IP Library Granted Patent US 11,268,259
Granted Patent B2
US 11,268,259 · App. 16/466,416 · Granted Mar 8, 2022

Control system for work vehicle, method for setting trajectory of work implement, and work vehicle

Inventors: Junji Harada (Tokyo, JP); Eiji Ishibashi (Tokyo, JP); Yasuhito Yonezawa (Tokyo, JP); Kazuyuki Kirino (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
E02F3/844E02F9/2041G05D1/0212E02F3/7609
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,268,259
App. No.
16/466,416
Granted
Mar 8, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A work vehicle includes a work implement. A control system for the work vehicle includes an input device and a controller. The controller is configured to communicate with the input device, receive an input signal indicating an input operation by an operator from the input device, acquire vehicle information including a position of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and orientation information of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and determine a target design surface indicating a target trajectory of the work implement based on the vehicle information and the orientation information when the input signal is received.

Claims (98)

1. A control system for a work vehicle including a work implement, the control system comprising:

an input device; and

a controller configured to

acquire information regarding an actual surface of a work site and a final design surface,

communicate with the input device,

set a normal mode or an alternative mode in response to an operation by an operator,

in the normal mode, generate an intermediate design surface as a target design surface, the intermediate design surface being located between the actual surface and the final design surface,

in the alternative mode,

receive an input signal indicating an input operation by an operator from the input device,

acquire vehicle information including a position of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and orientation information of the work vehicle when the input signal is received,

determine a simplified design surface as the target design surface, the simplified design surface indicating a target trajectory of the work implement based on the vehicle information and the orientation information, and

issue a command signal to automatically control the work implement to move along the target design surface while the work vehicle moves in a traveling direction.

2. The control system for a work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller further is configured to determine, as the target design surface, a plane passing through the position of the work vehicle and extending in the traveling direction of the work vehicle when the input signal is received.

3. The control system for a work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the work implement includes a tip, and

the position of the work vehicle is a position of the tip.

4. The control system for a work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the work vehicle includes a vehicle body to which the work implement is attached, and

the position of the work vehicle is a position of a predetermined portion of the vehicle body.

5. The control system for a work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle information includes an inclination angle of the work vehicle in a longitudinal direction of the work vehicle with respect to a horizontal direction, and

the controller is further configured to determine, as the target design surface, a plane

passing through the position of the work vehicle and extending in the traveling direction of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and

having a longitudinal gradient equal to the inclination angle in the longitudinal direction.

6. The control system for a work vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein

the work vehicle includes a vehicle body to which the work implement is attached, and

the inclination angle of the work vehicle in the longitudinal direction is a pitch angle of the vehicle body.

7. The control system for a work vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein

the inclination angle of the work vehicle in the longitudinal direction is a lift angle of the work implement.

8. The control system for a work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle information includes an inclination angle of the work vehicle in a left-right direction of the work vehicle with respect to a horizontal direction, and

the controller is further configured to determine, as the target design surface, a plane

passing through the position of the work vehicle and extending in the traveling direction of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and

having a cross gradient equal to the inclination angle in the left-right direction.

9. The control system for a work vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein

the work vehicle includes a vehicle body to which the work implement is attached, and

the inclination angle of the work vehicle in the left-right direction is a roll angle of the vehicle body.

10. The control system for a work vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein

the inclination angle of the work vehicle in the left-right direction is a tilt angle of the work implement.

11. The control system for a work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is further configured to

receive a setting signal indicating a setting operation by an operator from the input device; and

change at least one of the orientation information and the vehicle information based on the setting signal.

12. A method for setting a target trajectory of a work implement of a work vehicle, the method comprising using a controller to execute:

acquiring information regarding an actual surface of a work site and a final design surface;

setting a normal mode or an alternative mode in response to an operation by an operator;

in when normal mode is set, generating an intermediate design surface as a target design surface, the intermediate design surface being located between the actual surface and the final design surface;

when the alternative mode is set,

receiving an input signal indicating an input operation by the operator;

acquiring vehicle information including a position of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and orientation information of the work vehicle when the input signal is received,

determining a simplified design surface as the target design surface, the simplified design surface indicating a target trajectory of the work implement based on the vehicle information and the orientation information when the input signal is received; and

issuing a command signal to automatically control the work implement to move along the target design surface while the work vehicle moves in a traveling direction.

