Patent Description:
Conventionally, work vehicles capable of automatic travel are known to automatically travel along a target route set in advance only when traveling straight ahead. For example, Patent Document <NUM> discloses a work vehicle including a correction means that corrects a target traveling direction when a gap occurs between an operator's intended direction and the direction recognized by the work vehicle when traveling straight ahead by automatic travel.

Patent Document <NUM>: <CIT>. Document <CIT> relates to a harvester capable of manual traveling by manual operation and an automated traveling involving causing a machine body to follow a preset traveling route. Document <CIT> relates to an agricultural field work vehicle capable of autonomous travel which agricultural field work vehicle travels along a plurality of work travel paths that are parallel to one another and that are connected to one another via turn travel paths. Document <CIT> relates to a harvesting machine that enables automatic driving and manual driving, and to a travel mode switching method.

When the work vehicle is caused to travel while switching between manual travel and automatic travel, the operator performs an operation to switch from the manual travel to the automatic travel, for example. Here, for example, if the target route for the automatic travel is different from the operator's intended route, the operator will have to stop traveling and working on the work vehicle to re-generate the target route or to align the work vehicle. As described above, the conventional art causes a problem of low operability when causing the work vehicle to travel automatically.

An object of the present invention is to provide a travel control method, a travel control system, and a travel control program that can improve operability when causing a work vehicle to travel automatically.

The travel control method according to the present invention is a method of executing steps of causing a work vehicle to travel manually on the basis of a manual travel operation by an operator, generating a target route, which is a route for the work vehicle to travel automatically, when a first operation by the operator to a button of an operation unit is accepted while the work vehicle is traveling manually, and causing the work vehicle to travel automatically along the target route when a second operation by the operator to said button of the operation unit is accepted after the first operation.

The travel control system according to the present invention includes a first travel processing unit, a route-generation processing unit, and a second travel processing unit. The first travel processing unit causes the work vehicle to travel manually on the basis of the operator's manual travel operation. The route-generation processing unit generates a target route, which is a route for the work vehicle to travel automatically, when the operator's first operation to the button of the operation unit is accepted while the work vehicle is traveling manually. The second travel processing unit causes the work vehicle to travel automatically along the target route when the operator's second operation to said button of the operation unit is accepted after the first operation.

The travel control program according to the present invention is a program for causing one or a plurality of processors to execute steps of causing a work vehicle to travel manually on the basis of a manual travel operation by an operator, generating a target route, which is a route for the work vehicle to travel automatically, when a first operation by the operator to the button of the operation unit is accepted while the work vehicle is traveling manually, and causing the work vehicle to travel automatically along the target route when a second operation by the operator to said button of the operation unit is accepted after the first operation.

According to the present invention, a travel control method, a travel control system, and a travel control program which can improve operability when a work vehicle is caused to travel automatically can be provided.

The following embodiments are embodied examples of the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, the travel control system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a work vehicle <NUM>, a base station (not shown), and a satellite (not shown). In this embodiment, a case in which the work vehicle <NUM> is a tractor will be described as an example. As another embodiment, the work vehicle <NUM> may be a rice transplanter, a combine harvester, a construction machine, a snowplow or the like. The work vehicle <NUM> performs a predetermined work (cultivating work, for example) while traveling from a work start position S to a work end position G in a field F (see <FIG>) in response to the operator's operation. Specifically, the work vehicle <NUM> automatically travels on a straight route R1, which is a target route in response to an automatic travel operation by the operator and manually travels on a turning route R2 in response to a manual travel operation (driving operation) by the operator. The work vehicle <NUM> travels in the field F and performs the work, while repeating the automatic travel on the straight route R1 and the manual travel on the turning route R2. Note that the target route is the route that the work vehicle <NUM> travels automatically, and is generated in advance on the basis of the operator's operation. In this embodiment, the straight route R1 corresponds to the target route.

In this embodiment, the case in which the work vehicle <NUM> travels automatically when traveling straight ahead is taken as an example, but the work vehicle <NUM> may also travel automatically when traveling in a turn. When the work vehicle <NUM> travels automatically when turning, the turning route R2 corresponds to the target route. In other words, the work vehicle of the present invention includes a configuration of traveling by switching between a function of automatic travel on the target route and a function of manual travel in response to the operator's manual travel operation.

In the field F shown in <FIG>, for example, the work vehicle <NUM> travels from the work start position S to the work end position G by repeating the straight route R1, the turning route R2, the straight route R1, the turning route R2,. in sequence. Each of the plurality of straight routes R1 is substantially parallel to each other. The travel route including the straight route R1 and the turning route R2 shown in <FIG> is an example, and the travel route is determined as appropriate in accordance with a size of the work vehicle <NUM>, a size of a work machine <NUM>, contents of the work, a shape of the field F and the like.

Note that the travel control system may include an operation terminal (tablet terminal, smartphone and the like) operated by the operator. The operation terminal can communicate with the work vehicle <NUM> via a communication network such as a cellular phone network, a packet line network, a wireless LAN or the like. For example, the operator performs an operation of registering various types of information (work vehicle information, field information, work information and the like) in the operation terminal. In addition, the operator can grasp the travel and work conditions of the work vehicle <NUM> and the like at a distance from the work vehicle <NUM> by a traveling trajectory displayed on the operation terminal.

