JP7529538B2 - Task map creation system, task map generation method, and task map generation program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a work map creation system, a work map generation method, and a work map generation program for creating a work map used in field work.

A related technology is a system that creates a spraying plan for a field (see, for example, Patent Document 1). When one piece of field identification information is selected from multiple pieces of field identification information displayed in the field selection section, the related technology system creates a work map (spraying information) that includes the amount of spraying for each area of the field corresponding to the selected field identification information (selected field). One function of this type of system is to create a work map based on an agricultural map such as a yield map.

Specifically, in the related technology, a field showing a farmland is divided into multiple areas, a mesh-type yield map is displayed in which harvest data is assigned to each area, and a spray input section for inputting the amount of spraying for each area is displayed on the same screen as the yield map. This allows the user to create a work map while looking at the yield map. Alternatively, in the related technology, the amount of spraying for each area is automatically set in correspondence with the data for each area in the agricultural map. For example, if the agricultural map is a growth map, the amount of spraying material (fertilizer, pesticide, etc.) for each area is set to be large in correspondence with the data value, so that if the data value for each area is small, i.e., if crop growth is delayed, crop growth will progress.

JP 2019-187377 A

In the configuration of the related technology described above, when one field is selected, a work map (spraying information) for that one field is created. Therefore, when creating work maps for multiple fields, the user must repeat the procedure, including selecting the field and creating the work map, for each field, which can become a significant burden when there are a large number of fields.

The object of the present invention is to provide a work map creation system, a work map generation method, and a work map generation program that can reduce the burden on users involved in creating work maps.

A work map creation system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a designation unit and a creation processing unit. The designation unit is capable of designating two or more fields as target fields. The creation processing unit creates work maps corresponding to each of the two or more fields designated as the target fields in a batch, the work maps having a plurality of sections, each of which has a work index set according to mapping conditions.

A method for generating a work map according to another aspect of the present invention includes accepting the designation of two or more fields as target fields, and simultaneously creating work maps for the two or more fields designated as the target fields, each of which has a plurality of plots for which a work index is set according to mapping conditions, and which correspond to each of the two or more fields.

A work map generation program according to another aspect of the present invention is a program for causing one or more processors to execute the following operations: accepting the designation of two or more fields as target fields; and collectively creating work maps for the two or more fields designated as the target fields, the work maps having multiple plots, each of which has a work index set according to mapping conditions, and corresponding to each of the two or more fields.

The present invention provides a work map creation system, a work map generation method, and a work map generation program that can reduce the burden on users involved in creating work maps.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a task map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of transferring information from the work map creation system according to the first embodiment to a work machine. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a task map used in the task map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of screen transitions in the work map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a result list screen of the task map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a field setting screen of the work map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a priority setting screen of the task map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a parameter setting screen of the work map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a reference screen of the task map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a main part of a parameter setting screen of the work map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a result confirmation screen of the task map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processes related to the creation process of the work map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processes related to the calculation-related processes of the work map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processes related to the restriction-related process of the task map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a result comparison screen of the task map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a result correction screen of the work map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a result correction screen of the work map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of an output screen of the work map creation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a result comparison screen of a work map creation system according to a modified example of the first embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the system configuration of a task map creation system according to the second embodiment.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiment is an example of the present invention and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1)
[1] Overall configuration As shown in Fig. 1, the work map creation system 10 according to this embodiment includes a management server 2 and a user terminal 3. The work map creation system 10 creates a work map M1 (see Fig. 3) to be used for work in a field F1 (see Fig. 2). In this embodiment, as an example, the work map M1 is a "fertilization map" to be used for fertilizer spreading work (i.e., fertilization work) in the field F1. Such a work map M1 is a type of work support information D1 (see Fig. 2) to be used for spreading work (including fertilization work) in the field F1. Therefore, the work map creation system 10 according to this embodiment is an example of a work support information creation system that creates work support information D1.

The work map M1 (work support information D1) created by the work map creation system 10 is output from the work map creation system 10 in a format that can be input to the work machine 4, for example, and is used by the work machine 4. In this disclosure, the "work machine" refers to various work machines that move in the field F1, and examples of such work machines include work vehicles such as rice transplanters, tractors, spreaders, sprayers, sowing machines, transplanters, and combines. In other words, the work machine includes work vehicles. The work machine 4 is not limited to "vehicles" such as rice transplanters and tractors, but may be, for example, work flying objects such as drones or multicopters for fertilization or pesticide spraying. Furthermore, the work machine 4 is not limited to agricultural machinery (farm machinery), but may be, for example, construction machinery (construction machinery), etc. In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, an example will be described in which the work machine 4 is a riding type rice transplanter that can perform at least the work of spreading "fertilizer" as a spreading material, that is, fertilization work, as a work.

In addition, the "field" in this disclosure refers to a work area in which the work machine 4 moves and performs various tasks such as fertilization, pesticide spraying, sowing, planting (rice planting), or harvesting, and includes rice fields, fields, orchards, pastures, etc. in which agricultural products are grown. In this case, the crops grown in the field F1 are agricultural products. Furthermore, when plants are grown in a tree field, the tree field becomes the field F1, and when trees that will become lumber are grown in a forest, such as in forestry, the forest becomes the field F1. In this case, the crops grown in the field F1 are plants or trees, etc. Such a field F1 is a specific place in real space (a space that actually exists), and therefore the position, shape, size, etc. are expressed, for example, by an address on a map, or latitude and longitude, etc. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the work target area in real space in which the work machine 4 moves and performs various tasks is the field F1, but the work target area may be something other than the field F1. For example, if the work machine 4 is a construction machine, the work site where the construction machine performs work is the work target area. In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, a case will be described in which the field F1 is an outdoor rice field.

In addition, it is not essential that the work map M1 (work support information D1) created by the work map creation system 10 is used by the work machine 4. In other words, the work supported by the work map M1 created by the work map creation system 10 may be work related to the cultivation of crops in the field F1, and is not limited to work performed by the work machine 4. For example, the work map M1 created by the work map creation system 10 may be used for work performed by a person at multiple positions in the field F1, such as work performed by a person while moving around the field F1. An example of this type of work is spraying work (including fertilization work) in which a person sprays fertilizer or chemicals (pesticides). Such spraying work and other work may be performed by the work machine 4, but may also be performed by a person. Even when a person performs work such as spraying, the amount of spraying material (fertilizer or chemicals, etc.) can be adjusted by referring to the work map M1. However, in this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, a case will be described in which the work map M1 (work support information D1) used by the work machine 4 is created by the work map creation system 10.

In this embodiment, the work machine 4 that uses the work map M1 (work support information D1) created by the work map creation system 10 is not included in the components of the work map creation system 10, but the work machine 4 may be included in the components of the work map creation system 10. Also, in this embodiment, the user terminal 3 is included in the components of the work map creation system 10, but it is not essential that the user terminal 3 be included in the components of the work map creation system 10. In other words, the work map creation system 10 may or may not include at least one of the work machine 4 and the user terminal 3 as components. If the work map creation system 10 does not include both the work machine 4 and the user terminal 3 as components, the work map creation system 10 will only include the management server 2 as a component.

The management server 2 and the user terminal 3 can communicate with each other. In this disclosure, "communicable" means that information can be exchanged directly or indirectly via a communication network N1 or a repeater, etc., by an appropriate communication method such as wired communication or wireless communication (communication using radio waves or light as a medium). The management server 2 and the user terminal 3 can communicate with each other, for example, via the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a public telephone line, a mobile phone line network, a packet line network, or a wireless LAN. The communication means between the management server 2 and the user terminal 3 is not limited to the above example, and can be realized by an appropriate communication means. In addition, it is not a necessary configuration for the task map creation system 10 that the management server 2 and the user terminal 3 can communicate with each other. For example, even if there is no communication function between the management server 2 and the user terminal 3, information can be exchanged offline by recording information on a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium in the management server 2 and reading the information from the recording medium in the user terminal 3.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, as an example, the exchange of information between the user terminal 3 and the work machine 4 is performed offline, not by communication. In other words, the user terminal 3 records information on a computer-readable non-transient recording medium, and the work machine 4 reads the information from the recording medium, thereby enabling the exchange of information offline. Specifically, the data output unit 36 of the user terminal 3, which will be described later, writes the work support information D1 (including the work map M1) to a portable recording medium 5 (see FIG. 2) connected to the user terminal 3, and the work machine 4 reads the work support information D1 from the recording medium 5. This makes it possible to input the work map M1 (work support information D1) created by the work map creation system 10 to the work machine 4. In addition, for example, the user terminal 3 and the work machine 4 may be able to communicate with each other, and in this case, the exchange of information between the user terminal 3 and the work machine 4 may be performed by communication.

In this embodiment, the management server 2 has a function that is the core of the work map creation system 10. In other words, the management server 2 has a function to create (generate) the work map M1 (work support information D1). The user terminal 3 is a communication terminal used by the user. For example, the user can access a website of the work support service provided by the management server 2 (as an example, a "work support site") on the user terminal 3 and display a screen (webpage) for creating the work map M1 (work support information D1). There may be one user terminal 3 or multiple user terminals 3.

The number of work machines 4 using the work map M1 (work support information D1) created by the work map creation system 10 may be one or more. When there are multiple work machines 4, these multiple work machines 4 work together to perform, for example, a spraying operation to spray a spray material (fertilizer, chemicals, etc.) in one or more fields F1. Furthermore, the multiple work machines 4 using the work map M1 (work support information D1) may include different types of work machines 4, such as a rice transplanter, a tractor, and a drone.

[2] Work Machine Next, the configuration of the work machine 4 (a riding-type rice transplanter in this embodiment) will be described with reference to FIG.

The work machine 4 has a traveling block 41 that moves within the field F1, and an attachment block 42 that performs work. The traveling block 41 has a power source (engine, motor, etc.), a transmission, a steering device, an operating device, a control device, an actuator, etc. The traveling block 41 is configured to be able to travel within the field F1 using power generated by the power source. The attachment block 42 is connected (including mounted or carried) to the traveling block 41, and performs work such as spreading fertilizer (fertilization) and spraying pesticides (pesticide spraying). The attachment block 42 operates, for example, using power generated by the power source of the traveling block 41.

In this embodiment, as an example, the work machine 4 operates by automatic driving (autonomous driving). Specifically, the control device of the work machine 4 includes a position detection unit that detects the position (latitude and longitude) of the work machine 4 using a satellite positioning system such as GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), and an attitude detection unit that detects the attitude of the work machine 4. As an example, the position detection unit detects the position with relatively high accuracy, such as RKT (Real Time Kinematic) positioning.

