Work Vehicle Route Generation for Seamless Manual-Auto Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional work vehicles experience low operability when switching between manual and automatic travel modes, requiring operators to stop and regenerate target routes if the automatic travel route differs from their intended route.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows operators to generate a target route for automatic travel by performing a first operation on a button while manually operating the vehicle, followed by a second operation to initiate automatic travel along the generated route, enabling seamless switching between manual and automatic modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the work vehicle travels automatically along a pre-set target route, then automation level is improved, but operability deteriorates when the automatic route differs from the operator's intended route
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by generating a target route in advance based on the operator's manual travel operations. The route is prepared before automatic travel begins, allowing the operator to review and confirm the route beforehand. This preliminary route generation resolves the contradiction by automating route planning while maintaining operator control and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between manual travel mode and automatic travel mode based on operator input. The travel control device can transition from manual operation to automatic execution of the generated target route, providing flexibility and adaptability. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by allowing the operator to choose the most appropriate mode for each situation.
2Productivity
If the operator switches from manual travel to automatic travel, then productivity is improved, but loss of time increases due to stopping to re-generate target route
Solution Approach 1:
The target route is generated in advance based on the operator's manual travel operations before automatic travel begins. This preliminary route generation eliminates the need to stop and re-generate routes during operation, thereby reducing time loss and improving overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by allowing the operator to perform manual travel operations that simultaneously generate the target route for automatic travel. The transition from manual to automatic mode is seamless, without requiring the vehicle to stop. This continuity resolves the contradiction by maintaining productivity while minimizing time loss.
3Ease of operation
If the work vehicle travels automatically, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to route generation and mode switching
Solution Approach 1:
The travel control device performs multiple functions: it can operate in manual mode, automatically generate target routes based on manual operations, display the generated routes, and execute automatic travel. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by consolidating various operations into a single versatile system, reducing the need for separate devices while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by automatically generating the target route based on the operator's manual travel operations without requiring external intervention or complex configuration. The route generation is performed autonomously by the travel control device, simplifying the overall system while improving ease of operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem] To provide a travel control method, a travel control system, and a travel control program that can improve operability when a work vehicle is caused to travel automatically. [Solution] A travel processing unit 111 causes a work vehicle 10 to travel manually on the basis of an operator's manual travel operation. A route-generation processing unit 113 generates a target route, which is a route for the work vehicle 10 to travel automatically, when the operator's route-generation instruction operation to the operation unit 172 is accepted while the work vehicle 10 is traveling manually. A travel processing unit 111 causes the work vehicle 10 to travel automatically along the target route when the operator's automatic-travel start operation to the operation unit 172 is accepted after the route-generation instruction operation.