Combine Return Route Control After Work Route Breakaway

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional working vehicles in agricultural fields cannot autonomously return to their work routes after breaking away, reducing workability and requiring manual relocation to resume operations.

Innovation Solution

An automatic traveling method and system that includes a return traveling control part, allowing the vehicle to automatically return to its work route upon a return operation, regardless of its position within the agricultural field.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the working vehicle performs manual relocation to return to the work route, then the vehicle can resume automatic traveling, but the workability is reduced due to manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveworkabilityVSAvoidautomatic return capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The working vehicle autonomously returns to the work route by itself using the return traveling control part, without requiring manual relocation by the operator. The system automatically calculates the return route and executes the return journey, making the vehicle self-sufficient in resuming its work route after midway work.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the working vehicle waits at the midway work position until completion of discharging work, then return traveling can be triggered, but the return timing cannot be intentionally controlled by the worker

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereturn timing controlVSAvoidworkability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates a return operation input that allows the operator to intentionally trigger return traveling at any desired timing. The return traveling control part receives feedback from the operator's input and automatically initiates the return journey, providing both automatic calculation capability and manual timing control flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the working vehicle breaks away from the work route to perform midway work, then work flexibility is improved, but the vehicle cannot autonomously return to the work route from any position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreakaway flexibilityVSAvoidautonomous return capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The return traveling control part is designed to calculate and execute return routes from any position within the agricultural field to the work route, not just from specific predetermined positions. This universal return capability works regardless of where the vehicle broke away from the work route, enhancing both flexibility and automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Extent of automation

If the conventional system uses discharging work completion as a trigger for return traveling, then the return process is automated, but the vehicle cannot start return traveling at an intended position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereturn traveling automationVSAvoidworkability
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the return traveling trigger mechanism to accept multiple types of input: automatic triggering based on discharging work completion, manual triggering at any desired timing, and triggering at any desired position. This dynamic flexibility allows the automation to respond to different operational needs while maintaining ease of use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4282239A1Automatic traveling method, working vehicle, and automatic traveling system
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 YANMAR HLDG CO LTD
  • EP4282239A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4282239A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4282239A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] Provided is an automatic traveling method, a working vehicle, and an automatic traveling system that enable return traveling to a work route regardless of a position of a working vehicle breaking away from the work route and thus offer improved workability. [Solution] A combine 1 is a working vehicle that performs automatic traveling on a work route 63 preset in an agricultural field 60, and includes a control device 30. The control device 30 functions as a return traveling control part 37 to make the combine 1 automatically perform return traveling toward the work route 63 in response to a return operation for the combine 1 within the agricultural field 60 during breakaway of the combine 1 from the work route 63.