Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a work vehicle specification change system,
10 a work vehicle specification change method, and a work vehicle specification change
program for changing a specification of an in-vehicle device of a work vehicle.
Background Art
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a backhoe that uses left and right control levers
15 to operate hydraulically actuated equipment such as a turning hydraulic motor, a
boom hydraulic cylinder, an arm hydraulic cylinder, and a bucket hydraulic cylinder.
The control levers can be operated in the left-right direction and the front-rear
direction, and one of the pieces of the hydraulically actuated equipment can be
operated by operating one of the control levers in one of the operating directions.
20 The correspondence between each of the operating directions of the control levers and
each of the pieces of the hydraulically actuated equipment is determined by an
operation pattern. A plurality of operation patterns are provided in advance, and
which hydraulically actuated equipment is to be assigned to each of the operating
directions can be determined by selecting one operation pattern from the plurality of
25 operation patterns. The selection (an example of a specification change) of the
operation pattern is performed via an operation pattern switching switch operated
by the user.
[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a control specification change system for
changing a control specification of a vehicle. In response to a driver operating an
30 operation unit of the vehicle in order to instruct to change a control specification, the
control specification change system causes specification changing data to be
transmitted from a server, using a portable terminal of the driver serving as a relay
device. A specification change processing unit of the control specification change
system changes the control specification of the vehicle, using the transmitted
35 specification changing data.
[0004] Patent Documents 3 discloses a technique by which the ability of a driver is
objectively measured, and a user interface that is installed in a vehicle is customized
according to the ability of the driver.
3
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0005] Patent Document 1: JP 2004-270368A
5 Patent Document 2: JP 2016-000570A
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent No. 5794309
Disclosure of the Invention
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
10 [0006] In the case of the backhoe disclosed in Patent Document 1, as a result of the
operator operating the operation pattern switching switch, a pattern instruction
signal is output, and a controller selects one operation pattern from the operation
patterns accordingly. Based on the selected operation pattern, drive signals are
generated according to operation signals from the left and right swinging control
15 levers. The drive signals are supplied to solenoid valves for the corresponding pieces
of hydraulic equipment. With this configuration, the operator has to go through a
process of trial and error before obtaining the desired relationship between the
swinging direction (operating direction) of each of the control levers and the
corresponding hydraulic equipment, unless the operator understands the operation
20 patterns assigned to the switch positions of the operation pattern switching switch.
The relationship between the swinging direction of each of the control levers and the
corresponding hydraulic equipment is simply changed according to the preset
patterns by operating the operation pattern switching switch. The relationship
between the swinging direction of each of the control levers and each of the pieces of
25 hydraulic equipment cannot be set freely, and it is difficult to make a change to
achieve an operation feeling that matches a personal impression perceived by the
operator.
[0007] In the case of the control specification change system disclosed in Patent
Document 2, the driver uses the portable terminal to send a specification change
30 command to a remotely located server, as a result of which the specification changing
data generated by the server is downloaded to a control device of the vehicle, and the
specification of the vehicle is changed. The driver merely sends the specification
change command to the server, and the server will not be informed of the content of
the specification change that the driver desires. Therefore, it is difficult to change
35 the specification of the vehicle so as to match a feeling of the driver.
[0008] In the case of the vehicle interface change system disclosed in Patent
Documents 3, the control system of the vehicle objectively measures the driver's
ability, and the vehicle interface is changed based on the objective measured value.
4
Therefore, the change does not necessarily reflect the driver's own request.
[0009] In view of the foregoing circumstances, an object of the present invention is
to change a specification of a work vehicle so as to match a feeling of the driver as
closely as possible.
5
Means for Solving Problem
[0010] A work vehicle specification change system according to an embodiment of
the present invention includes: an information input unit configured to receive a
specification change request in a free text format for changing a specification of an
10 in-vehicle device of a work vehicle, the specification change request being sent from
an operation device on which an input operation is performed by a user driving the
work vehicle; a specification update information generation unit configured to
generate specification update information, based on the specification change request;
and an information output unit configured to transmit the specification update
15 information to the work vehicle.
