Agricultural Work Machine Guidance for Stop Position and Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing working vehicles may stop in unfavorable orientations within agricultural fields, and there is a need to efficiently guide them to appropriate positions and orientations for optimal operation.
Innovation Solution
A work assistance device that includes an input interface and a controller to receive user-specified information, defining guide information for a working machine to move from an automatic travel route to a predetermined position and orientation, considering off-limits areas and vehicle positions, and adjusting routes to avoid obstacles and optimize travel distance/time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the working machine follows a preliminarily recorded remote operation travel route, then the user can transmit commands remotely and the machine moves to the edge of the agricultural field, but the stopping orientation may be unfavorable for the agricultural field
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic route generation mechanism that adapts the travel route based on real-time conditions. The route generation unit creates multiple candidate routes and selects the optimal one based on the working machine's status and field conditions, allowing the system to dynamically adjust the stopping orientation rather than following a fixed preliminarily recorded route.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the route generation unit receives information about the working machine's status and field conditions, then adjusts the travel route accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that the machine reaches an optimal stopping position and orientation based on actual conditions rather than a predetermined path.
2Device complexity
If the working machine travels along a fixed automatic travel route, then the travel path is predetermined and simple to follow, but the machine cannot reach appropriate positions for optimal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static fixed route to a dynamic adaptive route. The route generation unit continuously evaluates multiple candidate routes and selects the optimal path based on current working conditions, machine status, and field characteristics, enabling the machine to reach productive positions while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary generation of multiple candidate routes before execution. By pre-calculating various possible paths and evaluating them against criteria such as travel distance, time, and suitability for work operations, the system prepares optimal routes in advance without requiring complex real-time decisions during execution.
3Loss of time
If the working machine stops at any position on the automatic travel route, then the machine can quickly terminate travel, but it may stop in an unfavorable orientation for subsequent work
Solution Approach 1:
The route generation unit dynamically determines stopping positions based on work requirements rather than allowing arbitrary stops. It evaluates candidate routes considering factors such as desired orientation, work area accessibility, and machine configuration, ensuring that when travel terminates, the machine is positioned optimally for the next operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system autonomously determines the optimal stopping position and orientation without requiring manual intervention. The route generation unit automatically evaluates multiple options and selects the best stopping point based on pre-set criteria and real-time conditions, enabling the machine to self-position for optimal work efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A work assistance device includes an input interface to receive input of user-specified information, and a controller configured or programmed to acquire the information received by the input interface and information relating to an agricultural field in which a working machine, which is operable to automatically travel, performs work. The controller is configured or programmed to define, based on the information acquired from the input interface, guide information including (i) position information of a guide point for the working machine to be guided from an automatic travel route to be automatically traveled by the working machine in the agricultural field to a predetermined position, and (ii) orientation information indicating an orientation of the working machine at the guide point, and output the guide information to the working machine.