As shown in <FIG>, the work vehicle <NUM> has a vehicle control device <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, traveling device <NUM>, a work machine <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, a positioning device <NUM>, an operating device <NUM> and the like. The vehicle control device <NUM> is electrically connected to the storage unit <NUM>, the traveling device <NUM>, the work machine <NUM>, the positioning device <NUM>, the operating device <NUM> and the like. Note that the vehicle control device <NUM> and the positioning device <NUM> may be capable of wireless communication. Furthermore, the vehicle control device <NUM> and the operating device <NUM> may be capable of wireless communication.

The communication unit <NUM> is a communication interface for connecting the work vehicle <NUM> to a communication network by wire or wirelessly and for executing data communication in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol with external equipment (operation terminal or the like) via the communication network.

The storage unit <NUM> is a non-volatile storage unit such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD) that stores various types of information. The storage unit <NUM> stores control programs such as travel control program for causing the vehicle control device <NUM> to execute travel control processing which will be described later (see <FIG>). For example, the travel control program is non-transiently recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, such as a CD or a DVD, and is read by a predetermined reading device (not shown) to be stored in the storage unit <NUM>. Note that the travel control program may be downloaded from a server (not shown) to the work vehicle <NUM> via the communication network and stored in the storage unit <NUM>.

The traveling device <NUM> is a driving unit that causes the work vehicle <NUM> to travel. As shown in <FIG>, the traveling device <NUM> includes an engine <NUM>, front wheels <NUM>, rear wheels <NUM>, a transmission <NUM>, a front axle <NUM>, a rear axle <NUM>, a steering wheel <NUM> and the like. Note that the front wheel <NUM> and the rear wheel <NUM> are provided each on the left and right sides of the work vehicle <NUM>. Moreover, the traveling device <NUM> is not limited to a wheel type including the front wheel <NUM> and the rear wheel <NUM> but may also be a crawler type including crawlers provided on the left and right sides of the work vehicle <NUM>.

The engine <NUM> is a drive source such as a diesel engine or a gasoline engine driven by fuel supplied to a fuel tank, not shown. The traveling device <NUM>, together with the engine <NUM> or instead of the engine <NUM>, may include an electric motor as a drive source. Note that, to the engine <NUM>, a generator, not shown, is connected, and the generator supplies power to electric components such as the vehicle control device <NUM> and batteries and the like provided in the work vehicle <NUM>. Note that the battery is charged by the power supplied from the generator. Then, the electric components such as the vehicle control device <NUM>, the positioning device <NUM>, the operating device <NUM> and the like provided on the work vehicle <NUM> can be driven by the electric power supplied from the battery even after the engine <NUM> is stopped.

A driving force of the engine <NUM> is transmitted to the front wheels <NUM> through the transmission <NUM> and the front axle <NUM> and is transmitted to the rear wheels <NUM> via the transmission <NUM> and the rear axle <NUM>. Moreover, the driving force of the engine <NUM> is transmitted also to the work machine <NUM> via a PTO shaft (not shown). The traveling device <NUM> performs travel operations in accordance with instructions of the vehicle control device <NUM>.

The work machine <NUM> is, for example, a cultivator, a seeder, a mower, a plow, a fertilizer applicator or the like, which can be removably attached to the work vehicle <NUM>. As a result, the work vehicle <NUM> can perform various works by using each of the work machines <NUM>. <FIG> shows a case where the work machine <NUM> is a cultivator.

The steering wheel <NUM> is an operation unit operated by the operator or the vehicle control device <NUM>. For example, the traveling device <NUM> changes an angle of the front wheels <NUM> in response to the operation of the steering wheel <NUM> by the vehicle control device <NUM> by a hydraulic power steering mechanism (not shown) or the like and changes an advancing direction of the work vehicle <NUM>.

In addition to the steering wheel <NUM>, the traveling device <NUM> includes a shift lever, an accelerator, a brake and the like, not shown, operated by the vehicle control device <NUM>. Then, the traveling device <NUM> switches a gear of the transmission <NUM> to a forward gear or a backward gear or the like in accordance with the operation of the shift lever by the vehicle control device <NUM> and switches a travel mode of the work vehicle <NUM> to forward, backward or the like. Moreover, the traveling device <NUM> controls a rotation number of the engine <NUM> in response to the operation of the accelerator by the vehicle control device <NUM>. In addition, the traveling device <NUM> uses electromagnetic brakes in response to the braking operation by the vehicle control device <NUM> so as to brake rotation of the front wheels <NUM> and the rear wheels <NUM>.

The positioning device <NUM> is a communication device including a positioning control unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, a positioning antenna <NUM> and the like. For example, the positioning device <NUM> is provided above a cabin <NUM> on which the operator boards, as shown in <FIG>. Moreover, an installation location of the positioning device <NUM> is not limited to the cabin <NUM>. Furthermore, the positioning control unit <NUM>, the storage unit <NUM>, the communication unit <NUM>, and the positioning antenna <NUM> of the positioning device <NUM> may be disposed at different positions in a distributed manner in the work vehicle <NUM>. Note that the battery is connected to the positioning device <NUM> as described above, and the positioning device <NUM> can operate even while the engine <NUM> is stopped. Moreover, a cell phone terminal, a smart phone, a tablet terminal or the like may be substituted for the positioning device <NUM>.