[0011] With this configuration, if a driver of the work vehicle has a sense of
incongruity with the traveling state or the work state, the driver uses the operation
device to create a specification change request described in a free text format that
includes either or both of the sense of incongruity and a proposal for eliminating the
20 sense of incongruity, and the operation device sends the specification change request
to the information input unit of the work vehicle specification change system. The
specification change request described in a free text format may include ambiguous
terms or phrases, undetermined terms or phrases, colloquial terms or phrases,
dialects, and so forth. Based on the specification change request in a free text format
25 received by the information input unit, the work vehicle specification change system
generates specification update information for eliminating the driver's sense of
incongruity with the traveling state or the work state, and sends the specification
update information to the work vehicle. On the work vehicle side, the specification
of the work vehicle is changed based on the specification update information. The
30 operation device may be an operation device on which the user can selectively
perform a formatted input operation. For example, the user may input an
impression or a request regarding the behavior or the operability of the vehicle by
selecting a formatted item. Then, the operation device creates a specification
change request described in a free text format from the input result. As long as the
35 specification change request that is finally sent to the information input unit is
described in a free text format, the mode of operation in which the user inputs the
proposal is not limited. The content of the specification change request may be
simply a list of results of formatted input, or may be a sentence in a free text format
5
such as a sentence of colloquial words (a sentence that is input in an unformatted
form). Since the specification change request created by the operation device based
on an input operation performed by the driver (user) is in a free text format, the
specification change request may be expressed using, for example, a list of words, a
5 colloquial language, sensuous terms or phrases or, and the like, or may be the input
content itself regardless of whether the content is input in a formatted form or an
unformatted form. Therefore, a sense of incongruity felt during working travel, or
a proposal for eliminating the sense of incongruity is expressed with straightforward
words of the driver. Accordingly, the work vehicle after specification change can
10 perform working travel that does not cause a sense of incongruity.
[0012] The work vehicle is subject to design limitations imposed taking into a safety
factor into considerations, and specification change that exceeds the limitations is
prohibited. In addition, the work vehicle may travel on a public road, and must obey
prohibitions prescribed by the national and local governments. Therefore, the
15 specification change limitation needs to be set based on such limitations and
prohibitions, and the specification change limitation needs to be taken into account
when generating specification update information. For this reason, in a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the work vehicle specification change system
further includes a specification change limitation management unit configured to
20 manage a specification change limitation indicating limitation on specification
change of the in-vehicle device, wherein the specification update information
generation unit is configured to generate the specification update information, using
the specification change limitation as a limitation. Since the laws and regulations
prescribed by the local or national governments can be revised at any time as needed,
25 it is preferable that each of the prohibitions based on laws and regulations is
automatically updated and managed for each country or each region.
[0013] In order to generate specification update information from a specification
change request in a free text format, it is necessary to accurately understand a sense
of incongruity with the traveling state or the work state and a proposal for
30 eliminating the sense of incongruity that are included in the specification change
request. In particular, if when the driver has created a specification change request
using a colloquial language rather than accurate technical terms or phrases (words
described in an instruction manual or specification data), the specification change
request that has been sent needs to be converted into an appropriate specification
35 change request that uses accurate technical terms or phrases, in order to generate
an appropriate specification update information. As a result of the driver's sense of
incongruity with working travel being read from the appropriate specification change
request, specification change feature data for eliminating the sense of incongruity is
6
created. The specification change feature data is data for deriving a specification
update parameter group that is a collection of control data necessary for updating the
specification of a work vehicle that is to be subjected to specification update. The
specification update parameter group includes, for example, data for changing a
5 conversion table for converting an operation input into a control output, and data for
changing interfaces of various pieces of equipment installed in the work vehicle.
[0014] One configuration for generating the specification update information from
the specification change request in a free text format is a configuration in which the
ability of an expert who is proficient in specification change is utilized. That is, the
10 ability of such an expert is best suited for an operation of reading the specification
change request, understanding the meanings of the described terms or phrases, and
creating the specification change feature data. The reason for this is that the expert
can compare commonly used terms or phrases (including a colloquial language and
easily confused terms or phrases) with accurate technical terms or phrases, express
15 the specification change request with accurate technical terms or phrases, and find a
specification change example including the terms or phrases read out from the
specification change request. For this reason, in a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the work vehicle specification change system further includes a
specification change request processing unit configured to create specification change
20 feature data, using a feature term or a phrase selected from the specification change
request by an expert, wherein the specification update information generation unit
is configured to generate the specification update information, based on the
specification change feature data.