The control device of the work machine 4 includes a computer system having one or more processors and one or more storage memories such as a non-volatile memory and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The control device is configured to be connectable to a portable recording medium 5, and by connecting the recording medium 5, it is possible to read out the work support information D1 (including the work map M1) from the recording medium 5. The control device automatically controls the traveling block 41 and the attachment block 42 based on the current position and attitude of the work machine 4 and the work map M1 of the work support information D1. This enables the work machine 4 to perform work while autonomously traveling within the field F1 along the travel route in accordance with the work support information D1.

In particular, in this embodiment, the work machine 4 performs at least the work of spreading fertilizer (fertilization work). Therefore, the work machine 4 can perform the spreading work (fertilization work) according to the work map M1 by performing the spreading work while changing the spreading amount for each position in the field F1 according to the spreading amount of the spreading material (fertilizer) instructed in the work map M1. In other words, if the spreading amount for each position in the field F1 is instructed in the work map M1, the work machine 4 can spread the spreading material (fertilizer) in a distribution according to this instruction. As a result, it becomes possible to automatically perform spreading work while finely adjusting the spreading amount for each position, even within the same field F1.

However, the work machine 4 is not limited to being configured to operate automatically, and may be operated by a human (operator) through operation (including remote operation). In this case, the human operates the work machine 4 according to the work map M1 while looking at the work map M1 displayed on the display of the work machine 4 or the user terminal 3, for example.

[3] Work Map Next, the work map M1 (work support information D1) created by the work map creation system 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

As described above, in this embodiment, the work map M1, which is the product of the work map creation system 10, is a type of work support information D1 used in spraying work. Specifically, the work support information D1 includes the work map M1. The work map M1 has multiple sections K (see FIG. 3) and corresponds to the field F1. A work index indicating the amount of the sprayed material is set for each of the multiple sections K. A work map M1 used in spraying work in this way, in which the amount of the sprayed material is used as the work index for each section K, is also called a "spraying map." In particular, as in this embodiment, a work map M1 used in fertilization work in which fertilizer is sprayed as the sprayed material, and in which the amount of fertilizer sprayed (fertilizer amount) is used as the work index for each section K, is also called a "fertilization map."

In short, the work map M1 as the work support information D1 includes a scattering map in which the amount of the scattering material at each position corresponding to the multiple sections K in the field F1 is the work index. More specifically, the work map M1 includes a fertilization map in which the amount of fertilizer applied at each position corresponding to the multiple sections K in the field F1, that is, the amount of fertilizer applied as the scattering material, is the work index. Here, in this embodiment, as an example, the scattering amount as the work index is described as the amount of scattering material (fertilizer) spread per unit area. In other words, the scattering amount as the work index is not the total amount of scattering material (fertilizer) spread on each section K, but the average amount (average value) of the scattering material in each section K. As an example, if the unit area is "10a" and the amount of scattering material (fertilizer) is expressed in weight (kg), the unit of the scattering amount as the work index is "kg/10a". However, the work index may be any representative value for each section K, and is not limited to an average value such as the amount sprayed per unit area, but may be a representative value such as a total value, median, mode, maximum value, or minimum value for each section K. As an example, the amount sprayed as the work index may be the total amount (total value) of the sprayed material (fertilizer) sprayed on each section K.

More specifically, the multiple plots K in the work map M1 are not set in the field F1 itself, but in the work area A1 (see Figure 3) corresponding to the field F1. The work map M1 is data in which a work index such as a spray amount (fertilizer amount) is assigned to each of the multiple plots K set in the work area A1 in this way. The "work area" in this disclosure is a two-dimensional area set in virtual space corresponding to the field F1, and is used to create the work map M1. In other words, the work area A1 is an area set in virtual space for creating the work map M1, corresponding to the field F1 that exists in real space.

Therefore, in this disclosure, a "section" refers to an individual area in the virtual space after dividing the working area A1 in the virtual space into multiple sections. Each of the multiple sections K is an area of a predetermined shape, such as a square. The work map creation system 10 according to this embodiment creates a work map M1 by setting a working area A1 in the virtual space, setting multiple sections K in the working area A1, and further assigning (associating) a work index (fertilizer amount) to the multiple sections K.

As an example, the work map M1 is created by dividing the entire work area A1 into a number of sections K in a mesh pattern and assigning a work index to each section K, as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the work area A1 divided into a number of sections K. For example, each section K is a square area of 5 m x 5 m in actual size in the corresponding field F1. However, the shape and size of each section K are not particularly limited. On the left side of FIG. 3, coordinate information (section number) of the X coordinate (X axis) and Y coordinate (Y axis) is provided as identification information for each section K.

More specifically, the work map M1 is map data including information such as a corresponding "section number" and "work index" for each section K in the work area A1. The section number is identification information for the section K. As a result, the work index (spray amount) is registered for each section K. Such a work map M1 is visualized in a manner as shown on the right side of FIG. 3, for example, by being displayed on the user terminal 3. In the example of FIG. 3, the work map M1 adopts a manner in which, for example, multi-tone gray shades (grayscale) or each color is associated with the work index. In this example, for each section K, the lighter the color, the smaller the spray amount, and the darker the color, the larger the spray amount. In addition, the greater the number of sections K (number of divisions) in the work area A1, the higher the resolution of the work map M1. Each section K of the work map M1 may or may not display the "numerical value" of the work index.

The work map M1 as described above represents the distribution of work indices in the work area A1, and therefore represents the distribution of the amount of application (fertilizer amount) of the spreading material (fertilizer) in the entire field F1 corresponding to this work area A1. In other words, by carrying out spreading work according to the work map M1, the amount of spreading material in the field F1 can be adjusted for each position corresponding to each section K. This makes it possible to reflect the distribution of work indices in the work map M1 in the distribution of the amount of application (fertilizer amount) of the spreading material (fertilizer) for the actual field F1.

However, the work for which the work map M1 is used is not limited to spraying work (including fertilization work). Therefore, the work map M1 can be generalized as data having multiple sections K, each of which has a work index set, and corresponding to the field F1. Here, the work index is some kind of index (value) related to the work at each position corresponding to each section K in the field F1, such as the amount of resources used in the work, time, labor hours, various settings of the work machine 4, etc. In this embodiment, the work shown in the work map M1 is the spraying of a spray material, so the amount of sprayed material, more specifically the amount of fertilizer applied, i.e., the amount of fertilizer applied, at each position corresponding to each section K in the field becomes the "work index."

[4] Management Server Next, the configuration of the management server 2 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 1. The management server 2 is a server including an information processing unit 1, a data storage unit 21, an operation reception unit 22, and a (server-side) communication unit 23. The management server 2 is not limited to a single computer, and may be a computer system in which multiple computers work together. In addition, various processes executed by the management server 2 may be distributed and executed by multiple processors.

The data storage unit 21 includes a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores various information. The data storage unit 21 stores (memorizes) control programs such as a work map generation program for causing the information processing unit 1 to execute a method for generating a work map M1 described below. The work map generation program is provided, for example, recorded on a computer-readable non-transient recording medium, read from the non-transient recording medium by a reading device of the management server 2, and stored in the data storage unit 21. The work map generation program may be provided (downloaded) to the management server 2 from a server other than the management server 2 via an electric communication line (communication network N1) and stored in the data storage unit 21.

The data storage unit 21 also includes a work support information storage unit 211 and an acquired information storage unit 212. The work support information storage unit 211 stores work support information D1 including the work map M1. In other words, the work support information D1 (including the work map M1) created (generated) by the work map creation system 10 is stored in the work support information storage unit 211. The acquired information storage unit 212 stores various information acquired by the information acquisition unit 13 described below.

The operation reception unit 22 receives user operations. Specifically, since the management server 2 can communicate with the user terminal 3, the operation reception unit 22 indirectly receives user operations by transmitting an operation signal from the user terminal 3 in response to the user's operation on the operation unit 34 of the user terminal 3 described later. In other words, when a user operates the user terminal 3, an operation signal in response to the user's operation is generated in the user terminal 3, and the operation signal is transmitted from the user terminal 3 to the management server 2. Therefore, the operation reception unit 22 can receive user operations by the operation signal received by the management server 2 from the user terminal 3. In addition, the operation reception unit 22 is not limited to user operations on the operation unit 34 of the user terminal 3, and may also receive operations by a user (such as the administrator of the management server 2) on an operation unit other than the user terminal 3. In this case, the operation unit is realized, for example, by a touch panel, a mouse, a keyboard, or the like provided in the management server 2 or associated with the management server 2.

The communication unit 23 is a communication interface having a communication function with an external device such as a user terminal 3. Specifically, the communication unit 23 connects the management server 2 to the communication network N1 by wire or wirelessly, and executes data communication with one or more user terminals 3 etc. via the communication network N1 according to a predetermined communication protocol.

The information processing unit 1 is a computer system having one or more processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and one or more memories such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM, and executes various processes (information processing). The information processing unit 1 has functional units such as a designation unit 11, a creation processing unit 12, an information acquisition unit 13, a reference information designation unit 14, a correction time calculation unit 15, a presentation processing unit 16, a calculation unit 17, and a restriction unit 18. These multiple functional units included in the information processing unit 1 may be distributed across multiple housings, or may be provided in a single housing.

The designation unit 11 executes a designation process to designate the field F1 as the target field. In the present disclosure, the "target field" refers to the field F1 for which the work map M1 is to be created among the fields F1. In other words, the work map creation system 10 creates the work map M1 for the field F1 designated as the target field by the designation unit 11. In the present disclosure, "designation" includes not only arbitrary designation by a person, but also automatic designation, such as when a default value is determined. In this embodiment, the designation of the field F1 as the target field by the designation unit 11 is arbitrary designation by a person, and is particularly performed in response to a user (person) operation on the user terminal 3. Specifically, the designation unit 11 designates one of the fields F1 as the target field in accordance with the user's operation on the user terminal 3 received by the operation reception unit 22.

The creation processing unit 12 executes a creation process to create work support information D1. Since the work support information D1 includes a work map M1, the creation processing unit 12 creates a work map M1 for the field F1 designated as the target field in accordance with the mapping conditions. The "mapping conditions" referred to here are conditions (rules) determined when creating the work map M1, and are, for example, included in the work map generation program and stored in advance in the data storage unit 21. Details will be described later, but examples of the mapping conditions include creating the work map M1 based on the amount of spraying material calculated by the calculation unit 17, and creating the work map M1 based on the reference map M2 (see FIG. 15).