The positioning control unit <NUM> is a computer system including one or a plurality of processors and a storage memory such as a non-volatile memory and a RAM. The storage unit <NUM> is a non-volatile memory or the like that stores positioning control programs for causing the positioning control unit <NUM> to execute the positioning processing as well as data such as positioning information and movement information. For example, the positioning control program is non-transiently recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD or a DVD, which is read by a predetermined reading device (not shown) and is stored in the storage unit <NUM>. Note that the positioning control program may be downloaded from a server (not shown) to the positioning device <NUM> via the communication network and stored in the storage unit <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> is a communication interface for connecting the positioning device <NUM> to the communication network by wire or wirelessly and for executing data communication in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol with external devices such as a base station server via the communication network.

The positioning antenna <NUM> is an antenna which receives radio waves (GNSS signals) transmitted from satellites.

The positioning control unit <NUM> calculates the current position of the work vehicle <NUM> on the basis of the GNSS signals that the positioning antenna <NUM> receives from the satellite. For example, in a case where the work vehicle <NUM> automatically travels in the field F, when the positioning antenna <NUM> receives radio waves (such as transmission time, orbital information and the like) transmitted from each of the multiple satellites, the positioning control unit <NUM> calculates a distance between the positioning antenna <NUM> and each satellite and calculates a current position (latitude and longitude) of the work vehicle <NUM> on the basis of the calculated distance. Alternatively, the positioning control unit <NUM> may perform positioning by a real-time kinematic method (RTK-GPS positioning method (RTK method)) which calculates the current position of the work vehicle <NUM> using correction information corresponding to the base station (reference station) near the work vehicle <NUM>. As described above, the work vehicle <NUM> performs the automatic travel by using the RTK-method based positioning information. Note that the current position of the work vehicle <NUM> may be the same as the positioning position (the position of the positioning antenna <NUM>, for example) or it may be a position deviated from the positioning position.

The operating device <NUM> is a device operated by an operator onboard the work vehicle <NUM> and includes a display unit <NUM> that displays various types of information and an operation unit <NUM> that accepts the operator's operations. For example, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the operating device <NUM> is installed in the vicinity of the steering wheel <NUM> in the cabin <NUM>. Note that the display unit <NUM> and the operation unit <NUM> may be installed at positions different from each other. For example, the operation unit <NUM> may be installed on the steering wheel <NUM>. Alternatively, the display unit <NUM> and the operation unit <NUM> may be constituted by an integrated touch panel. That is, the operation unit <NUM> may be constituted by a physical button whose shape is changed in response to the operator's operation, or it may be constituted by an electronic button image that is displayed on the display unit <NUM>. Alternatively, the operating device <NUM> may be an operation terminal (tablet terminal, smartphone and the like) that can be carried by the operator.

The operation unit <NUM> includes an automatic travel button B1 (see <FIG>), which is pressed down by the operator when the work vehicle <NUM> is to travel automatically. In other words, the automatic travel button B1 has a function as a switch button (automatic travel instruction button) for switching the travel mode of the work vehicle <NUM> from the manual travel (manual travel mode) to the automatic travel (automatic travel mode). The automatic travel button B1 is an example of the operation unit and an operation button of the present invention. A specific operation method of the automatic travel button B1 will be described later.

The vehicle control device <NUM> includes control equipment such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various types of arithmetic processing. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which control programs, such as a BIOS and an OS for causing the CPU to execute the various types of arithmetic processing, are stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile storage unit that stores various types of information and is used as a transient storage memory (work area) for the various types of processing to be executed by the CPU. Further, the vehicle control device <NUM> controls the work vehicle <NUM> by causing the CPU to execute the various types of control programs stored in advance in the ROM or the storage unit <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the vehicle control device <NUM> includes various processing units such as a travel processing unit <NUM>, an acceptance processing unit <NUM>, a route-generation processing unit <NUM>, a display processing unit <NUM>, a position-adjustment processing unit <NUM> and the like. The travel processing unit <NUM> is an example of a first travel processing unit and a second travel processing unit of the present invention. The route-generation processing unit <NUM> is an example of a route-generation processing unit of the present invention. Note that the vehicle control device <NUM> functions as a the various processing units by executing various types of processing in accordance with the travel control program by the CPU. Further, a part or all of the processing units may be configured by electronic circuits. Note that the travel control programs may be programs that cause the plurality of processors to function as the processing units.

The travel processing unit <NUM> controls travel of the work vehicle <NUM>. Specifically, when the travel mode of the work vehicle <NUM> is the manual travel, the travel processing unit <NUM> causes the work vehicle <NUM> to travel manually on the basis of the operator's operation (manual travel operation). For example, when the travel processing unit <NUM> acquires operation information corresponding to manual travel operations (driving operations) such as a steering wheel operation, a shift operation, an accelerator operation, a braking operation and the like by the operator, it causes the traveling device <NUM> to execute a travel operation on the basis of the operation information.

