Work Vehicle Overhead Image Synthesis for Variable Equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing work vehicle systems struggle to provide an intuitive and comprehensive overhead image of the periphery, including work equipment, due to distortion and inadequate coverage, especially when equipment of varying sizes is attached, leading to inefficient monitoring and potential operational hazards.

Innovation Solution

A work vehicle equipped with multiple cameras and a modular image synthesis system that adjusts the synthesizing pattern based on the size and orientation of attached work equipment, using recognition units and user input to generate an optimized overhead image displayed on a touch panel, ensuring accurate and user-friendly peripheral monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the overhead image is adapted to small work equipment, then the monitoring coverage for small equipment is adequate, but large work equipment cannot be fully included in the overhead image

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring coverage areaVSAvoidadaptability to different equipment sizes
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The synthesizing pattern is made dynamically adjustable based on the detected type of work equipment. The system automatically modifies the synthesizing pattern according to whether small or large work equipment is attached to the vehicle body, enabling the overhead image to adapt its coverage area and composition dynamically. This resolves the contradiction by making the monitoring system flexible rather than fixed, allowing adequate coverage for both small and large equipment types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters of the synthesizing pattern (such as image composition, coverage area, and display proportions) based on the detected work equipment type. By modifying these parameters dynamically, the overhead image can be optimized for different equipment sizes, ensuring that small equipment is fully monitored while large equipment can also be completely included when attached.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the overhead image is adapted to large work equipment, then large work equipment can be fully included, but an area that requires no monitoring becomes large and display area is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different equipment sizesVSAvoidwasted display area
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The synthesizing pattern dynamically adjusts its parameters based on the detected work equipment type. When large work equipment is detected, the system modifies the pattern to include the equipment fully while minimizing unnecessary empty areas. This dynamic adaptation ensures that the display area is used efficiently without wasting space on areas that require no monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system modifies the synthesizing pattern parameters (such as image composition, coverage area, and display proportions) according to the detected equipment type. This parameter adjustment optimizes the use of display area by including only the necessary monitoring regions, thereby reducing wasted space while maintaining complete coverage of large work equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a fixed synthesizing pattern is used, then the system complexity is low, but the overhead image cannot accommodate varying work equipment sizes and orientations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage synthesis system complexityVSAvoidadaptability to different equipment sizes
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a dynamic synthesizing pattern that automatically adjusts based on the detected work equipment type. This dynamic approach increases adaptability to different equipment sizes and orientations while maintaining reasonable system complexity through automated detection and pattern selection, eliminating the need for manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting the work equipment type and selecting the appropriate synthesizing pattern without requiring manual intervention. This self-adjusting capability enhances adaptability to varying equipment configurations while keeping the system complexity manageable through automated decision-making algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Area of stationary object

If the overhead image coverage area is expanded to include large work equipment, then complete equipment coverage is achieved, but the distortion increases and specific components become difficult to see

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverhead image coverage areaVSAvoidimage detail clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the synthesizing pattern parameters based on the detected work equipment type. When large work equipment is detected, the pattern is modified to optimize both coverage area and image detail clarity. This parameter adjustment ensures that specific components remain visible and distinguishable while achieving complete coverage of the large equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The synthesizing pattern applies local quality adjustments by modifying different regions of the overhead image according to the detected equipment type. This allows optimal detail clarity in critical areas while maintaining comprehensive coverage, resolving the contradiction between expanded coverage and component visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3335944B1Work vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3335944B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3335944B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3335944B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A work vehicle includes: a plurality of cameras (4) for imaging partial peripheral areas allocated from a peripheral area of the vehicle body (1) and work equipment (30); a monitoring image generating module (6) for synthesizing partial overhead images from each camera (4) on the basis of a modifiable synthesizing pattern, thereby generating a peripheral overhead image overlooking the peripheral area, the partial overhead images being generated by changing vantage points of captured images of the partial peripheral areas from each camera (4); a synthesizing pattern modifying unit (61) for modifying the synthesizing pattern; and a display unit (73) for displaying the peripheral overhead image.