By following these mapping conditions, the creation processing unit 12 is able to automatically create a work map M1. Specifically, the creation processing unit 12 sets a work area A1 corresponding to the target field, divides the entire work area A1 into a plurality of mesh-like sections K according to the mapping conditions, and creates the work map M1 by assigning information such as a "section number" and a "work index" to each section K. The creation processing unit 12 then stores work support information D1 including the created work map M1 in the work support information storage unit 211 of the data storage unit 21.

In this embodiment, the creation processing unit 12 has multiple modes including a new creation mode and a correction mode, and can switch between these modes according to the user's operation. In the new creation mode, the creation processing unit 12 creates new work support information D1 (work map M1) for the field F1 specified as the target field. On the other hand, in the correction mode, the creation processing unit 12 re-creates the work support information D1 by making corrections to the work support information D1 created in the new creation mode. In other words, in this disclosure, the "creation" of the work support information D1 (work map M1) also includes the creation of new work support information D1 (work map M1) by correcting the existing work support information D1 (work map M1). However, in this embodiment, the creation of the work map M1 according to the mapping conditions is executed only in the new creation mode, and in the correction mode, the work map M1 is created according to the user's correction operation.

In short, in this embodiment, the operation reception unit 22 receives a user's modification operation on the work map M1 created by the creation processing unit 12. The creation processing unit 12 modifies the work index according to the modification operation and re-creates the work map M1. As an example, while the work map M1 created by the creation processing unit 12 is displayed on the user terminal 3, the operation reception unit 22 receives a user's modification operation on the work map M1.

More specifically, in this embodiment, the creation processing unit 12 has a condition determination unit 121, a new creation unit 122, and a correction processing unit 123. In other words, the work map creation system 10 according to this embodiment includes a condition determination unit 121, a new creation unit 122, and a correction processing unit 123. The condition determination unit 121 determines the mapping conditions. The new creation unit 122 creates work support information D1 (work map M1) in new creation mode. The correction processing unit 123 creates work support information D1 (work map M1) in correction mode.

Meanwhile, a related technique is to create a work map M1, such as a spray map, corresponding to a field F1, based on an agricultural map, such as a yield map. However, in the configuration of the related technique, when one field F1 is selected, a work map M1 is created for that one field F1. Therefore, when creating work maps M1 for multiple fields F1, the user needs to repeat the procedure, including selecting (specifying) the field F1 and creating the work map M1, for each field F1, which can become a significant burden when there are a large number of fields F1.

In response to this, the work map creation system 10 according to this embodiment is configured as follows to reduce the burden on the user in creating the work map M1.

That is, in this embodiment, the designation unit 11 is configured to be able to designate two or more fields F1 as target fields. In short, the designation unit 11 can designate one field F1 as a target field, and can also designate two or more fields F1, that is, multiple fields F1, as target fields. When two or more fields F1 are designated, the target field includes these two or more fields F1. Then, the creation processing unit 12 creates work maps M1 corresponding to each of the two or more fields F1 designated as target fields in accordance with the mapping conditions in a batch. Each work map M1 has a plurality of sections K, each of which has a work index set. Here, basically, one work map M1 is created for one field F1, so that the same number of work maps M1 as the number of fields F1 designated as target fields are created in a batch. In other words, for example, if two fields F1 are designated as target fields, two work maps M1 are created in bulk, and if five fields F1 are designated as target fields, two work maps M1 are created in bulk.

In this disclosure, "creating in a lump sum" means creating at the same time, or creating in a lump sum even if not at the same time. As an example, when two fields F1 are specified as target fields, if the two fields F1 are specified together and a work map M1 is created for the two fields F1 without re-designating the field F1, the work map M1 is considered to be "created in a lump sum". In contrast, when two or more fields F1 are specified as target fields and a work map M1 is created for each of the fields F1, the work map M1 is not considered to be "created in a lump sum". In short, when the work map M1 is "created in a lump sum", the work map M1 is created for all of the target fields without re-designating the target fields, when two or more fields F1 are specified together as target fields.

According to the above configuration, even when creating a work map M1 for two or more fields F1, it is possible to collectively designate these two or more fields F1 as target fields and create work maps M1 for these two or more fields F1 at once. Therefore, the user does not need to repeat the procedure including selecting (designating) the field F1 and creating the work map M1 for each field F1. As a result, according to the work map creation system 10 of this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user in creating the work map M1. In particular, in recent years, there has been an increase in cases where the same user manages a large number of fields F1, numbering in the tens or even hundreds, and for such users, a significant reduction in the burden of creating the work map M1 can be expected.

The information acquisition unit 13 executes an acquisition process to acquire various information. The information acquisition unit 13 acquires various information from inside the management server 2 or from outside the management server 2. When acquiring information from inside the management server 2, the information acquisition unit 13 acquires, for example, information specified by a user's operation on the user terminal 3, which is accepted by the operation acceptance unit 22, from the operation acceptance unit 22. This allows a person (user) to arbitrarily input information acquired by the information acquisition unit 13. When acquiring information from outside the management server 2, the information acquisition unit 13 acquires information, for example, using communication in the communication unit 23. In this case, the information acquisition unit 13 can quote specific information from a database or the like outside the management server 2. The information acquisition unit 13 stores the acquired various information in the acquired information storage unit 212 of the data storage unit 21.

In more detail, in this embodiment, the information acquisition unit 13 has a reference information acquisition unit 131, a type acquisition unit 132, a specific amount acquisition unit 133, a spray amount acquisition unit 134, and a work method acquisition unit 135. In other words, the work map creation system 10 according to this embodiment has a reference information acquisition unit 131, a type acquisition unit 132, a specific amount acquisition unit 133, a spray amount acquisition unit 134, and a work method acquisition unit 135.

The reference information acquisition unit 131 acquires reference information. The reference information is information that the creation processing unit 12 uses as a reference when creating the work support information D1 (work map M1), and includes, as an example, a reference map M2. In other words, if the mapping condition specifies that the work map M1 is to be created based on the reference map M2, the creation processing unit 12 creates the work map M1 based on the reference map M2 acquired by the reference information acquisition unit 131. In this embodiment, the reference information is acquired from outside the management server 2.

The type acquisition unit 132 acquires type information. The type information is information about the type of material used in the spraying work on the field F1. In this embodiment, the spraying work is fertilization work, and the material to be sprayed includes fertilizer. Therefore, the type information is information about the type of fertilizer. As an example, the type information includes information for identifying the fertilizer, such as the fertilizer name, the content of specific components in the material to be sprayed (fertilizer), and the weight of the material to be sprayed (fertilizer) per bag. In this embodiment, the type information is acquired from inside the management server 2.

The specific amount acquisition unit 133 acquires specific amount information. The specific amount information is information on a specific amount, which is the amount per unit area of the field F1, of a specific component of the sprayed material. The "specific component" here refers to one or more components out of one or more components contained in the sprayed material, and is basically a component that is expected to have an effect on the field F1 as the main component of the sprayed material when sprayed on the field F1. In this embodiment, the sprayed material is fertilizer, so as an example, the specific component includes nitrogen. The amount per unit area of such a specific component (sprayed amount) is the "specific amount," and specific amount information on this specific amount is acquired by the specific amount acquisition unit 133. In this embodiment, the specific amount information is acquired from inside the management server 2.

The spray amount acquisition unit 134 acquires spray amount information. The spray amount information is information on the amount of sprayed material per unit area of the field F1. In this embodiment, the sprayed material is fertilizer, so the spray amount method is information on the amount of fertilizer sprayed per unit area of the field F1, i.e., the fertilizer amount. As an example, the spray amount information includes a standard fertilizer amount. The "standard fertilizer amount" here is the standard amount of fertilizer per unit area specified for a certain field F1. In this embodiment, the spray amount information is acquired from inside the management server 2.

The work method acquisition unit 135 acquires work method information. The work method information is information related to the method of spraying work on the field F1. In this disclosure, the "spraying work method" includes the type of spraying work, the procedure, the time (including the season, etc.), the type of work machine 4 to be used, etc. In this embodiment, the spraying work is fertilization work, so the method of the spraying work includes basal fertilization and top dressing. Therefore, the work method information includes information that specifies whether the spraying work (fertilization work) is "basal fertilization" or "top dressing". Furthermore, "basal fertilization" includes "full layer fertilization" and "side stripe fertilization". In other words, the work method information includes, as an example, information for distinguishing between "basal fertilization" and "top dressing", and in the case of "basal fertilization", information for distinguishing between "full layer fertilization" and "side stripe fertilization". In this embodiment, the work method information is acquired from inside the management server 2.

The reference information designation unit 14 executes a reference information designation process that designates reference information such as a reference map M2 corresponding to the field F1. In other words, if the mapping condition specifies that the work map M1 is to be created based on the reference map M2, the creation processing unit 12 creates the work map M1 based on the reference map M2 designated by the reference information designation unit 14. In this embodiment, the designation of reference information by the reference information designation unit 14 is an arbitrary designation by a person, and in particular, is performed in response to the operation of a user (person) on the user terminal 3. Specifically, the reference information designation unit 14 designates the reference map M2 to be used as reference information in accordance with the user's operation on the user terminal 3, which is accepted by the operation acceptance unit 22.

The calculation unit 15 at the time of correction executes a calculation process at the time of correction to calculate the total amount of resources required for the work in the field F1 based on the corrected work map M1. In this disclosure, the "total amount of resources" means the total amount of specific resources required for the work. In this embodiment, the work in the field F1 in which the work map M1 is used is a spraying work, particularly a fertilization work, so that the "total amount of resources" is, as an example, the total amount of fertilizer, that is, the amount of fertilizer (amount of fertilizer) required for the fertilization work in the entire field F1 corresponding to the work map M1. In short, when the creation processing unit 12 makes a correction in the correction mode for the work support information D1 created in the new creation mode, the total amount of resources required for the work based on the corrected work map M1 changes. The calculation unit 15 at the time of correction recalculates the total amount of resources after the change due to the correction (i.e., after the correction).

The presentation processing unit 16 executes a presentation process that presents various information to the user. In this embodiment, the presentation processing unit 16 is configured to be able to present at least the total resource amount to the user. In other words, when the correction time calculation unit 15 calculates the corrected total resource amount, the presentation processing unit 16 can present this total resource amount to the user.