Moreover, when the travel mode of the work vehicle <NUM> is the automatic travel, the travel processing unit <NUM> causes the work vehicle <NUM> to travel automatically on the basis of position information (positioning information) indicating a current position of the work vehicle <NUM> that is positioned by the positioning control unit <NUM>. For example, when the work vehicle <NUM> satisfies an automatic-travel start condition and acquires an automatic-travel start instruction from the operator, the travel processing unit <NUM> starts the automatic travel of the work vehicle <NUM> on the basis of the positioning information. Moreover, the travel processing unit <NUM> causes the work vehicle <NUM> to travel automatically along a pre-generated target route.

Here, specific examples of the automatic travel according to this embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. In this embodiment, in the field F shown in <FIG>, the work vehicle <NUM> is caused to travel automatically on the straight route R1 among the travel routes. First, the operator sets the reference line L1 for generating the straight route R1, which is the target route. For example, at an arbitrary position in the field F (at an outer edge, for example), the operator causes the work vehicle <NUM> to travel manually in a direction (target direction) in which he or she wants the work vehicle <NUM> to travel and to work. Specifically, the operator manually travels the work vehicle <NUM> in the direction parallel to the working direction (a cultivating direction, for example) when the work vehicle <NUM> is working in a work area. Then, the operator operates (selects) the operation unit <NUM> twice at an arbitrary position when the work vehicle <NUM> is caused to travel manually in the intended target direction. The vehicle control device <NUM> registers the relevant operation position (point A) by the operator's first selection operation, and registers the relevant operation position (point B) by the operator's second selection operation. When the vehicle control device <NUM> acquires the position information of the point A and the point B, it sets a straight line passing the point A and the point B as the reference line L1 (see <FIG>). The vehicle control device <NUM> registers the reference line L1 in the storage unit <NUM>. The registration processing of the reference line L1 is executed in advance before the work vehicle <NUM> starts working. After the reference line L1 is registered, the work vehicle <NUM> starts working in the field F.

For example, when the work vehicle <NUM> is caused to travel straight ahead in the field F, the operator operates the operation unit <NUM> so as to switch the travel mode from the manual travel to the automatic travel. When the travel mode is switched to the automatic travel, the vehicle control device <NUM> (route-generation processing unit <NUM>) generates a target route (straight route R1) in parallel to the reference line L1 on the basis of the current position P1 of the work vehicle <NUM> (see <FIG>). For example, the route-generation processing unit <NUM> generates a route (straight route R1) that passes through the current position P1 and connects an automatic-travel start position Sa corresponding to the point A on a straight line in parallel to the reference line L1 and an automatic-travel end position Gb corresponding to the point B as the target route.

Then, when the work vehicle <NUM> satisfies the automatic-travel start condition and acquires an automatic-travel start instruction from the operator, the travel processing unit <NUM> causes the work vehicle <NUM> to start automatic travel along the straight route R1. Note that the automatic-travel start condition includes such conditions that the current position P1 of the work vehicle <NUM> substantially coincides (including complete coincidence) with the automatic-travel start position Sa, an azimuth of the work vehicle <NUM> is within a predetermined azimuth and the like. As a result, the work vehicle <NUM> automatically travels along the straight route R1 (see <FIG>) from the automatic-travel start position Sa to the automatic-travel end position Gb.

Moreover, when the work vehicle <NUM> reaches the automatic-travel end position Gb, the travel processing unit <NUM> switches the travel mode to the manual travel. When the travel mode is switched to the manual travel, the operator causes the work vehicle <NUM> to travel manually by the manual travel operation on the turning route R2, for example (see <FIG>).

As described above, the travel processing unit <NUM> switches the travel mode in response to the operator's operation, causes the work vehicle <NUM> to travel automatically along the straight route R1 and to travel manually along the turning route R2.

Here, the acceptance processing unit <NUM> accepts an operation to switch the travel mode by the operator. Specifically, the acceptance processing unit <NUM> accepts the operation to switch the travel mode from the manual travel to the automatic travel via the operation of the operation unit <NUM> (automatic travel button B <NUM>) by the operator.

Next, the specific operating method of the automatic travel button B1 will be explained with reference to <FIG> show examples of a specific configuration and display screens of the operating device <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the display processing unit <NUM> causes information indicating whether the automatic travel is possible or not to be displayed on the display unit <NUM>. For example, if the work vehicle <NUM> satisfies the automatic-travel start condition, the display processing unit <NUM> causes a message indicating that the automatic travel is possible to be displayed on the display unit <NUM> (see <FIG>).

When the work vehicle <NUM> satisfies the automatic-travel start condition, the acceptance processing unit <NUM> enables acceptance of the automatic travel button B1. For example, as shown in <FIG>, when the operator presses down (selects) the automatic travel button B1 (AUTO button) with a finger, the acceptance processing unit <NUM> accepts the operation (selection operation). The operation of pressing down the automatic travel button B1 (selection operation) is an example of the first operation of the present invention.

