Autonomous Work Vehicle Control for Tool-Aware Route Settings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing work vehicle control systems require adjustments when a work machine is replaced, often leading to inappropriate work performance due to operator oversight.

Innovation Solution

A work vehicle control system that allows for autonomous travel and adjusts settings based on the attached work machine's state, enabling efficient and appropriate work execution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If work machine replacement requires manual adjustments, then operator control flexibility is maintained, but work appropriateness deteriorates due to operator oversight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework appropriatenessVSAvoidadjustment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The work vehicle control system automatically detects the work machine state and adjusts autonomous travel settings without operator intervention. The system self-services by monitoring work machine attachment status and autonomously modifying control parameters, eliminating the need for manual adjustments and preventing operator oversight errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control system continuously monitors work machine state and provides feedback to automatically adjust autonomous travel settings. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the control settings always match the current work machine configuration, improving reliability by preventing mismatched operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If autonomous travel settings are manually adjusted for each work machine, then work precision is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework precisionVSAvoidadjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control system pre-configures multiple autonomous travel settings corresponding to different work machine states. When a work machine is attached, the system automatically selects and applies the pre-configured settings, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and reducing time consumption while maintaining work precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects work machine attachment and self-adjusts autonomous travel settings without operator intervention. This self-service capability maintains precise work settings for each machine type while eliminating the time required for manual reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If work vehicle control system is simplified, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to different work machines deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework machine compatibilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system incorporates a universal work machine state detection mechanism that automatically identifies different work machine types and adjusts autonomous travel settings accordingly. This multi-functional capability allows a single control system to adapt to various work machines without increasing apparent complexity, as the adaptation occurs automatically through state monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4595732A1Method for controlling work vehicle, work vehicle control program, work vehicle control system, and work vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 YANMAR HLDG CO LTD
  • EP4595732A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4595732A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4595732A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To provide a method for controlling a work vehicle, a work vehicle control program, a work vehicle control system, and a work vehicle that easily performs more appropriate work. [Solution] A method for controlling a work vehicle 1 is a method for controlling the work vehicle to which a work machine 400 is detachably attached and includes causing the work vehicle 1 to autonomously travel along a target route and changing a setting item related to autonomous travel of the work vehicle 1 in accordance with a state of the work machine 400 attached to the work vehicle 1.