Route-Based Obstacle Detection Switching in Combine Harvesters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional work vehicles, such as combine harvesters, face challenges in detecting obstacles in non-work areas or work-completed areas due to the exclusion of certain ranges from detection, leading to inadequate detection of persons or objects.
Innovation Solution
A detection method and program that enables or disables the detection function based on the target route, allowing the work vehicle to appropriately detect targets as obstacles by using a detection unit and setting processing units to manage detection functions according to the route.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a predetermined range is excluded from the detection target to prevent work objects from being recognized as obstacles, then work objects can be avoided during work, but detection targets in non-work areas cannot be appropriately detected as obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The detection function is made dynamic by switching between enabled and disabled states based on the work vehicle's location. The setting processing unit changes the detection function state according to whether the vehicle is in a work area or non-work area, allowing the system to adapt its detection behavior to different operational contexts and resolve the contradiction between avoiding work objects and detecting actual obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system's operational parameter (detection function enable/disable state) is changed based on the work area status. By modifying this parameter according to the vehicle's location relative to the target route, the system achieves accurate obstacle detection in non-work areas while preventing false detection of work objects in work areas.
2Reliability
If the detection function is continuously enabled to detect all potential obstacles, then all detection targets can be detected, but work objects are incorrectly recognized as obstacles causing unnecessary interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The detection function transitions from a static continuous-enabled state to a dynamic state that switches between enabled and disabled based on work area detection. This dynamic adjustment ensures comprehensive obstacle detection when needed while preventing false detections during work operations, thereby maintaining both detection reliability and work continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection function is activated periodically or conditionally based on the work vehicle's position. Instead of continuous operation, the detection function is enabled during non-work areas and disabled during work areas, creating a periodic on-off pattern that eliminates false obstacle detection while maintaining safety monitoring capability.
3Productivity
If the detection function is continuously disabled to avoid false detection of work objects, then work continuity is maintained, but actual obstacles in non-work areas cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The system resolves this contradiction by making the detection function dynamic rather than permanently disabled. The setting processing unit enables the detection function when the work vehicle is in non-work areas and disables it in work areas, ensuring both work continuity during operations and obstacle detection capability when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem] A detection method, a detection program, and a work vehicle capable of appropriately detecting a detection object as an obstacle are provided. [Solution] A combine harvester 1 includes a detection unit 53 capable of detecting a surrounding detection target, and automatically travels along a target route R. A setting processing unit 112 sets the detection function for the detection target to be enabled or disabled based on the target route R. The detection processing unit 113 causes the combine harvester 1 to execute predetermined processing on the detection target in accordance with the setting state of the detection function.