When the acceptance processing unit <NUM> accepts the selection operation of the automatic travel button B1, the route-generation processing unit <NUM> generates, as a target route, a route (straight route R1 in <FIG>) that passes through the current position P1 of the work vehicle <NUM> at the time the selection operation was accepted and that is parallel to the reference line L1 set in advance. In other words, the operation in which the operator presses down the automatic travel button B1 corresponds to a route-generation instruction operation (an example of the first operation of the present invention), and when the operator presses down the automatic travel button B1, the acceptance processing unit <NUM> accepts the route generation instruction. Moreover, the display processing unit <NUM> causes the target route generated by the route-generation processing unit <NUM> to be displayed on the display unit <NUM> (see <FIG>). Note that the display processing unit <NUM> may display the reference line L1 along with the target route on the display screen shown in <FIG>.

Specifically, the position-adjustment processing unit <NUM> sets a control center position (current position P1) of the work vehicle <NUM> to a position shifted by a predetermined set distance from the positioning position P0, which is the position of the positioning control unit <NUM> or the positioning antenna <NUM>. The operator can set the control center position (current position P1) at an arbitrary position by setting the set distance. For example, the current position P1 is set to a front side of the work vehicle <NUM> from the positioning position P0. Alternatively, the current position P1 may be set to a rear side of the work vehicle <NUM> from the positioning position P0 (a position of the work machine <NUM>, for example), or it may be set to a position shifted in a left/right direction from the center position in the left/right direction. Alternatively, the current position P1 may be set to the front side in the advancing direction from a vehicle body of the work vehicle <NUM>. Alternatively, the current position P1 may be the same as the positioning position P0.

The route-generation processing unit <NUM> generates a target route with the current position P1 (control center position) of the work vehicle <NUM> set by the position-adjustment processing unit <NUM> as a reference. As shown in <FIG>, the target route is generated on the basis of the position shifted from the positioning position P0 of the work vehicle <NUM> by a predetermined set distance. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the route-generation processing unit <NUM> generates the target route on the basis of the current position P1 set to the front side of the work vehicle <NUM> from the positioning position P0 as the reference. Moreover, for example, as shown in <FIG>, the route-generation processing unit <NUM> generates the target route on the basis of the current position P1 set to the rear side of the work vehicle <NUM> from the positioning position P0 (the position of the work machine <NUM>, for example) as the reference.

By generating the target route for the work vehicle <NUM> on the basis of the position (current position P1) shifted to an arbitrary position from the positioning position P0, the operator can cause the work vehicle <NUM> to travel automatically with the arbitrary position as the reference. For example, by generating the target route for the work vehicle <NUM> on the basis of the current position P1 shifted to the front side from the positioning position P0 (see <FIG>), the operator can cause the work vehicle <NUM> to travel automatically with the position of a hood on the front of the work vehicle <NUM> as the reference, for example. Moreover, by generating the target route for the work vehicle <NUM> on the basis of the current position P1 shifted to the rear side from the positioning position P0 (see <FIG>), the operator can cause the work vehicle <NUM> to travel automatically with the position of the work machine <NUM> as the reference, for example.

Furthermore, in order to prevent malfunctions due to chattering of the automatic travel button B1, the acceptance processing unit <NUM> may accept the operation (route-generation instruction operation) when a certain period of time (<NUM> seconds, for example) has elapsed in a state where the automatic travel button B1 is pressed down.

If the operator presses down the automatic travel button B1 with his/her finger and then, the operator releases the finger from the automatic travel button B1 before a predetermined time (<NUM> seconds, for example) has elapsed (within the predetermined time) since he/she pressed down the automatic travel button B1 with the finger (see <FIG>), the acceptance processing unit <NUM> accepts the operation (release operation). The operation of releasing the automatic travel button B1 before the predetermined time has elapsed after pressing down the automatic travel button B1 (release operation) is an example of the second operation of the present invention.

When the acceptance processing unit <NUM> accepts the release operation of the automatic travel button B1, the travel processing unit <NUM> causes the work vehicle <NUM> to start the automatic travel along the target route (straight route R1) (see <FIG>). In other words, the operation in which the operator releases the automatic travel button B1 before the predetermined time has elapsed corresponds to an automatic-travel start operation (or a travel-mode switching operation) (an example of the second operation of the present invention), and when the operator releases the automatic travel button B1 before the predetermined time elapses, the acceptance processing unit <NUM> accepts the automatic-travel start instruction, and the travel processing unit <NUM> switches the travel mode from the manual travel to the automatic travel and has the automatic travel started along the target route. Moreover, the display processing unit <NUM> causes a message indicating that the automatic travel is to be started and the advancing direction of the work vehicle <NUM> to be displayed on the display unit <NUM> (see <FIG>). As described above, the vehicle control device <NUM> switches the work vehicle <NUM> from the manual travel to the automatic travel when the automatic-travel start operation is accepted after the route-generation instruction operation. In addition, the vehicle control device <NUM> switches the work vehicle <NUM> from the manual travel to the automatic travel when the automatic-travel start operation is accepted before the predetermined time has elapsed since the route-generation instruction operation was accepted.

