Autonomous Work Vehicle Route Reuse for Task-Based Field Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for controlling autonomous vehicles require extensive setup and calibration time, and the routing process is cumbersome, limiting their efficiency and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for registering routes that can be used by autonomous vehicles, allowing selection of a registered route, work vehicle, and agricultural task through a user interface, enabling autonomous control of the vehicle to follow the route and perform tasks at designated points, with the ability to capture image data and display vehicle status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional systems require specific autonomous vehicle calibration for route registration, then route accuracy is improved, but system complexity and setup time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal route registration system where a single route can be used by multiple different autonomous vehicles without requiring vehicle-specific calibration. The route data structure and control method are designed to be vehicle-agnostic, allowing any autonomous vehicle in the system to execute the same registered route, thereby eliminating repetitive calibration processes while maintaining route accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a standardized route model that can be copied and reused across multiple vehicles. Instead of creating unique routes for each vehicle through calibration, the system registers a route once and enables multiple vehicles to access and execute the same route definition, significantly reducing setup time and system complexity.
2Reliability
If conventional systems require vehicle-specific route registration, then route reliability is improved, but productivity and operational efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables a single registered route to serve multiple autonomous vehicles simultaneously or sequentially. This universal route assignment capability allows fleet operators to maximize vehicle utilization and reduce idle time, thereby improving productivity while maintaining route reliability through standardized execution protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary route registration and validation in the system, allowing routes to be prepared and verified once before being deployed to multiple vehicles. This preliminary action ensures route reliability is established upfront, and subsequent vehicle deployments can proceed efficiently without repeated validation processes.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional systems use cumbersome programming processes for routing, then control precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex programming processes with a simplified route copying mechanism. Operators can register a route once with precise control parameters, then copy this route definition to multiple vehicles. This copying approach maintains control precision while eliminating the need for repetitive programming, significantly improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service route assignment where autonomous vehicles can automatically access and execute registered routes without manual programming intervention. The vehicles self-configure to use the standardized route data structure, maintaining control precision through automated parameter inheritance while greatly simplifying the operator's task.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes selecting a registered route of a work vehicle system, selecting a particular work vehicle, from among a plurality of work vehicles, to follow the registered route, and selecting a particular agricultural task, from among a plurality of agricultural tasks, for the particular work vehicle to perform when the particular work vehicle follows the registered route.