Work Vehicle Steering Override During Automatic Travel

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional work vehicles, such as harvesters, cannot perform course corrections during automatic travel, requiring operators to stop and switch to manual mode, which reduces operability and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An automatic driving method and system that allows turn operations on a work vehicle during automatic travel by incorporating a turn operation permission unit, enabling operators to instruct turns without interrupting the automatic travel mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the turn operation tool is disabled during automatic travel to maintain system simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates because operators cannot perform course corrections without stopping the vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The turn operation permission unit dynamically changes the operational state of the turn operation tool during automatic travel. When activated, it temporarily enables the turn operation tool to accept operator inputs for course corrections while maintaining automatic travel mode, thus resolving the contradiction between operational flexibility and system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameter of the turn operation tool from 'disabled' to 'enabled' based on the activation state of the turn operation permission unit. This parameter change allows the system to provide course correction capability during automatic travel without permanently increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the automatic travel mode is interrupted to perform manual course corrections, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity deteriorates due to repeated stopping and mode switching

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The turn operation permission unit creates a dynamic operational state where the turn operation tool becomes responsive to operator inputs during automatic travel without requiring mode interruption. This enables continuous automatic travel with occasional manual course corrections, improving productivity while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous automatic travel operation while allowing intermittent manual course corrections through the turn operation permission unit. This eliminates the need to stop the vehicle or switch modes, ensuring continuous productive operation while preserving operator control when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If the turn operation tool accepts inputs during automatic travel without permission control, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential erroneous operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The turn operation permission unit acts as an intermediary between the operator and the turn operation tool during automatic travel. It mediates by requiring explicit activation before allowing turn inputs, thus preventing erroneous operations while maintaining ease of operation when properly activated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameter of the turn operation tool from 'disabled' to 'enabled' only when the turn operation permission unit is activated. This parameter change ensures that turn operations are accepted only when intentionally permitted, improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation during authorized periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4094556A1Automatic driving method, work vehicle, and automatic driving system
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 YANMAR HLDG CO LTD
  • EP4094556A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4094556A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4094556A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To provide an automatic driving method, a work vehicle, and an automatic driving system, by which it is possible to perform automatic travel with improved operability. [Solution] A combine 1 is a work vehicle executing an automatic travel, based on a preset travel route, and includes a steering wheel 29 being a turn operation tool that accepts a turn operation to instruct turning of the combine 1, a control device 50 that functions as an automatic travel control unit 62 that controls the automatic travel of the combine 1, based on a travel route, and an override button 32 being a turn operation permission unit that permits a turn operation on the steering wheel 29 during execution of the automatic travel. The travel unit 2 does not accept the turn operation under a normal circumstance during execution of the automatic travel but once the override button 32 is operated, accepts the turn operation.