Here, if a predetermined time (<NUM> seconds, for example) has elapsed in a state where the operator presses down the automatic travel button B1 with his/her finger (see <FIG>), that is, if the operator does not release the finger from the automatic travel button B1 until the predetermined time has elapsed since he/she pressed down the automatic travel button B1 with the finger, the acceptance processing unit <NUM> accepts the operation (holding-on operation). When the acceptance processing unit <NUM> accepts the holding-on operation of the automatic travel button B1, the route-generation processing unit <NUM> discards the generated target route (straight route R1) (see <FIG>). In other words, the operation of maintaining the state in which the operator presses down the automatic travel button B1 until the predetermined time has elapsed corresponds to a cancellation operation of cancelling the generated target route, and if the operator maintains the state in which the automatic travel button B1 is pressed down until the predetermined time has elapsed, the acceptance processing unit <NUM> accepts a cancellation instruction of the target route, and the route-generation processing unit <NUM> discards (cancels) the generated target route. Moreover, the display processing unit <NUM> causes a message indicating that the generated target route was discarded to be displayed on the display unit <NUM> (see <FIG>). In this case, the travel processing unit <NUM> maintains the manual travel of the work vehicle <NUM>. As described above, if the vehicle control device <NUM> does not accept the automatic-travel start operation until the predetermined time has elapsed since the route-generation instruction operation was accepted, it maintains the manual travel of the work vehicle <NUM>. Moreover, if the vehicle control device <NUM> does not accept the automatic-travel start operation until the predetermined time has elapsed since accepting the route-generation instruction operation was accepted, it discards the generated target route.

With the above operations, for example, when the operator wants the work vehicle <NUM> to travel automatically, the operator can generate and confirm the target route by pressing down the automatic travel button B1 (route-generation instruction operation). And if the generated target route is the intended route, the operator can then perform an operation of releasing the automatic travel button B1 before the predetermined time elapses (automatic-travel start operation) to cause the work vehicle <NUM> to start the automatic travel along the target route.

Moreover, if the generated target route is not the intended route, the operator can discard the target route by continuously pressing down the automatic travel button B1 for a predetermined period of time (cancellation operation), change the position of the work vehicle <NUM> and then, perform the operation of pressing down the automatic travel button B1 again (route-generation instruction operation) so that the target route can be generated again. Thus, the operator can reliably generate the intended target route and cause the work vehicle <NUM> to travel automatically along the intended target route.

While the work vehicle <NUM> is traveling (manual travel or automatic travel), the display processing unit <NUM> may display information such as the target route, a travel trajectory and the like on the display unit <NUM>.

[Travel Control Processing] Hereinafter, with reference to <FIG>, an example of the travel control processing executed by the vehicle control device <NUM> will be described. Note that the present invention may also be understood as an invention of a travel control method in which the vehicle control device <NUM> executes a part or the whole of the travel control processing or an invention of a travel control program for causing the vehicle control device <NUM> to execute a part or the whole of the travel control method. Moreover, one or a plurality of processors may execute the travel control processing.

First, at Step S1, the vehicle control device <NUM> starts the engine <NUM> of the work vehicle <NUM> in response to the engine start operation by the operator. When the engine <NUM> is started, the positioning control unit <NUM> executes azimuth recognition processing (initialization).

Next, at Step S2, the vehicle control device <NUM> determines whether the manual travel operation (driving operation) by the operator has been accepted. For example, the operator performs the steering wheel operation, the shift operation, the accelerator operation, the brake operation and the like in order to move the work vehicle <NUM> to the work start position S. If the vehicle control device <NUM> accepts the manual travel operation (S2: Yes), the processing proceeds to Step S3.

At Step S3, the vehicle control device <NUM> causes the work vehicle <NUM> to travel manually on the basis of the manual travel operation by the operator. Specifically, the vehicle control device <NUM> causes the traveling device <NUM> to execute the travel operation when it acquires operation information of the manual travel operation by the operator.

Next, at Step S4, the vehicle control device <NUM> determines whether the work vehicle <NUM> is ready for the automatic travel or not. For example, if such conditions for starting the automatic travel are satisfied that the current position P1 of the work vehicle <NUM> and the automatic-travel start position Sa substantially coincide (see <FIG>), that the azimuth of the work vehicle <NUM> is within a predetermined azimuth and the like, the vehicle control device <NUM> determines that the work vehicle <NUM> is ready for the automatic travel. If the work vehicle <NUM> is ready for the automatic travel (S4: Yes), the processing proceeds to Step S5. On the other hand, If the work vehicle <NUM> is not ready for the automatic travel (S4: No), the processing proceeds to Step S12. While the work vehicle <NUM> is not ready for the automatic travel, the vehicle control device <NUM> repeats the manual travel in response to the operator's manual travel operation until the work is completed (S12: No).

Moreover, if the work vehicle <NUM> is ready for the automatic travel (S4: Yes), the vehicle control device <NUM> causes a message indicating that the automatic travel is possible to be displayed on the display unit <NUM> (see <FIG>). As a result, the operator can recognize that the work vehicle <NUM> is ready for the automatic travel.