More specifically, the presentation processing unit 16 has a display processing unit 161. The display processing unit 161 executes processing to display various information including the corrected total resource amount. In this embodiment, the display processing unit 161 generates various screens such as a result list screen P1 (see FIG. 5) and a field setting screen P2 (see FIG. 6), and displays these screens, for example, on the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3. In this disclosure, the "screen" of the result list screen P1, etc. means a video (image) displayed on the display unit, and includes images, figures, photographs, text, videos, etc. Therefore, the information processing unit 1 can display or transmit a work map M1, etc. stored in the data storage unit 21, in response to a user's operation on the operation reception unit 22, for example.

The calculation unit 17 executes a calculation process to calculate the amount of the scattering material to be scattered from the specific amount based on the type information. In other words, the calculation unit 17 calculates the amount of the scattering material to be scattered from the specific amount represented by the specific amount information acquired by the specific amount acquisition unit 133 based on the type information acquired by the type acquisition unit 132. Specifically, the calculation unit 17 uses the content of the specific component in the scattering material (fertilizer) included in the type information to calculate the amount of the entire scattering material to be scattered from the specific amount, which is the amount (scattering amount) of the specific component per unit area.

Incidentally, a related technique is to divide a field showing a farm field F1 into a number of areas, display a mesh-type yield map in which harvest data is assigned to each area, and display a spray input section for inputting the amount of spraying for each area on the same screen as the yield map. This allows the user to create a work map M1 (spraying map) while looking at the yield map. However, in the related technique, when the user inputs the amount of spraying for each area, the weight of the sprayed material is input. Depending on the user, however, it may be necessary to calculate the weight of the sprayed material one by one. As a result, the creation of work support information D1 such as the work map M1 may become a heavy burden. As an example, when the sprayed material is fertilizer, some users may focus on a specific component of the fertilizer for each crop and determine the amount of spraying based on the weight of the specific component. For such users, inputting the amount of spraying is very troublesome, and the creation of work support information D1 may become a heavy burden.

In response to this, the work map creation system 10 (work support information creation system) according to this embodiment has the following configuration, which makes it possible to reduce the burden on users involved in creating work support information D1 for a wide range of users.

That is, in this embodiment, the creation processing unit 12 creates the work support information D1 based on the amount of scattering material calculated by the calculation unit 17. That is, the creation processing unit 12 can create the work support information D1 by using the scattering amount calculated by the calculation unit 17 from the specific amount information acquired by the specific amount acquisition unit 133, without directly using the scattering amount information regarding the amount of scattering material per unit area of the field F1.

According to the above configuration, even if a user focuses on a specific component of the fertilizer for each crop when the sprayed material is fertilizer and determines the amount of spraying based on the weight of the specific component, it is relatively easy to create the work support information D1. In short, such a user can input the "specific amount" which is the amount of the specific component of the fertilizer per unit area of the field F1 instead of the amount of spraying (fertilizer application) of the sprayed material (fertilizer). Therefore, depending on the user, it is possible to input the information required for creating the work support information D1 by inputting the specific amount of the specific component rather than directly inputting the amount of spraying material required for creating the work support information D1. As a result, even if a user focuses on a specific component of the fertilizer and determines the amount of spraying based on the weight of the specific component, for example, there is no need to calculate the weight of the sprayed material one by one, and the burden of creating the work support information D1 such as the work map M1 can be significantly reduced. Therefore, according to the work map creation system 10 (work support information creation system) according to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the burden on users involved in creating the work support information D1 for a wide range of users.

In addition, the limiting unit 18 executes a limiting process to limit the input setting value input for the amount of the scattering material when creating the work support information D1. That is, in this embodiment, the creation processing unit 12 creates the work support information D1 based on the amount of the scattering material, and the input setting value input for this amount of scattering may be limited by the limiting unit 18. The work support information D1 is information that supports the scattering work. The "limit" in this disclosure includes both an active limit that actively limits the input of the input setting value, and a passive limit that passively limits the input of the input setting value. An active limit is realized, for example, by disabling the input of the input setting value, or by prohibiting transition to an option or screen for inputting the input setting value. A passive limit is realized, for example, by displaying a warning message such as "The upper limit is 100 kg/10a" when inputting the input setting value. In this embodiment, the input setting value is limited by limiting at least one of the upper limit, lower limit, and range.

In the configuration of the related technology described above, the amount of spraying for each area is set freely by the user or automatically according to the agricultural map, but an inappropriate amount of spraying may be set depending on the method of spraying. As an example, when the sprayed material is fertilizer, the appropriate amount of spraying varies greatly depending on whether the method of spraying (fertilization method) is base fertilizer or top dressing, and an inappropriate amount of spraying may be set by misjudging the appropriate amount of spraying depending on the method of spraying.

In response to this, the work map creation system 10 (work support information creation system) according to this embodiment makes it easier to appropriately set the amount of material to be scattered by using the following configuration.

In other words, in this embodiment, when creating the work support information D1, the limiting unit 18 limits the input setting value input for the amount of scattering material based on the work method information. In short, when the limiting unit 18 limits the value input for the amount of scattering material (input setting value), the limiting unit 18 performs the limiting based on the work method information acquired by the work method acquisition unit 135. In addition, the timing at which the limiting unit 18 limits the input setting value is when the work support information D1 is created, and therefore can include both when the creation processing unit 12 creates the work map M1 in new creation mode and when the creation processing unit 12 creates the work map M1 in modification mode.

According to the above configuration, the limiting unit 18 can limit the input setting value so that an appropriate amount of spraying depending on the method of spraying can be easily input. For example, when the spraying material is fertilizer, the appropriate amount of spraying varies greatly depending on whether the method of spraying (fertilization method) is base fertilizer or top dressing, so the limiting unit 18 limits the input setting value based on the work method information regarding the method of spraying. As a result, even if the user makes an error in determining the appropriate amount of spraying depending on the method of spraying, the limiting unit 18 limits the input of an incorrect amount of spraying, and as a result, it becomes easier to set an appropriate amount of spraying. Therefore, according to the work map creation system 10 (work support information creation system) according to this embodiment, it becomes easier to set the appropriate amount of spraying material.

The information processing unit 1 functions as the various functional units (processing units) by executing various processes according to the work map generation program using a CPU (Central Processing Unit). At least some of the various functional units in the information processing unit 1 may be configured with electronic circuits. Furthermore, the work map generation program may be a program for causing multiple processors to function as functional units. The operation of each functional unit is described in detail in the section "[6] Method for generating a work map."

[5] User Terminal Next, the configuration of the user terminal 3 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 1. The user terminal 3 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a display unit 33, an operation unit 34, a communication unit 35, and a data output unit 36. The user terminal 3 is, for example, an information processing device (communication terminal) such as a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or a mobile phone.

The storage unit 32 is a non-volatile storage unit such as an HDD, SSD, or flash memory that stores various types of information. For example, a control program such as a browser program is stored in the storage unit 32. Specifically, the browser program is a control program that causes the control unit 31 to execute communication processing with an external device such as the management server 2 according to a communication protocol such as HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). The control program may also be a dedicated application for executing communication processing with the management server 2 according to a predetermined communication protocol.

The display unit 33 is a user interface for outputting (presenting) information to the user, such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display that displays various information. The display unit 33 presents various information to the user by displaying it, for example. In particular, in this embodiment, the user terminal 3 has a browser function, and the display unit 33 can display information such as various web pages.

The operation unit 34 is a user interface for accepting operation input by the user, such as a touch panel, a mouse, or a keyboard. The operation unit 34 accepts various operations by the user, for example, by outputting an electrical signal corresponding to the user's operation. In particular, in this embodiment, the user terminal 3 has a browser function, and the operation unit 34 can accept various operations on a web page displayed on the display unit 33.

The communication unit 35 is a communication interface having a communication function with an external device such as the management server 2. Specifically, the communication unit 35 connects the user terminal 3 to the communication network N1 by wire or wirelessly, and executes data communication with the management server 2 etc. via the communication network N1 according to a predetermined communication protocol.

The data output unit 36 is an interface for outputting data to an external device of the user terminal 3. The data output unit 36 is configured to be able to output at least the work support information D1 (including the work map M1) in a format that can be input to the work machine 4. As an example, the data output unit 36 includes a USB connector for removably connecting a recording medium 5 made of a USB memory, and writes data (such as the work support information D1) to the recording medium 5 when the recording medium 5 is connected.

The control unit 31 is a computer system having one or more processors such as a CPU, and one or more memories such as a ROM and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic processing. The ROM is a non-volatile memory in which control programs such as a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) and an OS (Operating System) for causing the CPU to execute various processes are stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile memory that stores various information, and is used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for various processes executed by the CPU. The control unit 31 controls the user terminal 3 by having the CPU execute various control programs that are stored in advance in the ROM or the memory unit 32.

Specifically, the control unit 31 functions as a browser processing unit 311 by executing various processes according to the browser program stored in the memory unit 32. The browser processing unit 311 is capable of executing browser processing to display a web page provided from the management server 2 via the communication network N1 on the display unit 33 and input operations on the operation unit 34 to the management server 2. In other words, the user terminal 3 can function as an operation terminal (user interface) for the management server 2 by the browser program being executed by the control unit 31.

To explain in more detail, the user terminal 3 starts the following operation when a user operates to make an access request to a specific URL corresponding to the website (work support site) of the work support service provided by the management server 2. That is, when the above operation is performed, the user terminal 3 acquires webpage data of the work support site from the management server 2 using the control unit 31. At this time, for example, when the user issues an instruction to display various screens (result list screen P1, field setting screen P2, etc.) on the work support site displayed on the user terminal 3, the user terminal 3 displays the instructed various screens on the display unit 33. The various screens can be displayed on the user terminal 3 by logging in to the work support site on the user terminal 3.

The operation for requesting access to the above-mentioned specified URL is realized, for example, by the user selecting from a list of preregistered websites, or by text input, etc. Furthermore, if a dedicated application corresponding to the management server 2 is installed on the user terminal 3, the user can perform an operation to launch the dedicated application, which causes a request for access to the specified URL to be made and the work support site to be displayed on the display unit 33.

As long as the user terminal 3 can communicate with the management server 2, the user can use the work support site on the user terminal 3 from anywhere, and can create, check, and output (write to the recording medium 5) work support information D1 (work map M1).

