Autonomous Working Vehicle Speed Control for Safe Worker Distance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing working vehicle cooperation systems struggle to maintain a consistent relative distance between a tractor and accompanying workers or machines during autonomous operation, leading to potential delays or collisions, as they lack adaptive speed control based on real-time distance detection.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an autonomous traveling controller that uses a position detector and distance detector to adjust the tractor's speed according to predefined thresholds and ranges, ensuring the tractor maintains a safe distance by changing speed when the detected distance is within or exceeds predetermined limits, thereby preventing collisions and maintaining work efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the tractor operates at a constant speed during autonomous travel, then the autonomous operation can proceed without complex speed control, but the relative distance to workers or machines cannot be maintained consistently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelative distance maintenanceVSAvoidspeed control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous traveling controller dynamically adjusts the traveling speed based on real-time distance detection. The controller changes speed according to detected distance values compared against first and second threshold values, transforming the speed control from static to dynamic to maintain safe relative distances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The distance detector continuously provides feedback about the relative distance to workers or machines, which the autonomous traveling controller uses to adjust speed. This closed-loop feedback system ensures consistent distance maintenance by constantly monitoring and responding to distance changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the tractor reduces speed frequently to maintain distance from workers, then collision prevention is improved, but work efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision preventionVSAvoidwork efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller applies speed reduction only when necessary - specifically when the detected distance exceeds the first threshold value. This partial action approach maintains collision prevention while avoiding unnecessary speed reductions that would reduce work efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses multiple threshold parameters (first threshold and second threshold values) to control speed adjustments. By changing speed based on which threshold is exceeded, the system optimizes the balance between safety and efficiency rather than using a single fixed speed limit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the tractor increases speed to maintain schedule, then productivity improves, but the risk of collision with workers increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraveling speedVSAvoidcollision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The traveling speed is dynamically adjusted based on detected distance rather than maintaining a constant high speed. The controller increases or decreases speed according to real-time distance conditions, allowing productivity optimization while adapting to safety requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system takes preliminary action by detecting distance trends and adjusting speed before a collision situation develops. When the distance approaches or exceeds the first threshold, the controller proactively reduces speed to prevent the harmful collision scenario from occurring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Measurement precision

If manual intervention is used to control distance, then distance maintenance accuracy improves, but operational complexity and labor requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance maintenance accuracyVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous traveling controller performs distance monitoring and speed adjustment automatically without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the distance detector's input to autonomously control speed, maintaining accurate distance while simplifying operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical control of distance maintenance is replaced with an automated electronic control system. The autonomous traveling controller substitutes human operators by processing distance data and executing speed adjustments electronically, achieving both accuracy and simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12025986B2Working vehicle

Publication Date: 2024.07.02 KUBOTA CORP

AI summary

A working vehicle includes a traveling vehicle connectible to a working device, a position detector to detect a position of the traveling vehicle, an autonomous traveling controller configured or programmed to perform autonomous steering of the traveling vehicle based on a scheduled traveling route and the position of the traveling vehicle detected by the position detector and to control a traveling speed of the traveling vehicle corresponding to the scheduled traveling route, and a distance detector to detect a detected distance between the working device and a worker who works behind the working device. The autonomous traveling controller is configured or programmed to change the traveling speed based on the detected distance.