[0015] When a comparison dictionary in which general terms or phrases and
25 accurate technical terms or phrases are compared, and a collection of specification
change examples in which many specification change examples linked to technical
terms or phrases are collected have been compiled into a database, anyone other than
an expert who is particularly proficient in specification change of the work vehicle
can generate the specification update information from the specification change
30 request in a free text format. For this reason, in a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the work vehicle specification change system further includes a
term or a phrase database including a request term or phrase used in the
specification change request and the feature terms or phrase used in the specification
change feature data that are associated with each other, wherein the feature is
35 selected from the specification change request with reference to the term or phrase
database.
[0016] Another configuration for generating the specification update information
from the specification change request in a free text format is an automated
7
configuration that uses artificial intelligence technology such as a machine learning
model, with substantially no manual operation required. For this reason, in a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the work vehicle specification change
system further includes a specification change request processing unit configured to
5 generate specification change feature data from the specification change request,
wherein the specification update information generation unit is configured to
generate the specification update information, based on the specification change
feature data.
[0017] A specification change request using technical terms or phrases is generated,
10 for example, by analyzing the content of a specification change request in a free text
format, using a text analysis technique or a natural language processing technique,
extracting important terms or phrases, and replacing the extracted important terms
or phrases with technical terms or phrases. With the use of the specification change
request using technical terms or phrases, it is possible to generate appropriate
15 specification change feature data. For this reason, in a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the specification change request processing unit includes a natural
language processing module that has been machine-learned to output the
specification change feature data in response to the specification change request
being input. At this time, it is further convenient to use a relation extraction
20 technique for extracting relations between important terms or phrases for the
machine learning model.
[0018] Furthermore, when the specification change feature data that is output by
the specification change request processing unit is configured to be suitable for input
data of a machine learning model that uses a neural network such as deep learning,
25 it is possible to output the specification update parameter directly from the
specification change feature data. For this reason, in a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the specification update information generation unit includes a
specification update parameter generation module that has been machine-learned to
output a specification update parameter serving as the specification update
30 information in response to the specification change feature data being input.
[0019] In the case where the specification change request that is sent from the driver
of the work vehicle includes specification change of operations of various pieces of
control equipment installed in a tractor, specification change (mode change) of
interfaces of the pieces of control equipment, and the like, changeable portion of
35 specifications are diversified. Therefore, changeable portion of specifications need
to be classified for management in order to generate specification update information
from the specification change request in a prompt and accurate manner. For this
reason, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the work vehicle
8
specification change system further includes a specification information management
unit configured to manage segmented specification data obtained by segmenting the
changeable portion of specification of the in-vehicle device, wherein the segmented
specification data of the in-vehicle device that is to be subjected to specification
5 update is used to generate the specification change feature data.
[0020] The specification desired by a user who is a driver of the work vehicle may
frequently change depending on the work content, or the state of the mind at any
given time. To put it conversely, the same specification is desired for the same work
content, or the same state of mind. Therefore, it is also possible to statistically
10 estimate the content of the current specification change from the content of the
specification change of the same user in the past. For this reason, in a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the work vehicle specification change system
further includes a specification update history database configured to store a
specification update history of the user, wherein the specification update history of
15 the user that has been extracted from the specification update history database is
used to generate the specification change feature data.
[0021] When the specification update information that is sent to the work vehicle an
update program for executing specification update, the specification of the in-vehicle
device of the work vehicle is changed promptly. The update program can be
20 generated once a specification update parameter (specification update parameter
group) necessary for specification update has been obtained. For this reason, in a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the specification update information
generation unit is configured to: based on the specification change feature data,
generate a specification update parameter group for defining a specification update;
25 and generate, from the specification update parameter group, an update program for
changing the specification of the in-vehicle device as the specification update
information.
[0022] Movement of the operation tool operated by the operation of the user changes
the operation of each operating equipment installed in the work vehicle. The
30 relationship between the movement of the operation tool and the operation of the
operating equipment affects an operation feeling of the driver, and therefore one
object of specification change is to change the relationship. It is convenient for the
specification change to create an operation pattern suited to the driver's preference,
an operation pattern defined for each work, and an operation pattern defined for each
35 country or each region. For this reason, in a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the in-vehicle device includes an operation tool configured to be operated
by a user, and an equipment operation device including an equipment control unit
configured to, based on an operation signal generated through operation of the
9
operation tool, generate a control signal for controlling equipment of the work vehicle,
and the operation of the operation tool and the control signal generated by the
equipment control unit are associated with each other by an operation pattern, and
the operation pattern is changeable with the specification update information.