Here, the user who uses the user terminal 3 may or may not be the same person as the operator who operates (drives) the work machine 4. In addition, regarding the user who uses the user terminal 3, for example, a single user may be set for one field F1, such as the owner of the field F1, or multiple users may be set for one field F1. In the latter case, for example, even for one field F1, it is possible to set different users for each task. Furthermore, the user may be either an individual or a corporation, or may be an association (organization) consisting of a collection of multiple individuals or corporations. In addition, one user terminal 3 may be provided for one user, one user terminal may be provided for multiple users, or multiple users may be provided for one user. When one user terminal 3 is provided for multiple users, each of the multiple users can be identified, for example, by a user ID or the like.

4 to 18, an example of a method for generating the work map M1, which is executed mainly by the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2, will be described below. Unless otherwise specified, a fertilization map used for fertilizer spreading work (i.e. fertilization work) in the field F1 will be described below as an example of a product (work map M1) produced by the method for generating the work map M1.

The method for generating the work map M1 according to this embodiment is executed by the information processing unit 1, which is primarily a computer system, and in other words is embodied in a work map generation program. In other words, the work map generation program according to this embodiment is a computer program for causing one or more processors to execute each process related to the method for generating the work map M1. Such a work map generation program may be executed, for example, by the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 and the control unit 31 of the user terminal 3 in cooperation with each other.

Here, the work map creation system 10 executes the various processes described below related to the method of generating the work map M1 when a specific pre-set start operation for executing the work map generation program is performed on the user terminal 3. The start operation includes, for example, connecting the user terminal 3 to the management server 2 (launching application software) and logging in to a work support site involving input of a user ID and password. On the other hand, the work map creation system 10 terminates the various processes described below related to the method of generating the work map M1 when a specific pre-set end operation is performed on the user terminal 3. The end operation includes, for example, logging out and disconnecting the connection between the management server 2 and the user terminal 3.

The method of generating the work map M1 basically involves the display processing unit 161 displaying various screens on the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3. The main screens displayed on the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3 include a result list screen P1, a field setting screen P2, a parameter setting screen P3 (see FIG. 8), a result confirmation screen P4 (see FIG. 11), a result comparison screen P5 (see FIG. 15), a result correction screen P6 (see FIG. 16), and an output screen P7 (see FIG. 18). As an example, in this embodiment, the display processing unit 161 sets the result list screen P1 as the home screen as shown in FIG. 4, and transitions the screen displayed on the display unit 33 to another screen in response to a user operation.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the start operation is performed, the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3 first displays the result list screen P1, which is the home screen. Then, when the new creation button B11 in the result list screen P1 is operated, the result list screen P1 transitions to the field setting screen P2. Also, when the parameter setting button B21 in the field setting screen P2 is operated, the field setting screen P2 transitions to the parameter setting screen P3. On the other hand, when the result confirmation button B12 in the result list screen P1 is operated, the result list screen P1 transitions to the result confirmation screen P4. Also, when the comparison button B41 in the result confirmation screen P4 is operated, the result confirmation screen P4 transitions to the result comparison screen P5. Also, when the correction button B42 in the result confirmation screen P4 is operated, the result confirmation screen P4 transitions to the result correction screen P6. Also, when the output button B13 in the result list screen P1 is operated, the result list screen P1 transitions to the output screen P7. Then, when the write button B71 on the output screen P7 is operated, the work support information D1 (work map M1) is written to the recording medium 5 in a format that can be read by the work machine 4.

"Buttons" on the screen, such as the New button B11, are objects included in the screen displayed on the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3, and operating the button means operating the operation unit 34 of the user terminal 3 to select the button. For example, the user can operate the New button B11 by performing an operation on the operation unit 34, such as placing the cursor on the New button B11 in the result list screen P1 and clicking, or touching the New button B11 in the result list screen P1. Also, in the drawings showing the screens displayed on the display unit 33, such as FIG. 5, the dashed lines, leader lines, and reference symbols representing areas are all added merely for explanatory purposes and are not actually displayed on the display unit 33.

[6.1] Result List Screen First, the result list screen P1, which is the home screen, will be described. The result list screen P1 is a screen that displays a list of simulation results. In this embodiment, the creation of the work map M1 is also called a "simulation." In other words, the result list screen P1 displays, as a simulation result, a list of the work maps M1 created (generated) by the work map M1 generation method. However, in this embodiment, the creation processing unit 12 is capable of creating work maps M1 for two or more fields F1 at once as described above, so two or more work maps M1 corresponding to these two or more fields F1 may be included in one simulation result.

As shown in FIG. 5, the result list screen P1 includes a list display area R11 and an operation area R12. The list display area R11 displays a list of the simulation results, i.e., information about the created work map M1.

Specifically, the list display area R11 displays multiple simulation results arranged vertically (top to bottom) so that each row corresponds to an individual simulation result (work map M1), as an example. The list display area R11 is divided horizontally (left to right) into multiple items, and information about each simulation result is displayed in multiple items. In the example of FIG. 5, from the left, the following items are displayed: selection checkbox, identification number, year, group name, simulation name, fertilization method, total fertilizer amount, implementation date, and status. The selection checkbox is used to select a simulation result when outputting (writing to the recording medium 5) or deleting any of the simulation results. As an example, a crop variety is input as the group name. The status item displays the current status of the simulation results.

In the example of FIG. 5, the status is displayed as text: "calculating", "checking results", or "correcting results". "Calculating" indicates a state in which a simulation calculation for creating the work map M1 is being performed. "Checking results" indicates a state in which the simulation calculation for creating the work map M1 is completed and the work map M1 can be checked as a simulation result. "Correcting results" indicates a state in which the work map M1 has been corrected, that is, the work map M1 has been re-created. Here, states other than "calculating", that is, "checking results" and "correcting results", are also used as objects of the operable result confirmation button B12. In addition, "checking results" is further divided into two states by, for example, the display color of the object (result confirmation button B12), with one color (red as an example) indicating an unconfirmed state and the other color (green as an example) indicating a confirmed state. A slide bar or cursor may be displayed in the list display area R11, and the display contents of the list display area R11 may be scrolled vertically or horizontally.

In the operation area R12, as an example, an input field is displayed for searching the simulation results (work map M1) displayed in the list display area R11 under various search conditions. In addition, in the operation area R12, a plurality of buttons to be operated by the user, such as a new button B11, an output button B13, a search button B14, and a delete button B15, are displayed. Specifically, search conditions such as the year, fertilization method, and implementation date can be input in the input field, and when the search button B14 is operated with these search conditions input, the simulation results that satisfy the search conditions are displayed in the list display area R11. Regarding the implementation date, for example, the start (start of the implementation period) and end (end of the implementation period) of the implementation period can be input so that the implementation period of the simulation can be specified as a search condition. Here, the information processing unit 1 searches the work support information storage unit 211 of the data storage unit 21 for the simulation results to be displayed in the list display area R11. The delete button B15 is a button for deleting the simulation result selected by the check box from among the simulation results displayed in the list display area R11.

[6.2] Designation process Next, the “designation process” for designating the field F1 as the target field for which the work map M1 is to be created will be described. The designation process is executed when the creation processing unit 12 creates a new work map M1 in new creation mode.

In the designation process, the display processing unit 161 displays the field setting screen P2 on the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3. In other words, when the new creation button B11 is operated on the result list screen P1, the designation process starts, and the screen displayed on the display unit 33 transitions from the result list screen P1 to the field setting screen P2.

The field setting screen P2 is a screen for specifying the field F1 as the target field. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the field F1 is specified as the target field from among a plurality of registered fields that are registered in advance in association with a user. There are two methods for registering the registered field: automatic registration, in which the field F1 is automatically identified (extracted) and registered from, for example, the operation information (including the travel route) of the work machine 4, and manual registration, in which the user manually selects and registers the field F1 on a map, etc. In either method, the registration of the registered field is performed by storing information about the field F1 in, for example, the data storage unit 21. Specifically, field identification information for identifying the field F1, such as the field name and address, and information specifying the position, shape, size, etc. of the field F1, such as coordinate information of the outline of the field F1, are stored in the data storage unit 21 as information about the registered fields. The coordinate information is expressed, for example, as latitude and longitude.

Furthermore, the registered fields are stored with work information related to the work carried out in the field F1 as the registered field. The work information includes, for example, the type of work (including sowing, rice planting, fertilization, harvesting, etc.), operation information (including the travel route) of the work machine 4 used in the work, work time, work efficiency (area/work time), fertilizer amount, planting depth, soil characteristics (including soil hardness and hard bed depth, etc.), tillage depth and lift angle. Furthermore, information on the yield (yield) of the crop grown in the field F1 as a result of the work, the taste of the crop (including protein content or water content, etc.), and the growth status of the crop are also stored as work information associated with the registered field. Various performance maps such as a yield map, a taste map, a growth map, a soil map, and a performance fertilization map, which are generated based on this work information, are also stored as work information associated with the registered field.

The yield map is map data in which the yield (average harvest per unit area, etc.) for each area is assigned when the field F1 is divided into multiple areas. The taste map is map data in which the taste, such as protein content or moisture content, for each area is assigned when the field F1 is divided into multiple areas. The growth map is map data in which the growth status of crops for each area is assigned when the field F1 is divided into multiple areas. As an example, the growth status of crops is obtained by photographing the field F1, where crops are planted, from the sky using a drone or the like, and analyzing the photographed image using various vegetation indices, such as NDVI, DVI, RVI, GNDVI, SAVI, TSAVI, CAI, MTCI, REP, PRI, or RSI. In particular, a growth map obtained by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is also called an "NDVI map." The soil map is map data in which soil characteristics including soil hardness and hard bed depth for each area are assigned to each area when the field F1 is divided into multiple areas. The past fertilization map is map data in which fertilization amounts (amounts of fertilizer applied) for each area are assigned to each area when the field F1 is divided into multiple areas, and is map data used in past fertilization work, that is, map data showing the past fertilization work results. In this embodiment, these past maps associated with the field F1 as a registered field are used as a reference map M2, which is an example of reference information.

Furthermore, the work information as described above also includes time information related to the work (for example, start date and time and end date and time). This allows the work information to be stored in a manner that makes it possible to identify when the work was carried out for performance maps such as yield maps, taste maps, and growth maps. For example, it is possible to register yield maps, taste maps, and growth maps, etc. for the same field F1 for each fiscal year.

As shown in FIG. 6, the field setting screen P2 includes a field designation area R21 and an operation area R22. The field designation area R21 displays information for designating a field F1 as a target field. That is, the user selects an arbitrary field F1 from among multiple fields F1 registered as registered fields in the field designation area R21 of the field setting screen P2 displayed on the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3, and designates the field F1 as the target field.