At Step S5, the vehicle control device <NUM> determines whether the automatic travel button B1 was pressed down or not. For example, when the operator determines that he/she wants the work vehicle <NUM> to travel automatically, he/she presses down the automatic travel button B1 included in the operation unit <NUM> of the operating device <NUM> with a finger (see <FIG>). If the automatic travel button B1 is pressed down (S5: Yes), the processing proceeds to Step S6. On the other hand, if the automatic travel button B1 is not pressed down (S5: No), the processing proceeds to Step S12.

At Step S6, the vehicle control device <NUM> generates a target route, which is the route on which the work vehicle <NUM> travels automatically. Specifically, when the automatic travel button B1 is pressed down, the vehicle control device <NUM> accepts the route-generation instruction and generates a route passing through the current position P1 of the work vehicle <NUM> at the time the automatic travel button B1 was pressed down and parallel to the reference line L1 set in advance (straight route R1 in <FIG>) as the target route. Note that the vehicle control device <NUM> may set the current position P1 (control center position) at the positioning position P0, which is the position of the positioning control unit <NUM> or the positioning antenna <NUM> or may set the current position P1 at a position shifted by a predetermined distance in any of the front/back or left/right directions from the positioning position P0.

Next, at Step S7, the vehicle control device <NUM> causes the generated target route to be displayed on the display unit <NUM> (<FIG>). As a result, the operator can recognize the route on which the work vehicle <NUM> can travel automatically. And the operator can easily determine whether the generated target route is the route intended by himself/herself or not.

Next, at Steps S8 and S9, the vehicle control device <NUM> determines whether the automatic travel button B1 was released (cancelled) or not before a predetermined time (<NUM> seconds, for example) has elapsed since the automatic travel button B1 was pressed down. Specifically, if the operator releases the finger from the automatic travel button B1 before <NUM> seconds have elapsed since the operator pressed down the automatic travel button B1 (S8: No and S9: Yes), the processing proceeds to Step S10 (see <FIG>). On the other hand, if <NUM> seconds have elapsed in the state where the operator holds on the automatic travel button B1 with the finger (S8: Yes), the processing proceeds to Step S81 (see <FIG>).

For example, if the operator determines that the generated target route is the route intended by himself/herself, he/she releases the finger from the automatic travel button B1 within less than <NUM> seconds after pressing down the automatic travel button B1 (see <FIG>). On the other hand, if the operator determines that the generated target route is not the route intended by himself/herself, he/she maintains the pressing-down state of the automatic travel button B1 until <NUM> seconds have elapsed (see <FIG>).

At Step S81, the vehicle control device <NUM> discards the generated target route (see <FIG>). Specifically, when <NUM> seconds have elapsed since the operator pressed down the automatic travel button B1 with the finger, the vehicle control device <NUM> accepts the cancellation instruction of the target route and discards (cancels) the generated target route. Moreover, the vehicle control device <NUM> causes a message indicating that the generated target route was discarded to be displayed on the display unit <NUM> (see <FIG>). After Step S81, the processing proceeds to Step S12. In this case, for example, the vehicle control device <NUM> continues the manual travel and regenerates the target route on the basis of another route-generation instruction by the operator.

At Step S10, the vehicle control device <NUM> causes the work vehicle <NUM> to travel automatically along the generated target route. Specifically, if the operator releases the finger from the automatic travel button B1 before <NUM> seconds have elapsed since the operator pressed down the automatic travel button B1 with the finger, the vehicle control device <NUM> accepts the automatic-travel start instruction and switches the travel mode from the manual travel to the automatic travel and starts the automatic travel. For example, the vehicle control device <NUM> causes the work vehicle <NUM> to travel automatically on the straight route R1 (see <FIG>) from the automatic-travel start position Sa to the automatic-travel end position Gb. Moreover, the vehicle control device <NUM> causes a message indicating that the automatic travel is to be started to be displayed on the display unit <NUM> (see <FIG>). As a result, the operator can recognize that the work vehicle <NUM> has started the automatic travel. After Step S10, the processing proceeds to Step S11.

At step S11, the vehicle control device <NUM> determines whether the work vehicle <NUM> has ended the automatic travel of the target route or not. For example, when the work vehicle <NUM> reaches the automatic-travel end position Gb (see <FIG>) of the straight route R1, the vehicle control device <NUM> determines that the work vehicle <NUM> has ended the automatic travel on the target route. When the work vehicle <NUM> ends the automatic travel on the target route (S11: Yes), the processing proceeds to Step S12. On the other hand, if the work vehicle <NUM> has not ended the automatic travel on the target route (S11: No), the processing proceeds to Step S111.

When the work in the field F is ended while the work vehicle <NUM> is automatically traveling on the target route (S111: Yes), the vehicle control device <NUM> ends the travel control processing.

Moreover, at Step S12, the vehicle control device <NUM> determines whether the work vehicle <NUM> has ended the work or not. When the work vehicle <NUM> has ended the work (S12: Yes), the vehicle control device <NUM> ends the travel control processing. On the other hand, if the work vehicle <NUM> has not ended the work (S12: No), the processing returns to Step S3, and the vehicle control device <NUM> repeats the processing described above.

As described above, the vehicle control device <NUM> executes the travel control processing for the work vehicle <NUM>.

