a part of the multiple work areas 400 from the position information of the work device 30, and estimate a part of the multiple work areas 400 from the captured image. Furthermore, the area estimation unit 150 may estimate all of the multiple work areas 400 from the position information of the work device 30, or it may estimate all of the multiple work areas 400 from the captured image.

[0041] The embodiments and modifications described above are examples, and the configurations described in each embodiment and modification may be arbitrarily changed and / or combined as long as they do not impede the function. Furthermore, some of the functions described in the embodiments and modifications may be omitted if the necessary functions can be realized. For example, the area management system 1000 shown in Figure 1 does not have to include a terminal 200. Also, all or part of the processing of the area management device 100 may be performed by the terminal 200. Also, all or part of the processing of the terminal 200 may be performed by the area management device 100. Furthermore, the area management program 310 may include a display program 320.

[0042] Furthermore, the area management device 100 does not necessarily have to include the area estimation unit 150. In this case, the area management device 100 obtains area information representing the work area 400 from another device not included in the area management system 1000. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0043] 1, 2: Storage medium 20: Network 30: Work equipment 40: Image acquisition device 45: Imaging device 100: Area management device 110: Input / Output Devices 120: Arithmetic device 130: Communication device 140: Storage device 150: Area estimation section 160: Confirmation area determination section 170: Output section 200: Terminal 210: Input / Output Devices 220: Arithmetic device 230: Communication equipment 240: Storage device 250:Display section 300: Field data 310: Area Management Program 320: Display Program 400 :Work area 410: Confirmation area 500: Confirmation image 1000: Area Management System

Claims

1. Determining statistical values ​​relating to the area of ​​a plurality of work areas based on the area of ​​the plurality of work areas, Based on whether the area of ​​the target work area where work was performed by the work device is included in the range obtained from the aforementioned statistical values, it is determined whether the target work area is a verification area where the area's boundaries may be incorrect. When the target work area is the verification area, the system outputs verification information that clearly identifies the verification area. A region management method that includes the execution of a calculation unit.

2. Determining whether the target work area is the confirmation area is: When the difference between the aforementioned statistical value and the area is greater than the threshold, it is determined that the target work area is the verification area. The area management method according to claim 1, including the following:

3. The region management method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the arithmetic unit performing the action of receiving correction information indicating that the range of the confirmation region is to be modified.

4. The area management method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising the calculation device estimating the target work area based on position information representing the position when the work device performed the work.

5. The area management method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising estimating the target work area based on an image captured from above of the area having the target work area.

6. A confirmation area determination unit that determines statistical values ​​relating to the area of ​​a plurality of work areas based on the area of ​​a plurality of work areas, and determines whether the target work area is a confirmation area where the area range may be incorrect based on whether the area range of the target work area where work was performed by the work device is included in the range obtained from the statistical values, When the target work area is the confirmation area, an output unit outputs confirmation information that identifies the confirmation area, A domain management system equipped with the following features.

7. The area management system according to claim 6, further comprising a display unit that displays an image that identifiablely represents the confirmation area based on the confirmation information.

8. Determining statistical values ​​relating to the area of ​​a plurality of work areas based on the area of ​​the plurality of work areas, Based on whether the area of ​​the target work area where work was performed by the work device is included in the range obtained from the aforementioned statistical values, it is determined whether the target work area is a verification area where the area's boundaries may be incorrect. When the target work area is the verification area, the system outputs verification information that clearly identifies the verification area. A memory management program that instructs the computing unit to execute.

Images