Remote-Control Camera Layout for Driver-View Agricultural Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural work vehicles with cameras positioned far from the driver's line of sight make it difficult for operators to remotely control the vehicle based on their line of sight.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating multiple cameras, including a front camera rearward of the front wheel axle, which captures images near the driver's line of sight, and a communication device to transmit these images to a remote device, allowing operators to control the vehicle from a remote location based on their line of sight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the camera is disposed at the front end portion of the vehicle body, then the camera can capture images of the forward view, but the camera will be far away from the driver's line of sight making it difficult for the operator to operate the vehicle from a remote place based on the driver's line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the camera system into multiple cameras positioned at different locations: a first camera disposed rearward of the front wheel axle to capture the driver's line of sight view, and a second camera disposed at the front end to capture the forward view. This segmentation allows each camera to serve a specific observational purpose, resolving the contradiction between capturing driver's perspective and maintaining forward visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a display device as an intermediary that presents the image from the first camera (captured by the camera rearward of the axle) to the remote operator. This intermediary allows the operator to see through the driver's eyes without physically being in the driver's position, resolving the visibility contradiction while maintaining system functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the camera is disposed at the front end portion of the vehicle body, then the camera can capture images of the forward view, but the operator cannot easily operate the vehicle from a remote place on the basis of the driver's line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is segmented into multiple cameras with distinct functions: the first camera captures the driver's line of sight view for remote operation, while the second camera captures the forward view. This segmentation enables the remote operator to access the driver's perspective without compromising forward visibility, thereby improving ease of remote operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback to the remote operator by transmitting the image captured by the first camera (positioned to match the driver's line of sight) to the remote device. This feedback loop allows the operator to see what the driver sees and make informed operational decisions, resolving the ease of operation contradiction.
3Loss of information
If multiple cameras are used including one rearward of the front wheel axle, then the driver's line of sight can be captured, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The visual information requirement is segmented into two distinct camera positions: one camera (first camera) disposed rearward of the front wheel axle to capture the driver's line of sight, and another camera (second camera) at the front end to capture forward views. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by using minimal necessary cameras for each specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The first camera positioned rearward of the front wheel axle serves multiple functions: it captures the driver's line of sight view for remote operation, provides situational awareness of the vehicle's immediate surroundings, and can monitor the hood area. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional cameras, thereby managing device complexity while improving information availability.
Data Source
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AI summary
There has been a demand for (i) an agricultural work vehicle easily operable by an operator from a remote place on the basis of the driver's line of sight and (ii) a control system that allows an operator to easily operate an agricultural work vehicle from a remote place on the basis of the driver's line of sight. An agricultural work vehicle includes: a body 1 with at least one front wheel 5; a plurality of cameras 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24; and a communication device configured to transmit to a remote device an image captured by at least one of the plurality of cameras 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24. The plurality of cameras 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 include at least one first camera rearward of an axle X1 of the at least one front wheel 5. The communication device is configured to transmit to the remote device a first image captured by the at least one first camera.