Specifically, the field designation region R21 includes, as an example, an image Im2 such as a map or an aerial photograph for designating the field F1, and a list of the fields F1 designated as target fields. Therefore, the designation unit 11 designates the target field in accordance with a user's operation to designate the field F1 on the image Im2. The image Im2 includes at least one field F1, and the user designates an arbitrary field F1 as the target field by, for example, selecting the arbitrary field F1 on this image Im2 with a cursor or the like.

In the example of FIG. 6, five fields F11 to F15 are displayed in image Im2, and the user has specified all five of these fields F11 to F15 as target fields. Therefore, on the right side of image Im2 in the field designation area R21, "field 6" which is field F11, "field 10" which is field F12, "field 3" which is field F13, "field 4" which is field F14, and "field 8" which is field F15 are displayed side by side. Here, the field setting screen P2 displays the specified target fields lined up vertically (up and down) so that each row corresponds to an individual field F1.

For each target field, information on the designated reference map M2 is displayed side by side. Here, if multiple performance maps are associated with the field F1 designated as the target field, it is possible to switch the performance map designated as the reference map M2 to another performance map. On the other hand, if a reference map M2 is not designated for the field F1 designated as the target field because no performance map is associated with it, the information on the reference map M2 is displayed as "none." In the example of FIG. 6, for "field 6" (field F11) and "field 10" (field F12), the growth map (NDVI map) for June 2019 is designated as the reference map M2. For the other fields F13 to F15, no reference map M2 is designated.

The specific means for designating the field F1 as the target field is not limited to the above example. For example, the user may designate an arbitrary range on the image Im2 using a cursor or the like, and designate the field F1 included in the arbitrary range as the target field. In this case, if the arbitrary range includes multiple fields F1, these multiple fields F1 are designated as the target field collectively. Furthermore, the user may designate the field F1 as the target field by inputting information that can identify the field F1, such as the field name, address, or latitude and longitude. Furthermore, in the image Im2, operations such as switching between map and aerial photograph, scrolling, zooming in/out, and page switching are also possible according to the user's operations.

The operation area R22 displays an input field for searching registered fields using various search criteria, such as, for example, the year, crop, variety, and group name. The fields F1 displayed in the image Im2 are narrowed down by the year and crop entered in this input field. Furthermore, the operation area R22 displays multiple buttons to be operated by the user, such as a parameter setting button B21, field number setting buttons B22 and B23 for setting the number of fields, a method setting button B24 for setting the fertilization method (spraying method), and a back button B25. The field number setting buttons B22 and B23 are radio buttons for selecting whether to specify multiple fields F1 or a single field F1 as the target field for creating the work map M1. Selecting the field count setting button B22 allows multiple fields F1 to be specified as the target field, and selecting the field count setting button B23 allows a single field F1 to be specified as the target field. The method setting button B24 is a radio button for selecting one of three fertilization methods: full layer fertilization, side stripe fertilization, and top dressing. Full layer fertilization and side stripe fertilization are included in "base fertilizer." The back button B25 is a button for returning to the previous screen, that is, the result list screen P1.

In this embodiment, a priority is set for the reference map M2. For a field F1 to which multiple reference maps M2 are specified, the reference map M2 to be used to create the work map M1 is determined according to this priority. For a field F1 to which multiple reference maps M2 are specified, the reference map M2 with the highest priority (first priority) is displayed by default in the field designation area R21 on the field setting screen P2. That is, for a field F1 to which multiple reference maps M2 are specified, the creation processing unit 12 creates the work map M1 based on one or more reference maps M2 selected according to the priority from among the multiple reference maps M2. Specifically, the condition determination unit 121 of the creation processing unit 12 determines the reference map M2 to be used to create the work map M1 by referring to the priority. As a result, the creation processing unit 12 uses the reference map M2 with the highest priority in order, and for a field F1 to which a reference map M2 with a high priority is not associated, the reference map M2 with the next highest priority is used to create the work map M1.

Such priorities are arbitrarily set by the user on the priority setting screen P21 as shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, as an example, the priority setting screen P21 allows the user to set the reference map M2 as the first priority, the second priority, and the third priority for each fertilization method (method of spraying work). In the example of FIG. 7, for "full layer fertilization", the growth map (NDVI map) of the previous autumn is set as the first priority, the yield map of the previous year is set as the second priority, and the soil fertility map is set as the third priority. Therefore, in the field F1 where full layer fertilization is performed, if the growth map of the previous autumn is associated, the growth map is used as the reference map M2 to create the work map M1, and if the growth map of the previous autumn is not associated, the yield map of the previous year is used as the reference map M2. In addition, if the reference map M2 is not set as the first priority, the second priority, or the third priority, it is considered that the reference map M2 is not specified. Priorities are set, for example, for each user.

[6.3] Parameter Setting Process Next, a description will be given of the "parameter setting process" for setting parameters used in creating the work map M1. The parameter setting process is executed when the creation processing unit 12 creates a new work map M1 in new creation mode.

In the parameter setting process, the display processing unit 161 displays the parameter setting screen P3 on the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3. That is, when the parameter setting button B21 is operated on the field setting screen P2, the parameter setting process starts, and the screen displayed on the display unit 33 transitions from the field setting screen P2 to the parameter setting screen P3.

The parameter setting screen P3 is a screen for setting parameters used in creating the work map M1. The "parameters" referred to here include information related to the material (fertilizer) to be spread in the spreading work, and include a standard fertilizer amount as an example. The "standard fertilizer amount" is the standard amount of fertilizer per unit area specified for a certain field F1, and is expressed in units of, for example, "kg/10a". In other words, the parameters set on the parameter setting screen P3 include at least the amount of material to be spread (fertilizer amount).

As shown in FIG. 8, the parameter setting screen P3 includes a setting area R31 and a reference area R32. Information for setting parameters is displayed in the setting area R31. That is, the user inputs parameters to be used in creating the work map M1 in the setting area R31 of the parameter setting screen P3 displayed on the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3. In addition, the reference area R32 displays, for reference, the "maximum value," "mode value," and "minimum value" of the NDVI values for the field F1 designated as the target field.

Specifically, the setting area R31 includes, for example, a number of input fields C31 to C38 and a number of buttons to be operated by the user, such as a create button B31, a back button B32, and a reference button B33. The input field C31 is an area for inputting the fertilizer name, the input field C32 is an area for inputting the nitrogen content, the input field C33 is an area for inputting the weight per bag, the input field C34 is an area for inputting the standard fertilizer amount, and the input field C35 is an area for inputting the nitrogen weight, for example, in free text. The maximum fertilizer amount that can be input as the standard fertilizer amount is automatically inserted in the input field C36, and the minimum fertilizer amount that can be input as the standard fertilizer amount is automatically inserted in the input field C37. The input field C38 is an area for inputting the mesh size of the work map M1, that is, the size of the section K, for example, in a selection manner. The back button B32 is a button for returning to the previous screen, that is, the field setting screen P2. The Reference button B33 is a button for referencing the past parameter input history and quoting parameters from the input history.

For example, when the reference button B33 is operated, a reference screen P31 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display unit 33. The reference screen P31 is a screen based on the input history on the parameter setting screen P3, and displays items such as the fertilizer name, nitrogen content, and weight per bag that have been previously input. When an arbitrary fertilizer is selected on this reference screen P31 and the reflect button B311 is operated, the information of the selected fertilizer is automatically inserted into the input fields C31 to C33. It is also possible to delete unnecessary input history by operating the delete button B312 on the reference screen P31. In the example of FIG. 9, the reference screen P31 is displayed as a pop-up window superimposed on the parameter setting screen P3, but this is not limited to this example, and the parameter setting screen P3 may be switched to the reference screen P31.

In this embodiment, the calculation unit 17 executes the calculation process while the parameter setting screen P3 is displayed. That is, the creation processing unit 12 creates the work support information D1 based on the amount of the scattering material calculated by the calculation unit 17, so the calculation process is executed by the calculation unit 17 while the parameter setting screen P3, which inputs the amount of scattering material (standard fertilizer amount), is displayed. The calculation unit 17 calculates the amount of scattering material from the specific amount represented by the specific amount information acquired by the specific amount acquisition unit 133 based on the type information acquired by the type acquisition unit 132. Specifically, the calculation unit 17 calculates the standard fertilizer amount from the nitrogen weight entered in the input field C35 based on the type information including the nitrogen content entered in the input field C32. The standard fertilizer amount calculated by the calculation unit 17 is then automatically inserted into the input field C34.

As a result, for example, when a user inputs a nitrogen weight in input field C35 as shown in the upper part of FIG. 10, the standard fertilizer amount is automatically input in input field C34 as shown in the lower part of FIG. 10. In the example of FIG. 10, since "33.00 kg/10a" is input as the nitrogen weight, the calculation unit 17 calculates the amount of the applied material (fertilizer) by dividing "33.00" by the nitrogen content in the type information. The amount of application calculated in this way ("73.33 kg/10a" in the example of FIG. 10) is automatically input as the standard fertilizer amount in input field C34. Therefore, even a user who focuses on a specific component of the fertilizer for each crop (e.g., nitrogen) and determines the amount of application based on the weight of the specific component can relatively easily input the standard fertilizer amount.

Here, in this embodiment, the work support information D1 includes a work map M1 having multiple sections K. Therefore, the standard fertilizer amount calculated by the calculation unit 17 is reflected in the work index of the multiple sections K in the work map M1. In other words, the creation processing unit 12 sets the work index of each of the multiple sections K in the work map M1 based on the amount of the sprayed material calculated by the calculation unit 17.

In this embodiment, the user can also directly input the standard fertilizer amount into the input field C34. When the standard fertilizer amount is directly input into the input field C34, this standard fertilizer amount is acquired as the spray amount information by the spray amount acquisition unit 134. Then, when the spray amount information is acquired by the spray amount acquisition unit 134, the creation processing unit 12 creates the work support information D1 based on the spray amount information instead of the spray amount of the sprayed material calculated by the calculation unit 17. In other words, when the standard fertilizer amount is directly input into the input field C34, the standard fertilizer amount is used to create the work map M1 instead of the standard fertilizer amount calculated by the calculation unit 17. This makes it possible for even a user who determines the spray amount based on the fertilizer amount (standard fertilizer amount) rather than a specific amount to easily input the standard fertilizer amount.

