Control method and control system for work machine

1. A method executed by one or more processors in order to control one or more work machines, the method comprising

acquiring movement data including a position of a lead machine, and

controlling the one or more work machines to follow the lead machine based on the movement data,

assessing a state of the lead machine, and

stopping the following by the one or more work machines in response to the state of the lead machine.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

selecting, from a plurality of work machines, the one or more work machines to be moved,

the controlling the one or more work machines including controlling the selected one or more work machines to follow the lead machine.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

selecting one among the plurality of work machines as the lead machine.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

determining an order of travel of the plurality of work machines, and

controlling the one or more work machines to follow the lead machine in accordance with the order of travel.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

acquiring first area data indicative of a position of a first area in a work site,

acquiring second area data indicative of a position of an assigned area to the one or more work machines, the assigned area being included in the first area,

assessing whether the one or more work machines is positioned in the first area, and

when the one or more work machines is positioned in the first area, controlling the one or more work machines to move to the assigned area.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising

controlling the one or more work machines to perform predetermined work in the assigned area.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

acquiring a signal from an external input device operated by an operator, and

remotely controlling the lead machine in response to the signal from the input device.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

acquiring a signal from an external input device operated by an operator, and

remotely controlling the one or more work machines in response to the signal from the input device.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the position data indicates a travel route of the lead machine, and

the controlling the one or more work machines includes controlling the one or more work machines so that the one or more work machines follows the travel route.

10. A control system for controlling one or more work machines, the system comprising

a sensor that detects a position of a lead machine, and

a processor configured to

acquire movement data including the position of the lead machine,

control the one or more work machines to follow the lead machine based on the movement data,

assess a state of the lead machine, and

stop the following by the one or more work machines in response to the state of the lead machine.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein

the processor is configured to

select, from a plurality of work machines, the one or more work machines to be moved, and

control the selected one or more work machines to follow the lead machine.

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein

the processor is configured to select one among the plurality of work machines as the lead machine.

13. The system according to claim 10 , wherein

the processor is configured to

determine an order of travel of the plurality of work machines, and

control the one or more work machines to follow the lead machine in accordance with the order of travel.

14. The system according to claim 10 , wherein

the processor is configured to

acquire first area data indicative of a position of a first area in a work site,

acquire second area data indicative of a position of an assigned area to the one or more work machines, the assigned area being included in the first area,

assess whether the one or more work machines is positioned in the first area, and

when the one or more work machines is positioned in the first area, control the one or more work machines to move to the assigned area.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein

the processor is configured to control the one or more work machines to perform predetermined work in the assigned area.

16. The system according to claim 10 , wherein

the processor is configured to

acquire a signal from an external input device operated by an operator, and

remotely control the lead machine in response to the signal from the input device.

17. The system according to claim 10 , wherein

the processor is configured to

acquire a signal from an external input device operated by an operator, and

remotely control the one or more work machines in response to the signal from the input device.

18. The system according to claim 10 , wherein

the position data indicates a travel route of the lead machine, and

the processor is configured to control the one or more work machines so that the one or more work machines follows the travel route.