Field Work Vehicle Path Generation Using Preceding Work Information

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural travel path generation systems do not effectively utilize work information from preceding field work vehicles to calculate optimal travel paths for subsequent vehicles, leading to inefficiencies in agricultural work.

Innovation Solution

A travel path generation system that acquires work information from preceding field work vehicles and calculates travel paths for subsequent vehicles, taking into account seedling row information, ridge formation, and field division to optimize travel efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If travel paths are calculated without considering work information from preceding vehicles, then calculation simplicity is maintained, but work efficiency decreases due to perpendicular or skewed paths

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary acquisition and storage of work information from preceding field work vehicles before calculating the travel path for subsequent vehicles. This advance preparation enables the path calculation to consider actual field conditions created by previous operations, optimizing the subsequent vehicle's travel path to avoid perpendicular or skewed routes that reduce work efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where work information from preceding vehicles is continuously acquired, stored, and used to inform travel path calculations for subsequent vehicles. This feedback mechanism ensures that each vehicle's path is optimized based on the cumulative work state of the field, improving overall productivity while managing system complexity through structured information flow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If work information from preceding vehicles is acquired and utilized, then travel path optimization is achieved, but information management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetravel efficiencyVSAvoidinformation management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a travel path generation device as an intermediary component that mediates between the work information from preceding vehicles and the subsequent vehicle's path calculation. This intermediary device processes, stores, and retrieves work information systematically, enabling travel path optimization without directly increasing the complexity of individual vehicle systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates and utilizes copies of work information from preceding vehicles in a structured database format. Rather than requiring direct communication between vehicles, the system copies relevant work state data (such as ridgeline information, harvested areas, and field conditions) into a centralized storage system that can be efficiently queried during path calculation, reducing information management complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If perpendicular or skewed travel paths are used, then path calculation simplicity is maintained, but work efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework efficiencyVSAvoidpath calculation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameters used in path calculation from fixed geometric patterns (perpendicular or skewed angles) to dynamic parameters based on actual field conditions. By incorporating work information such as ridgeline orientations, harvested area boundaries, and field-specific features, the path calculation adapts to optimize travel efficiency while maintaining computational feasibility through structured parameter management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3725632B1Travel path generation system and field work vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3725632B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3725632B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3725632B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A slip determination system is provided that is capable of providing appropriate control information to a traveling vehicle when the traveling vehicle has proceeded to an area where a slip is likely to occur during automatic travel. The slip determination system includes: a vehicle position detection module for detecting a vehicle position; and an automatic travel control portion for enabling automatic travel based on the vehicle position and a set travel path; a slip amount calculation portion for calculating a slip amount of the traveling vehicle body, using an estimated movement distance of the traveling vehicle body calculated based on the number of revolutions of a driving axle of the traveling vehicle body, and an actual movement distance of the traveling vehicle body calculated based on the vehicle position; an appropriateness determination portion for performing appropriateness determination to determine, based on the slip amount, whether or not a state of a traveling ground surface is appropriate for automatic travel; and an automatic travel stop portion for stopping automatic travel based on a determination result.