Work Vehicle Sensor Switching for Startup Blind-Zone Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional work vehicles with automatic travel capabilities face issues due to non-detection ranges during startup, where obstacles may not be detected by existing sensors, leading to potential collisions, and continuous sonar usage can result in false obstacle detection and disrupted travel.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a controller that switches the first obstacle detector to a detection state at the start of automatic travel and then to a non-detection state after passing specific wheel positions, ensuring complete coverage of non-detection ranges with movement, utilizing a combination of sonar and laser sensors for comprehensive obstacle detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sonar is kept on at all times after the start of automatic travel to detect obstacles in the non-detection range, then collision prevention is improved, but false detection of crops or other objects as obstacles increases, disrupting smooth automatic travel
Solution Approach 1:
The sonar is activated periodically only during the startup phase of automatic travel when the vehicle passes through the non-detection range, rather than operating continuously. This periodic activation prevents false detections of crops during normal travel while ensuring obstacle detection coverage during the critical startup period when the non-detection range poses a collision risk
2Productivity
If the sonar is turned off after the start of automatic travel to achieve smooth travel, then false obstacle detection is reduced, but the work vehicle may come into contact with obstacles in the non-detection range
Solution Approach 1:
The sonar is activated in advance during the startup phase of automatic travel to detect obstacles in the non-detection range before the vehicle begins its normal travel path. This preliminary detection ensures that obstacles in the blind zone are identified and avoided before smooth automatic travel commences, resolving the contradiction between initial safety and subsequent operational smoothness
3Area of stationary object
If multiple obstacle detectors are used to cover the non-detection range, then detection coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the dynamic movement of the vehicle body during startup to bring the first obstacle detector into positions where it can detect obstacles in the non-detection range. Rather than adding static sensors to cover all areas, the existing detector leverages the vehicle's motion to achieve comprehensive coverage, maintaining system simplicity while expanding effective detection area
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution prevents collisions by ensuring all non-detection areas are covered during travel, reducing false obstacle detections and enabling smooth automatic travel by dynamically managing sensor states based on vehicle position and movement.
Implementation Method 1
a first obstacle detector provided at a side portion of the driver seat protective body 7 and capable of detecting an obstacle
Implementation Method 2
the obstacle detector includes a laser sensor that detects obstacles existing in front of and behind the travel body
Implementation Method 3
a second obstacle detector provided at a position differing from a position of the first obstacle detector in a front-back direction, and capable of detecting the obstacle
Data Source
AI summary
A work vehicle includes a vehicle body including wheels, a controller to cause the vehicle body to perform automatic travel along a travel route set in advance, a driver seat mounted on the vehicle body, a driver seat protective body provided around the driver seat, first obstacle detectors provided at side portions of the driver seat protective body, and capable of detecting an obstacle; and second obstacle detectors provided at positions differing from positions of the first obstacle detectors in a front-back direction, and capable of detecting an obstacle. At a time of start of the automatic travel, the controller is configured or programmed to put each first obstacle detector in a detection state of detecting an obstacle, and, during automatic travel after the start of the automatic travel, the controller is configured or programmed to put each first obstacle detector in a non-detection state of not detecting the obstacle.