Combine Return Travel Control for Flexible Route Reentry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional working vehicles cannot create a return route nor perform return traveling at a timing intended by a worker, reducing workability, as they require manual relocation to the work route after pausing for midway work.
Innovation Solution
An automatic traveling method and system that enable a working vehicle to automatically perform return traveling toward a preset work route in response to a return operation, regardless of its position within an agricultural field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the working vehicle waits for completion of discharging work as a trigger to perform return traveling, then the vehicle can automatically return to the work route, but the worker cannot initiate return traveling at an intended timing or position, reducing workability
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between automatic triggering based on work completion and manual triggering based on worker intent. The return traveling control part accepts return operations at any timing during breakaway, not just at predetermined triggers, making the system adaptable to both automatic and manual operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The return traveling control part serves multiple functions: it detects both automatic triggers (completion of discharging work) and manual operations (return operations from the worker). This multi-functionality allows the system to handle diverse operational scenarios, improving both automation and ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the working vehicle requires manual relocation to the midway work position, then the vehicle can perform midway work, but the worker loses time moving the vehicle, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The working vehicle performs self-service by automatically returning to the work route after midway work. The return traveling control part enables the vehicle to autonomously navigate back to the work route without worker intervention, eliminating the time-consuming manual relocation process and improving productivity.
3Productivity
If the working vehicle performs return traveling only after completion of discharging work, then the system follows a fixed sequence, but the worker cannot return the vehicle to the work route at intended positions, reducing adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a fixed sequential process to a dynamic flexible process. The return traveling control part accepts return operations at any timing during breakaway from the work route, allowing the worker to adapt the return timing to actual field conditions and work requirements, thereby improving both productivity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A combine is a working vehicle that performs automatic traveling on a work route preset in an agricultural field, and includes a control device. The control device functions as a return traveling control part to make the combine automatically perform return traveling toward the work route in response to a return operation for the combine within the agricultural field during breakaway of the combine 1 from the work route.