As described above, regarding the work vehicle <NUM> according to this embodiment, the work vehicle <NUM> is caused to travel manually on the basis of the operator's manual travel operation, and when the work vehicle <NUM> accepts the operator's first operation (route-generation instruction operation) to the operation unit <NUM> while the work vehicle <NUM> is traveling manually, the target route, which is a route for the automatic travel of the work vehicle <NUM>, is generated, and when the operator's second operation (automatic-travel start operation) to the operation unit <NUM> is accepted after the first operation, the work vehicle <NUM> is caused to travel automatically along the target route.

According to the above configuration, a target route for the automatic travel is generated by the operator performing the first operation. As a result, the operator can generate the intended target route. Moreover, the operator can cause the work vehicle <NUM> to travel automatically along the target route by executing the second operation following the first operation. As described above, the operator can confirm the target route before starting the automatic travel of the work vehicle <NUM> by a simple operation in the operation unit <NUM> and can start the automatic travel after the target route is confirmed. Thus, operability can be improved when the work vehicle <NUM> is caused to travel automatically.

Here, in the case of a configuration in which a target route is generated, and the automatic travel is started in a single session of the operation by the operator, there is a concern that such a problem occurs that the work vehicle <NUM> starts the automatic travel along the target route not intended by the operator. In this regard, since this embodiment is configured such that two steps of operation, that is, separating the operation into the operation of generating the target route (first operation) and the operation of starting the automatic travel (second operation) are required and thus, the aforementioned problem can be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment but may be embodied in the following embodiments. For example, the route-generation processing unit <NUM> may pre-set a target route for the automatic travel. <FIG> shows straight routes Ra to Rd of the pre-set target routes. For example, the straight routes Ra to Rd are generated on the basis of setting information such as the reference line L1, a lateral width, a work width and the like of each of the work vehicle <NUM> and the work machine <NUM>. The route-generation processing unit <NUM> generates, among the straight routes Ra to Rd, the straight route Rc, which is the closest to the current position P1 of the work vehicle <NUM> at the time the automatic travel button B1 is pressed down by the operator as the target route for the automatic travel. In this case, the work vehicle <NUM> automatically travels from the current position P1 toward the straight route Rc, and when it enters the straight route Rc, it automatically travels on the straight route Rc. Moreover, after the work vehicle <NUM> has automatically traveled on the straight route Rc, the route-generation processing unit <NUM> generates the straight route Rd as the next target route.

Moreover, as another embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the route-generation processing unit <NUM> may generate a target route for the automatic travel by moving all the straight routes Ra to Rd so as to overlap the current position P1 of the work vehicle <NUM> at the time the automatic travel button B1 is pressed down. In this case, as shown in <FIG>, the route-generation processing unit <NUM> generates the straight route Rc which overlaps the current position P1 as the target route by moving all the straight routes Ra to Rd in a direction where the amount of movement of the straight routes Ra to Rd is the smallest (to the left in <FIG>). In this case, the work vehicle <NUM> automatically travels on the straight route Rc from the current position P1.

The aforementioned embodiment has such a configuration that an operation in which the operator presses down the single operation unit <NUM> (automatic travel button B1) is accepted as the first operation (route-generation instruction operation) and an operation in which the operator releases (opens) the automatic travel button B1, which was pressed down by the operator, within the predetermined time is accepted as the second operation (automatic-travel start operation). In other words, the first operation and the second operation have operation contents different from each other.

As another embodiment of the present invention, the first operation and the second operation may be identical to each other. For example, a configuration may be such that the first operation in which the operator presses down and then, releases the automatic travel button B1 is accepted as the first operation (route-generation instruction operation) and after that, the second operation in which the operator presses down and then, releases the automatic travel button B1 within the predetermined time is accepted as the second operation (automatic-travel start operation).

Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiment, the operation unit that accepts the first operation (route-generation instruction operation) and the second operation (automatic-travel start operation) is constituted by the single operation unit <NUM> (automatic travel button B <NUM>), but the present invention is not limited to this. As another embodiment, the operating device <NUM> may be configured by including a first operation button that accepts the route-generation instruction operation and a second operation button that accepts the automatic-travel start operation separately. In this case, if the operator presses down the first operation button while the work vehicle <NUM> is traveling manually, the route-generation processing unit <NUM> generates a target route for the automatic travel and then, if the operator presses down the second operation button before the predetermined time elapses, the travel processing unit <NUM> switches from the manual travel to the automatic travel and causes the work vehicle <NUM> to travel automatically along the target route.

Furthermore, the mode of the operation unit <NUM> is not limited to a finger-push type operation tool, but can also be a finger-pull type operation tool, a horizontal-sliding type operation tool or the like.

Claim 1:
A travel control method of executing steps of
causing a work vehicle (<NUM>) to travel manually on the basis of a manual travel operation by an operator,
generating a target route, which is a route for the work vehicle (<NUM>) to travel automatically, when a first operation by the operator to a button of an operation unit (<NUM>) is accepted while the work vehicle (<NUM>) is traveling manually, and
causing the work vehicle (<NUM>) to travel automatically along the target route when a second operation by the operator to said button of the operation unit (<NUM>) is accepted after the first operation.