Furthermore, when the spray amount information is acquired by the spray amount acquisition unit 134, the calculation unit 17 calculates the specific amount from the spray amount of the sprayed material based on the type information. Specifically, the calculation unit 17 calculates the nitrogen weight as the specific amount by multiplying the spray amount (standard fertilizer amount) acquired by the spray amount acquisition unit 134 by the nitrogen content in the information. In short, the calculation unit 17 not only calculates the spray amount (standard fertilizer amount) from the specific amount (nitrogen weight), but also, conversely, can calculate the specific amount (nitrogen weight) from the spray amount (standard fertilizer amount). Therefore, the specific amount (nitrogen weight) and the spray amount (standard fertilizer amount) have a relationship that can be converted into each other by the calculation unit 17.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the display processing unit 161 displays both the specific amount and the application amount of the sprayed material on one screen. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 10, in the parameter setting screen P3, the specific amount (nitrogen weight) is displayed in input field C35, and the application amount of the sprayed material (standard fertilizer amount) is displayed in input field C34. This makes it easier to visually compare the specific amount and the application amount of the sprayed material.

In addition, in this embodiment, the limiting unit 18 executes the limiting process while the parameter setting screen P3 is displayed. That is, the creation processing unit 12 creates the work support information D1 based on the amount of the scattering material whose input setting value is limited by the limiting unit 18, so the limiting process is executed by the limiting unit 18 while the parameter setting screen P3, in which the amount of scattering material (standard fertilizer amount) is input, is displayed. When creating the work support information D1, the limiting unit 18 limits the input setting value entered for the amount of scattering material based on the work method information. Specifically, the limiting unit 18 limits the input setting value of the standard fertilizer amount entered in the input field C34 based on the fertilization method (full layer fertilization, side stripe fertilization, or top dressing) selected on the field setting screen P2. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the input of unnecessary fertilizer amounts in advance, taking into account that the amount of fertilizer required differs depending on the type of fertilization method.

In this embodiment, as an example, the limiting unit 18 implements both positive and negative restrictions on the input of the input setting value. As a positive restriction, for example, when the limiting unit 18 restricts the upper limit of the input setting value, the limiting unit 18 prohibits the input of a value equal to or greater than the upper limit of the standard fertilizer amount input into the input field C34. As a negative restriction, for example, when the limiting unit 18 restricts the upper limit of the input setting value, the limiting unit 18 automatically inserts the upper limit into the input field C36, and when the limiting unit 18 restricts the lower limit of the input setting value, the limiting unit 18 automatically inserts the lower limit into the input field C37. This allows the user to input the standard fertilizer amount after understanding the standard fertilizer amount that can be input by the display of the input field C36 and the input field C37, and further, if the input is incorrect, the incorrect input is prohibited. In this embodiment, there are cases where the standard fertilizer amount calculated from the nitrogen weight by the calculation unit 17 is input, so in this case, the limiting unit 18 indirectly restricts the input setting value of the standard fertilizer amount by restricting the input setting value of the nitrogen weight. In addition, in the variable fertilization map described below, the limiting unit 18 can limit the input setting values not only for the upper and lower limits, but also for the range of variation in the amount of fertilization.

More specifically, in this embodiment, the method of spreading (fertilization method) includes base fertilization and top-dressing, so the limiting unit 18 changes the limit of the input setting value depending on whether the fertilization method is base fertilization or top-dressing. In particular, the limiting unit 18 limits the upper limit of the input setting value to a lower value for top-dressing compared to base fertilization. As a result, when the user sets the standard fertilization amount on the parameter setting screen P3, if the fertilization method is top-dressing, the upper limit of the standard fertilization amount that can be input is limited to a lower value compared to base fertilization. Therefore, the setting of an excessive fertilization amount for top-dressing is automatically suppressed.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, since base fertilizer includes full-layer fertilization and side stripe fertilization, the limiting unit 18 changes the limit of the input setting value depending on whether the fertilization method is full-layer fertilization or side stripe fertilization. In particular, the limiting unit 18 limits the upper limit of the input setting value to a lower value for side stripe fertilization compared to full-layer fertilization. As a result, when the user sets the standard fertilization amount on the parameter setting screen P3, if the fertilization method is side stripe fertilization, the upper limit of the standard fertilization amount that can be input is limited to a lower value compared to full-layer fertilization. Therefore, even in base fertilization, if a clear difference in the required fertilization amount occurs in principle, the setting of an excessive fertilization amount is automatically suppressed by distinguishing. Here, in the case of top dressing, the upper limit of the input setting value is limited even lower than in the case of side stripe fertilization.

The work method information also includes the type of work machine 4 used for the spreading work. Therefore, the limiting unit 18 may change the limit of the input setting value depending on whether the type of work machine 4 is a spreader for full layer fertilization or a spreader for side stripe fertilization, for example. Furthermore, since the type of work machine 4 includes, for example, rice transplanters, tractors, and drones, the limiting unit 18 may change the limit of the input setting value depending on whether the type of work machine 4 is a rice transplanter, tractor, or drone, for example.

[6.4] Creation Process Next, the "creation process" for creating the work map M1 will be described. First, the creation process in which the creation processing unit 12 creates a new work map M1 in new creation mode will be described.

When the creation process is being executed, the display processing unit 161 displays the result list screen P1 on the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3. Specifically, when the Create button B31 on the parameter setting screen P3 is operated, the creation process begins, and the screen displayed on the display unit 33 transitions from the parameter setting screen P3 to the result list screen P1. Then, while the creation process is being executed, the status of the result list screen P1 becomes "calculating". When the creation process is completed, the display processing unit 161 becomes able to display the result confirmation screen P4 on the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3. In other words, the status of the result list screen P1 becomes "result confirmation", and in this state, when the result confirmation button B12 is operated, the screen displayed on the display unit 33 transitions from the result list screen P1 to the result confirmation screen P4.

The result confirmation screen P4 is a screen for confirming the created work map M1. As shown in FIG. 11, the result confirmation screen P4 includes an image Im4 such as a map or an aerial photograph for displaying the work map M1, and a number of buttons to be operated by the user, such as a comparison button B41, a correction button B42, a back button B43, and a save button B44. Furthermore, the result confirmation screen P4 has a display field C41 below the image Im4 for displaying the total fertilizer amount (total resource amount). The back button B43 is a button for returning to the result list screen P1. The save button B44 is a button for saving the simulation results (work map M1).

Image Im4 includes at least one work map M1, and the user checks the work map M1 on this image Im4. In the example of FIG. 11, five work maps M11 to M15 corresponding to five fields F11 to F15 are displayed in image Im4. Here, the work map M11 corresponding to field F11 and the work map M12 corresponding to field F12 are variable fertilization maps, and the other work maps M13 to M15 are uniform fertilization maps. The "variable fertilization map" in this disclosure is a work map M1 that has variation in the work index (fertilizer amount) between multiple sections K set in the work area A1 corresponding to field F1. The "uniform fertilization map" in this disclosure is a work map M1 that does not have variation in the work index (fertilizer amount) between multiple sections K set in the work area A1 corresponding to field F1, that is, a work index is set uniformly for multiple sections K. Therefore, work maps M13 to M15, which are uniform fertilization maps, are displayed with the work area A1 uniformly filled in as a "solid color."

The variable fertilization map and the uniform fertilization map can be easily distinguished on the image Im4, but to make them even easier to distinguish, the display manner may be different between the variable fertilization map and the uniform fertilization map. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the display processing unit 161 can make it easier to distinguish between the variable fertilization map and the uniform fertilization map by making the line type or color of the periphery of the work map M1 different between the variable fertilization map and the uniform fertilization map.

Here, whether a variable fertilization map or a uniform fertilization map is created is determined by the mapping conditions. Specifically, either a variable fertilization map or a uniform fertilization map is selectively created depending on whether a reference map M2 is specified corresponding to the field F1. If a reference map M2 is specified, the mapping conditions are stipulated so that a variable fertilization map is created. In short, the mapping conditions include creating a work map M1 (variable fertilization map) that sets the work index individually for multiple sections K based on the reference map M2 if a reference map M2 is specified corresponding to the field F1. Also, the mapping conditions include setting the work index uniformly for multiple sections K if a reference map M2 is not specified corresponding to the field F1.

By following such mapping conditions, a variable fertilization map is created for the field F1 for which the reference map M2 is specified, and a uniform fertilization map is created for the field F1 for which the reference map M2 is not specified. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 11, a variable fertilization map is created only for the fields F11 and F12 for which the reference map M2 is specified. In other words, the growth map (NDVI map) for June 2019 is specified as the reference map M2 for both fields F11 and F12. Therefore, the work maps M11 and M12 for the fields F11 and F12 are variable fertilization maps created based on the growth map. More specifically, the creation processing unit 12 creates the work map M1 based on the growth map so that the amount of fertilization is increased to promote growth for positions in the field F1 where crop growth is determined to be delayed. Therefore, a work map M1 that is basically an inverted growth map is generated.

Here, in this embodiment, various performance maps such as the yield map, taste map, growth map, soil map, and performance fertilization map as described above are used as reference maps M2.

In short, the reference map M2 includes a growth map that shows the distribution of crop growth conditions within the field F1. This makes it possible to create a work map M1 that promotes crop growth when growth is delayed. The growth map shows the growth conditions for each of multiple small regions (areas) in the field F1. The work map M1 created based on such a growth map has multiple plots K corresponding to the multiple small regions (areas). This makes it possible to create a precise work map M1 that reflects the growth conditions for each plot K.

The reference map M2 also includes a yield map that shows the distribution of crop yields within the field F1. This makes it possible to create a work map M1 that promotes growth when crop yields are low. The yield map shows the yield for each of multiple small regions (areas) in the field F1. The work map M1 created based on such a yield map has multiple plots K that correspond to the multiple small regions (areas). This makes it possible to create a precise work map M1 that reflects the yield for each plot K.

Next, an example of the processing procedure of the management server 2 related to the creation process will be described with reference to Figures 12 to 14. The calculation-related process (S7) in Figure 12 includes a series of processes related to the calculation process, and the details of these are shown in the flowchart of Figure 13. The restriction-related process (S8) in Figure 12 includes a series of processes related to the restriction process, and the details of these are shown in the flowchart of Figure 14.

As shown in FIG. 12, when the New button B11 on the result list screen P1 is operated (S1: Yes), the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 starts the designation process (S2). Specifically, the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 causes the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3 to display the field setting screen P2 (S3). In this state, the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 accepts the designation of field F1 as the target field.

In step S4, when the parameter setting button B21 in the field setting screen P2 is operated (S4: Yes), the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 starts the parameter setting process (S5). Specifically, the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 causes the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3 to display the parameter setting screen P3 (S6). In this state, the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 accepts input of parameters for creating the work map M1 while executing the calculation-related process (S7) and the restriction-related process (S8).