5 [0023] The overall cost of the work vehicle specification change system is reduced
when the work vehicle specification change system is used by a large number of work
vehicles. For this reason, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is
preferable that the specification update information generation unit is constructed in
a cloud computing system capable of data communication with either or both of a
10 control unit of the work vehicle and a portable terminal of the user.
[0024] The present invention is intended not only for a work vehicle specification
change system, but also for a work vehicle specification change method used in a
work vehicle specification change system. A work vehicle specification change
method according to the present invention includes: an information input step of
15 receiving a specification change request in a free text format for changing a
specification of an in-vehicle device of a work vehicle, the specification change request
being sent from an operation device on which an input operation is performed by a
user driving the work vehicle; a specification update information generation step of
generating specification update information, based on the specification change
20 request in a free text format; and an information output step of transmitting the
specification update information to the work vehicle. The operation and effects, as
well as exemplary embodiments of the work vehicle specification change system
described above are also applicable to the work vehicle specification change method
according to the present invention.
25 [0025] The present invention is intended not only for a work vehicle specification
change system, but also for a work vehicle specification change program. A work
vehicle specification change program according to the present invention is configured
to cause a computer to execute: an information input step of receiving a specification
change request in a free text format for changing a specification of an in-vehicle
30 device of a work vehicle, the specification change request being sent from an
operation device on which an input operation is performed by a user driving the work
vehicle; a specification update information generation step of generating specification
update information, based on the specification change request in a free text format;
and an information output step of transmitting the specification update information
35 to the work vehicle. The operation and effects, as well as exemplary embodiments
of the work vehicle specification change system described above are also applicable
to the work vehicle specification change program according to the present invention.
10
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of a work vehicle
specification change system.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a tractor as an example of a work vehicle whose
5 specification can be changed by the work vehicle specification change system.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an armrest operation device including a
multifunctional operation tool installed in the tractor.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing functional units relating to
specification change of the tractor.
10 FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing functional units relating to
specification change that are constructed in a work vehicle specification change
management computer.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of data until specification
update information is generated from a specification change request.
15 FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a work vehicle specification change
system using a smartphone.
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing an alternative embodiment of
the work vehicle specification change system.
20 Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the work
vehicle specification change system according to the present invention. A driver
feeling a sense of incongruity with the traveling state or the work state of a work
vehicle WV operates an operation device MD, whereby a specification change request
25 in a free text format for changing a specification of an in-vehicle device VD of the
work vehicle WV is created. The specification change request in a free text format
is a specification change instruction created based on a sense of incongruity felt by
the driver during working travel of the work vehicle WV. For example, the
specification change request described in a free text format includes details, including,
30 for example, operating characteristics of the work vehicle WV such as "the response
of the turning operation is slow", "the acceleration of the vehicle body is poor", "the
maximum number of revolutions of the engine needs to be reduced", and "the
maximum vehicle speed needs to be reduced", characteristics of a work device such
as "the elevation control sensitivity of the work device need to be reduced",
35 notification specifications such as "to change the condition for generating a warning
display (e.g., advancing a warning timing for fuel exhaustion, and advancing a
warning timing for DPF reproduction)", UI (user interface) and HMI (human
interface) design matters such as "the display on a meter panel is difficult to view",
11
and "the size of characters on a touch panel is small", the relationship between an
operation member or an operation input and an actuator such as "a work unit needs
to be lifted and lowered by operating a control lever to swing in a longitudinal
direction", and improvement requests from the driver such as "the engine sound is
5 too loud".
[0028] The specification change request is transmitted from the operation device MD
via a data communication network to an information input unit 50a of a work vehicle
specification change management computer 100 in which the work vehicle
specification change system is constructed. The specification change request
10 received by the information input unit 50a is supplied to a specification update
information generation unit 52. The specification update information generation
unit 52 generates specification update information, based on the specification change
request. The specification update information is information (program) for
changing specifications a specific control system of the work vehicle WV so as to
15 satisfy the driver's request indicated in the specification change request. However,
this specification change is limited due to, for example, design limitations imposed
taking a safety factor into account, and prohibitions prescribed by the national and
local governments. Such a limitation that limits the specification change of the work
vehicle WV is managed by a specification change limitation management unit 55.
20 Accordingly, the specification update information generation unit 52 takes the
specification change limitation into account when generating the specification update
information. The specification update information generated by the specification
update information generation unit 52 is transmitted to the control system of the
work vehicle WV from an information output unit 50b via a data communication
25 network. The control system of the work vehicle WV performs specification update
based on the received specification update information.
