Work Vehicle Route Registration for Flexible Autonomous Field Tasks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for controlling autonomous vehicles require extensive setup and calibration time, and the routing process is cumbersome, limiting their efficiency and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A method for registering routes used by autonomous vehicles, involving data capture before and after agricultural tasks, with image and three-dimensional data display, and route recording using a work vehicle system, allowing flexible task performance and route adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional systems use specific autonomous vehicles to register routes, then route accuracy for that vehicle is improved, but system complexity and programming burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal route registration system where routes recorded by any work vehicle in the fleet can be used by other vehicles. The route data structure is designed to be vehicle-agnostic, allowing a single recorded route to serve multiple autonomous vehicles of different types (e.g., sprayers, mowers, planters) without requiring separate calibration or programming for each vehicle type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of routes recorded by one vehicle that can be replicated and used by other vehicles. The route data including geographical coordinates, task points, and operational parameters is stored as reusable digital information that can be copied across the fleet, eliminating the need for each vehicle to independently learn or calibrate the same route.
2Measurement precision
If conventional systems require extensive setup and calibration for each vehicle, then measurement accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs route recording and calibration actions in advance during the initial setup phase. Once a route is recorded by any vehicle, the calibration data and route parameters are pre-computed and stored in the system database, eliminating the need for repetitive calibration when other vehicles need to use the same route.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically performs calibration and route registration without requiring manual intervention for each vehicle. The autonomous vehicles can independently access pre-recorded routes and perform self-calibration using the stored route data, reducing the time operators would otherwise spend on manual setup and calibration procedures.
3Measurement precision
If conventional systems use dedicated vehicles for route registration, then route accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Any work vehicle in the fleet can serve as a route recording vehicle, not just dedicated survey vehicles. The system allows operational vehicles (sprayers, mowers, planters) to simultaneously perform their primary tasks and record routes when needed, maximizing fleet utilization and eliminating the need for separate dedicated recording vehicles that would sit idle during non-recording periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous route recording and validation during normal operational activities. Vehicles can record routes incrementally during their regular work operations rather than requiring separate dedicated recording trips, thereby maintaining continuous productive action without interruption for separate calibration or route survey missions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes selecting a registered route of a work vehicle system, the registered route including one or more task points each of which including a geographical location, capturing first data of an agricultural item before a particular agricultural task is performed by a work vehicle at a particular task point of the one or more task points, capturing second data of the agricultural item after the particular agricultural task is performed at the particular task point, and displaying the first data of the agricultural item and the second data of the agricultural item on a display.