13. The method for setting a target trajectory of a work implement according to claim 12 , wherein

a plane is determined as the target design surface, the plane passing through the position of the work vehicle and extending in the traveling direction of the work vehicle when the input signal is received.

14. The method for setting a target trajectory of a work implement according to claim 12 , wherein

the vehicle information includes an inclination angle of the work vehicle in a longitudinal direction of the work vehicle with respect to a horizontal direction, and

a plane is determined as the target design surface, the plane

passing through the position of the work vehicle and extending in the traveling direction of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and

having a longitudinal gradient equal to the inclination angle in the longitudinal direction.

15. The method for setting a target trajectory of a work implement according to claim 12 , wherein

the vehicle information includes an inclination angle of the work vehicle in a left-right direction of the work vehicle with respect to a horizontal direction, and

a plane is determined as the target design surface, the plane

passing through the position of the work vehicle and extending in the traveling direction of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and

having a cross gradient equal to the inclination angle in the left-right direction.

16. The method for setting a target trajectory of a work implement according to claim 12 , the method further comprising using the controller to execute:

receiving a setting signal indicating a setting operation by an operator; and

determining the target design surface by changing, based on the setting signal, at least one of the orientation information and the vehicle information when the input signal is received.

17. A work vehicle comprising:

a work implement;

an input device; and

a controller configured to

acquire information regarding an actual surface of a work site and a final design surface,

set a normal mode or an alternative mode in response to an operation by an operator,

in the normal mode, generate an intermediate design surface as a target design surface, the intermediate design surface being located between the actual surface and the final design surface,

in the alternative mode,

receive an input signal indicating an input operation by the operator from the input device,

acquire vehicle information including a position of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and orientation information of the work vehicle when the input signal is received,

determine a simplified design surface as the target design surface, the simplified design surface indicating a target trajectory of the work implement based on the vehicle information and the orientation information when the input signal is received, and

automatically control the work implement to move along the target design surface by issuing a command signal while the work vehicle moves in a traveling direction.

18. The work vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein

the controller is further configured to determine, as the target design surface, a plane passing through the position of the work vehicle and extending in the traveling direction of the work vehicle when the input signal is received.

19. The work vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein

the vehicle information includes an inclination angle of the work vehicle in a longitudinal direction of the work vehicle with respect to a horizontal direction, and

the controller is configured to determine, as the target design surface, a plane

passing through the position of the work vehicle and extending in the traveling direction of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and

having a longitudinal gradient equal to the inclination angle in the longitudinal direction.

20. The work vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein

the vehicle information includes an inclination angle of the work vehicle in a left-right direction of the work vehicle with respect to a horizontal direction, and

the controller is further configured to determine, as the target design surface, a plane

passing through the position of the work vehicle and extending in the traveling direction of the work vehicle when receiving the input signal, and

having a cross gradient equal to the inclination angle in the left-right direction.

21. The work vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein

the controller is further configured to

receive a setting signal indicating a setting operation by an operator from the input device; and

determine the target design surface by changing, based on the setting signal, at least one of the orientation information and the vehicle information when the input signal is received.

22. The work vehicle according to claim 17 , further comprising:

a control valve arranged to receive the command signal from the controller and control a hydraulic pressure supplied to the work implement.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2019
From: HARADA, JUNJI; ISHIBASHI, EIJI; YONEZAWA, YASUHITO; KIRINO, KAZUYUKI
To: KOMATSU LTD.
Reel/Frame 049361/0157 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2017-067148 · Mar 30, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200071909A1 · Mar 5, 2020
Cited By (2)
US 12,234,621 US 12,467,227