[0029] The embodiment of the work vehicle specification change system described
above will be described below in detail.

CLAIMS
1. A work vehicle specification change system comprising:
an information input unit configured to receive a specification change request
5 in a free text format for changing a specification of an in-vehicle device of a work
vehicle, the specification change request being sent from an operation device on which
an input operation is performed by a user driving the work vehicle;
a specification update information generation unit configured to generate
specification update information, based on the specification change request; and
10 an information output unit configured to transmit the specification update
information to the work vehicle.
2. The work vehicle specification change system according to claim 1, further
comprising
15 a specification change limitation management unit configured to manage a
specification change limitation indicating limitation on specification change of the invehicle device,
wherein the specification update information generation unit is configured to
generate the specification update information, using the specification change
20 limitation as a limitation.
3. The work vehicle specification change system according to claim 1 or 2,
further comprising
a specification change request processing unit configured to create
25 specification change feature data, using a feature term or phrase selected from the
specification change request by an expert,
wherein the specification update information generation unit is configured to
generate the specification update information, based on the specification change
feature data.
30
4. The work vehicle specification change system according to claim 3, further
comprising:
a term or phrase database including a request term or phrase used in the
specification change request and the feature term or phrase used in the specification
35 change feature data that are associated with each other,
wherein the feature term or phrase is selected from the specification change
request with reference to the term or phrase database.
5. The work vehicle specification change system according to claim 1 or 2,
40 further comprising:
a specification change request processing unit configured to generate
specification change feature data from the specification change request,
wherein the specification update information generation unit is configured to
generate the specification update information based on the specification change
45 feature data.
6. The work vehicle specification change system according to claim 5,
23
wherein the specification change request processing unit includes a natural
language processing module that has been machine-learned to output the
specification change feature data in response to the specification change request
being input.
5
7. The work vehicle specification change system according to claim 5 or 6,
wherein the specification update information generation unit includes a
specification update parameter generation module that has been machine-learned to
output a specification update parameter serving as the specification update
10 information in response to the specification change feature data being input.
8. The work vehicle specification change system according to claim 7, further
comprising:
a specification information management unit configured to manage
15 segmented specification data obtained by segmenting a changeable portion of the
specification of the in-vehicle device,
wherein the segmented specification data of the in-vehicle device that is to be
subjected to specification update is used to generate the specification change feature
data.
20
9. The work vehicle specification change system according to claim 7 or 8,
further comprising:
a specification update history database configured to store a specification
update history of the user,
25 wherein the specification update history of the user that has been extracted
from the specification update history database is used to generate the specification
change feature data.
10. The work vehicle specification change system according to any one of claims
30 5 to 9,
wherein the specification update information generation unit is configured
to: based on the specification change feature data, generate a specification update
parameter group for defining a specification update; and generate, from the
specification update parameter group, an update program for changing the
35 specification of the in-vehicle device as the specification update information.
11. The work vehicle specification change system according to any one of claims
1 to 10,
wherein the in-vehicle device includes:
40 an operation tool configured to be operated by a user, and
an equipment operation device including an equipment control unit
configured to, based on an operation signal generated through operation of the
operation tool, generate a control signal for controlling equipment of the work vehicle,
and
45 the operation of the operation tool and the control signal generated by the
equipment control unit are associated with each other by an operation pattern, and
the operation pattern is changeable with the specification update information.
24
12. The work vehicle specification change system according to any one of claims
1 to 11,
wherein the specification update information generation unit is constructed
5 in a cloud computing system capable of data communication with either or both of a
control unit of the work vehicle and a portable terminal of the user.
13. A work vehicle specification change method comprising:
an information input step of receiving a specification change request in a free
10 text format for changing a specification of an in-vehicle device of a work vehicle, the
specification change request being sent from an operation device on which an input
operation is performed by a user driving the work vehicle;
a specification update information generation step of generating specification
update information, based on the specification change request in a free text format;
15 and
an information output step of transmitting the specification update
information to the work vehicle.
14. A work vehicle specification change program configured to cause a computer
20 to execute:
an information input step of receiving a specification change request in a free
text format for changing a specification of an in-vehicle device of a work vehicle, the
specification change request being sent from an operation device on which an input
operation is performed by a user driving the work vehicle;
25 a specification update information generation step of generating specification
update information, based on the specification change request in a free text format;
and
an information output step of transmitting the specification update
information to the work vehicle.