Combine Harvester Start-Position Control for Wasteful Travel Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The position at which a combine harvester can capture the automated-travel start travel route does not necessarily match the position where it can start automated travel, leading to wasteful travel maneuvers such as turning or detours.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a vehicle-position acquiring portion, field-contour setting portion, and region setting portion that sets an unworked region and an automated-travel start position based on position information, allowing for efficient automated travel initiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the combine harvester uses a fixed automated-travel start travel route, then the automated travel system is simple to implement, but the harvester cannot smoothly move to the start position and must perform wasteful travel maneuvers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the automated-travel start travel route adjustable rather than fixed. The control device dynamically changes the start travel route based on the work vehicle's current position and the unworked region's characteristics, allowing the route to adapt to different operational scenarios and eliminate wasteful travel maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the start travel route by calculating and setting different routes based on the work vehicle's position relative to the unworked region. The control device computes optimal start positions and adjusts the travel route parameters to ensure smooth movement without requiring turning or detours.
2Measurement precision
If the combine harvester performs manual travel to form worked regions, then the field contour can be accurately mapped, but time is consumed before automated travel can begin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the work vehicle perform manual travel to map the field contour and identify the unworked region in advance. This preliminary mapping enables the control device to calculate the optimal automated-travel start position and route beforehand, so that automated travel can begin immediately without delay or wasteful maneuvers.
3Device complexity
If the automated-travel start position is fixed, then the control system is simple, but the harvester may need to turn or take detours to reach it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the automated-travel start position dynamic by calculating it based on the work vehicle's current position and the unworked region's geometry. The control device determines the optimal start position that allows direct entry into automated travel without turning or detours, improving productivity while maintaining reasonable control system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A control device and a work vehicle capable of suppressing wasteful travel until automated travel is started are provided. A control portion (80) includes a vehicle-position acquiring portion (85), a field-contour setting portion (83), a region setting portion (84), and a start-position setting portion (89). The vehicle-position acquiring portion (85) acquires position information (99) indicating a position of a combine harvester (1). The field-contour setting portion (83) sets a contour (981P) of a field (98) on the basis of a plurality of pieces of the position information (99). The region setting portion (84) sets an unworked region inside the contour (981P) on the basis of the plurality of pieces of the position information (99). The start-position setting portion (89) sets a corner closest to a position (921P) of the combine harvester (1) among a plurality of corners (921P) to (924P) of the unworked region to an automated-travel start position on the basis of the position information (99).