Autonomous Utility Vehicle Navigation Through Narrow Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control apparatuses for autonomously navigating utility vehicles struggle to efficiently move between connected areas within a working area, particularly when the transition area is narrow, leading to low working efficiency due to the reliance on magnetic field strengths for navigation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a control system with a map generating unit, third area identifying unit, target position setting unit, and travel controlling unit that generates a working area map, identifies third area cells, sets target positions, and controls vehicle travel to navigate through the third area efficiently by determining the shortest route using position and orientation data from sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the utility vehicle uses magnetic field strength detection to navigate through narrow areas, then the vehicle can operate in confined spaces, but the travel speed and working efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus dynamically adjusts the navigation method based on the current situation. When in narrow areas, it uses magnetic field detection for precise navigation. When in ordinary areas, it switches to map-based navigation for faster travel, optimizing both adaptability and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The working area is divided into narrow areas and ordinary areas. The system segments the navigation approach accordingly, using different navigation strategies for different zones to balance precision and speed requirements
2Productivity
If the utility vehicle quickly moves between first area and second area through third area, then working efficiency is improved, but navigation accuracy in narrow third area may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus acts as an intermediary that integrates multiple navigation systems. It combines magnetic field detection data with map-based position information to achieve both fast transit and accurate navigation through the third area
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors position information from both magnetic field detectors and map matching algorithms, using feedback to adjust the navigation path and maintain accuracy while optimizing travel speed through the third area
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the vehicle to quickly and efficiently move from one area to another through the third area, improving working efficiency by identifying and navigating through third area cells based on predetermined ranges and sensor data, ensuring prompt task performance in adjacent areas.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic sensor that detects a magnetic field strength
Data Source
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Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
An apparatus for controlling operation of an autonomously navigating utility vehicle equipped with a prime mover to travel about a working area delineated by a boundary wire laid thereat and divided into a first area and a second area connected by a third area that is narrower than the first and second areas, there are provided with a first travel controlling unit (441) that controls operation of the prime mover to make the vehicle travel along the boundary wire based on a detected magnetic field, a third area identifying unit (42) that identifies a location of the third area in the working area based on a detected position of the vehicle when the vehicle is controlled to travel by the first travel controlling unit, and a second travel controlling unit (442) that controls operation of the prime mover to make the vehicle travel forward toward an entrance of the third area whose location is identified by the third area identifying unit based on the position of the vehicle detected from the output of the position sensor.