Work Vehicle Route Return Control for Autonomous Travel Recovery

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing travel control systems for work vehicles require manual intervention when the vehicle deviates from the travel route, leading to decreased work efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A travel control method that allows the work vehicle to autonomously stop and return to the travel route when it deviates, enabling autonomous restart once certain conditions are met.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the work vehicle stops autonomously when deviating from the travel route and waits for manual intervention, then the travel route accuracy is improved, but the work efficiency deteriorates due to operator approach time and manual operation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetravel route accuracyVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The work vehicle autonomously returns to the travel route without operator intervention. The control unit detects deviation, commands the traveler to move toward the route, and automatically resumes autonomous travel upon return, making the system self-correcting and eliminating manual intervention requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously monitors the work vehicle's position relative to the travel route using GPS coordinates and automatically adjusts the traveler's movement based on real-time deviation detection, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains route accuracy while enabling autonomous operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Extent of automation

If the operator manually operates the work vehicle to return onto the travel route after deviation, then the autonomous travel can be resumed, but the automation level deteriorates due to required manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous travel continuityVSAvoidmanual operation requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The work vehicle autonomously returns to the travel route without operator intervention. The control unit detects deviation, commands the traveler to move toward the route, and automatically resumes autonomous travel upon return, making the system self-correcting and eliminating manual intervention requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit proactively commands the traveler to move toward the travel route immediately upon detecting deviation, performing the correction action before manual intervention can occur, thereby maintaining continuous autonomous operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4625084A1Travel control method for work vehicle, travel control program, travel control system, and work vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 YANMAR HLDG CO LTD
  • EP4625084A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4625084A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4625084A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To provide a travel control method for a work vehicle, a travel control program, a travel control system, and a work vehicle, which are less likely to decrease a working efficiency. [Solution] A travel control method for the work vehicle 1 includes: causing the work vehicle 1 to autonomously travel on a travel route (target route R10); causing the work vehicle 1 to stop autonomously traveling when the work vehicle 1 deviates from the travel route while the work vehicle 1 autonomously travels; and causing the work vehicle 1 to return onto the travel route to restart autonomously traveling once a return condition is met while the work vehicle 1 stops autonomously traveling.