Work Vehicle Coordination System for Central and Headland Path Planning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing work vehicle coordinating systems are ineffective in managing ground work in central and headland areas, particularly in agricultural fields, as they fail to accurately calculate and execute paths for unmanned steerable sub vehicles, especially in areas without available map data and with complex turning requirements.
Innovation Solution
A work vehicle coordinating system that includes a main vehicle position detection module, sub vehicle position detection module, central and headland path calculation sections, and steering control sections, allowing the sub vehicle to travel ahead in central areas and follow the main vehicle in headland areas, with optional work land contour calculation for path determination, and remote control of implements for improved monitoring and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single unmanned work vehicle is used for both central work land and headland traveling, then equipment complexity is reduced, but the vehicle cannot effectively handle complex turning operations in headland areas
Solution Approach 1:
The work vehicle system is segmented into a main work vehicle for headland traveling and a sub work vehicle for central work land traveling. This segmentation allows each vehicle to be optimized for its specific function, with the main vehicle handling complex turning operations in headland areas while the sub vehicle performs straight-line cultivation in the central work land.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having one vehicle perform all operations, the system inverts the traditional approach by using two specialized vehicles working in coordination. The sub work vehicle operates autonomously in the central area while the main work vehicle operates in the headland area, with their roles reversed from conventional single-vehicle systems.
2Productivity
If follow-up control is used for large open work lands, then straight work traveling is efficient, but the system cannot handle ground work in small fields bordered by ridges with headland areas
Solution Approach 1:
The work land is segmented into two distinct zones: central work land for straight-line cultivation and headland areas for turning operations. The control system is similarly segmented, with follow-up control active only in the central work land and manual control engaged in headland areas, allowing each zone to be optimized for its specific operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically switches between follow-up control mode for the sub work vehicle in the central work land and manual control mode for the main work vehicle in the headland area. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high productivity in straight-line sections while providing the flexibility needed for complex turning operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different controlling operations are used for central work land and headland traveling, then each area can be optimized, but the overall system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct control modules: follow-up control for the sub work vehicle in the central work land and manual control for the main work vehicle in the headland area. This segmentation allows each control mode to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system manageability through clear functional separation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A work vehicle coordinating system includes a main vehicle position detection module for detecting a position of a main work vehicle (1P), a sub vehicle position detection module for detecting a position of a sub work vehicle (1C), a central work land path calculation section for calculating a central work land traveling path to be used by the sub work vehicle (1C) in an unmanned steered work traveling in a central work land (CL), a first steering control section for unmanned-steering the sub work vehicle (1C) ahead of the main work vehicle based on the position of the sub work vehicle detected by the sub vehicle position detection module and the central work land traveling path, a headland path calculation section for calculating a headland traveling path to be used for unmanned steered traveling of the sub work vehicle (1C) based on a traveling path of the main work vehicle (1P) in a headland (HL), and a second steering control section for unmanned-steering the sub work vehicle (1C) to follow the main work vehicle (1P) based on the detected sub work vehicle position and the headland traveling path.