Remote Work Vehicle Turning Control for Orientation-Independent Steering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing work vehicles with remote operation capabilities face issues with inconsistent turning directions based on the vehicle's orientation relative to the operator, leading to potential operational mistakes and increased work loss due to erroneous automated turning.

Innovation Solution

A work vehicle equipped with automated steering and a remote operation device that requires a first operation to instruct a turning direction followed by a second operation to initiate automated turning, ensuring consistent direction recognition regardless of the vehicle's orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated traveling with remote operation is implemented, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inconsistent turning directions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated traveling efficiencyVSAvoidturning direction consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional single-operation turning control by implementing a two-stage operation sequence. The first operation sets the turning direction intent, and the second operation executes the turn. This inversion of the expected direct control relationship prevents erroneous single-operation turns and ensures consistent turning directions regardless of vehicle orientation relative to the operator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If single operation controls turning direction, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to operational mistakes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote control simplicityVSAvoidoperational accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by requiring the operator to first indicate the turning direction intent through a first operation, which is then confirmed and executed by a second operation. This preliminary indication step allows the system to prepare for the correct turning direction while giving the operator a chance to verify the intended action before execution, thereby preventing operational mistakes without significantly complicating the control process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If automated turning is started by single operation, then productivity is improved, but loss of substance increases due to work loss from erroneous turns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework efficiencyVSAvoidwork loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By requiring a first operation to set the turning direction before the second operation executes the automated turn, the system performs a preliminary action that prevents erroneous turns. This ensures that automated turning is only initiated when the operator has correctly indicated the intended direction, thereby preventing work loss from incorrect turns while still maintaining productivity benefits from automated execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4620278A1Work vehicle, automated traveling method, and program
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 YANMAR HLDG CO LTD
  • EP4620278A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4620278A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4620278A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To provide an art capable of appropriately performing an operation using a remote operation device in a work vehicle provided capable of automated traveling. [Solution] An exemplary work vehicle includes: a vehicle main-body provided capable of automated traveling in which at least steering is automatedly performed; and a remote operation device configured to operate the vehicle main-body, in which the vehicle main-body starts turning by the automated traveling by performing a first operation of instructing a turning direction and a second operation subsequent to the first operation in the remote operation device.