In step S9, when the create button B31 in the parameter setting screen P3 is operated (S9: Yes), the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 determines whether or not a reference map M2 has been specified for the field F1 as the target field (S10). For the field F1 for which the reference map M2 has been specified (S10: Yes), the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 acquires reference information regarding the reference map M2 (S11) and creates a variable fertilization map based on the reference map M2 (S12). On the other hand, for the field F1 for which the reference map M2 has not been specified (S10: No), the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 creates a uniform fertilization map (S13).

In step S14, the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 determines whether the creation process of the work map M1 has been completed for all fields F1 designated as target fields. In other words, if two or more fields F1 are designated as target fields in the designation process (S2), the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 executes steps S10 to S14 for all of these two or more fields F1. As a result, the creation processing unit 12 creates work maps M1 corresponding to each of the two or more fields F1 designated as target fields in accordance with the mapping conditions in a batch. If the creation process of the work map M1 has been completed for all fields F1 designated as target fields (S14: Yes), the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 registers the work map M1 (S15) and ends the creation process.

In the calculation-related process, as shown in FIG. 13, in step S71, the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 determines whether a specific amount has been input. At this time, the information processing unit 1 determines that the nitrogen weight has been input as a specific amount by inputting data (value) into the input field C35 of the parameter setting screen P3 (S71: Yes), and transitions the process to step S72.

In step S72, the type acquisition unit 132 of the information processing unit 1 acquires type information. At this time, the type acquisition unit 132 acquires the nitrogen content rate, etc., input in the input field C32 as type information. Then, in step S73, the specific amount acquisition unit 133 of the information processing unit 1 acquires specific amount information. At this time, the specific amount acquisition unit 133 acquires the nitrogen weight input in the input field C35 as specific amount information.

In step S73, the calculation unit 17 of the information processing unit 1 executes a calculation process to calculate the amount to be sprayed from the specific amount. Specifically, the calculation unit 17 calculates the standard amount of fertilizer to be sprayed from the nitrogen weight as the specific amount. The standard amount of fertilizer calculated by the calculation unit 17 is automatically inserted into the input field C34.

In addition, in the restriction-related processing, as shown in FIG. 14, in step S81, the work method acquisition unit 135 of the information processing unit 1 acquires work method information. At this time, the work method acquisition unit 135 acquires, as work method information, the fertilization method selected from the three methods of full layer fertilization, side stripe fertilization, and top dressing using the method setting button B24 on the field setting screen P2.

In step S82, the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 determines whether the work method is top dressing. If top dressing is selected with the method setting button B24 on the field setting screen P2, the information processing unit 1 determines that the work method is top dressing (S82: Yes), and the limiting unit 18 sets the upper limit of the input setting value to V1 (S84). On the other hand, if base fertilization (full layer fertilization or side stripe fertilization) is selected with the method setting button B24 on the field setting screen P2, the information processing unit 1 determines that the work method is not top dressing (S82: No), and the process proceeds to step S83.

In step S83, the information processing unit 1 of the management server 2 determines whether the work method is side row fertilization. If side row fertilization is selected with the method setting button B24 on the field setting screen P2, the information processing unit 1 determines that the work method is side row fertilization (S83: Yes), and the limiting unit 18 sets the upper limit of the input setting value to V2 (S85). On the other hand, if full layer fertilization is selected with the method setting button B24 on the field setting screen P2, the information processing unit 1 determines that the work method is not side row fertilization (S83: No), and the process proceeds to step S86.

In step S86, the limiting unit 18 of the information processing unit 1 sets the upper limit of the input setting value to V3. Here, the upper limit values "V1", "V2", and "V3" are "V1" the smallest, followed by "V2" and "V3" in that order (V1<V2<V3). In accordance with the input setting value for which the upper limit is set in this manner, the limiting unit 18 limits the input of the standard fertilizer amount into the input field C34 of the parameter setting screen P3.

However, the flowcharts shown in Figures 12 to 14 are merely examples, and processes may be added or omitted as appropriate, and the order of processes may be changed as appropriate.

When the work map M1 is created by the creation process, the result comparison screen P5 can be displayed as shown in FIG. 15. In other words, when the comparison button B41 is operated on the result confirmation screen P4, the screen displayed on the display unit 33 transitions from the result confirmation screen P4 to the result comparison screen P5.

As shown in FIG. 15, the result comparison screen P5 has a comparison area R51 and an information area R52. The information area R52 displays various information related to the user (owner), the field F1, fertilization work, etc. The comparison area R51 displays the created work map M1 and the reference map M2 used to create this work map M1 side by side. This allows the user to check the reference map M2, which was the basis for creating the work map M1, along with the work map M1 on the result comparison screen P5. This makes it easier for the user to evaluate the work map M1.

[6.5] Correction process Next, we will explain the "correction process" for correcting the work map M1. The correction process is a process in which the creation processing unit 12 re-creates the work map M1 in correction mode, and can be executed after the work map M1 is created in new creation mode.

In the correction process, the display processing unit 161 displays the result correction screen P6 on the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3. In other words, when the correction button B42 is operated on the result confirmation screen P4, the screen displayed on the display unit 33 transitions from the result confirmation screen P4 to the result correction screen P6.

As shown in FIG. 16, the result correction screen P6 includes an image Im6 including the work map M1, and an operation area R61. In the operation area R61, as an example, a number of buttons to be operated by the user are displayed, such as correction method selection buttons B61, B62, a slide bar B63, a correction button B64, a recalculation button B65, and a save button B66. The correction method selection buttons B61, B62 are radio buttons for selecting whether the work map M1 is to be corrected for the entire field F1 or for a correction range Z61 specified on the result correction screen P6. When the correction method selection button B61 is selected, the entire field F1 can be used as a unit for correction, and when the correction method selection button B62 is selected, the correction range can be freely specified in the correction range Z61 rather than in units of the field F1.

That is, when the correction method selection button B62 is selected, a frame representing the correction range Z61 is displayed on the image Im6 as shown in FIG. 16. The user sets this correction range Z61 to any shape and size on the image Im6 using a cursor or the like. This allows the section K included in the correction range Z61, out of the multiple sections K on the work map M1, to be the subject of correction of the work index. In short, the creation processing unit 12 corrects the work index for the correction range Z61 specified on the result correction screen P6 including the work map M1.

The work map M1 is modified by modifying the work index. That is, the work map M1 is modified by changing the value of the work index. Here, the work index is modified by operating the slide bar B63 or the modification button B64. In this embodiment, when the work index varies among multiple sections K as in the variable fertilization map, the work index is modified while maintaining this variation. In the example of FIG. 16, the work index of the sections K within the modification range Z61 is changed uniformly while maintaining the distribution. In short, in this embodiment, when the work index is set individually for multiple sections K, the creation processing unit 12 modifies the work index while maintaining the distribution of the work index. However, this configuration is not essential, and for example, the variable fertilization map may be modified to a work map M1 that does not have a distribution of the work index as in the uniform fertilization map.

Furthermore, the result correction screen P6 has a display field C61 below the image Im6 for displaying the total fertilizer amount (total resource amount). This display field C61 displays the result of the correction calculation unit 15 recalculating the total resource amount for the corrected work map M1. Specifically, when the recalculation button B65 is operated, the correction calculation unit 15 recalculates the total fertilizer amount (total resource amount) based on the corrected work map M1 and displays it in the display field C61. This allows the user to easily understand that the total fertilizer amount planned to be used is significantly different from the originally expected amount due to the correction of the work map M1.

That is, in this embodiment, the operation reception unit 22 accepts the user's correction operation for the work map M1 created by the creation processing unit 12. Then, the creation processing unit 12 can correct the work index according to the correction operation and re-create the work map M1. Here, the restriction unit 18 also restricts the input setting value when the creation processing unit 12 creates the work map M1 when correcting the work index. In short, in this embodiment, the restriction unit 18 restricts the input setting value when the creation processing unit 12 creates the work support information D1 when re-creating the work support information D1. Specifically, the restriction unit 18 restricts the range in which the work index can be corrected by restricting the input setting value. In this way, whether the creation processing unit 12 is in the new creation mode or the correction mode, the restriction unit 18 provides input support for the parameters (standard fertilizer application amount). The save button B66 is a button for saving the simulation result (work map M1) after correction.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, if multiple fields F1 are selected as the fields to be corrected on the result correction screen P6, it is possible to correct these multiple fields F1 all at once. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, by setting a correction range Z61 across multiple work maps M1, these multiple work maps M1 can be corrected all at once. In short, when a correction range Z61 is specified across multiple fields F1, the creation processing unit 12 corrects the work index for the multiple fields F1 all at once. This significantly reduces the burden on the user when making corrections across multiple fields F1, such as uniformly increasing the amount of fertilizer for the northern range of multiple fields F1.

[6.6] Output Processing Next, the "output processing" for outputting the work map M1 will be described.

In the output process, the display processing unit 161 displays the output screen P7 on the display unit 33 of the user terminal 3. In other words, when the output button B13 is operated on the result list screen P1, the screen displayed on the display unit 33 transitions from the result list screen P1 to the output screen P7.

As shown in FIG. 18, the output screen P7 includes an input field for searching for any simulation result (work map M1). The output screen P7 includes a write button B71, and when the write button B71 is operated, the work support information D1 (work map M1) is written to the recording medium 5 in a format that can be read by the work machine 4.

[7] Modifications Below, we will list modifications of the first embodiment. The modifications described below can be applied in appropriate combinations.

The task map creation system 10 in the present disclosure includes a computer system. The computer system is mainly composed of one or more processors and one or more memories as hardware. The functions of the task map creation system 10 in the present disclosure are realized by the processor executing a program recorded in the memory of the computer system. The program may be pre-recorded in the memory of the computer system, may be provided via a telecommunications line, or may be recorded and provided on a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card, optical disk, or hard disk drive that can be read by the computer system.

In addition, some or all of the functional units included in the management server 2 or the user terminal 3 may be configured with electronic circuits.

In addition, it is not essential for the work map creation system 10 that at least some of the functions of the work map creation system 10 are concentrated in one housing, and the components of the work map creation system 10 may be distributed across multiple housings. For example, some of the functions of the information processing unit 1 may be provided in a housing separate from the management server 2. Furthermore, at least some of the functions of the work map creation system 10 may be realized by the cloud (cloud computing) or the like.

Conversely, in embodiment 1, the functions of the task map creation system 10 that are distributed across multiple devices may be consolidated within a single housing. For example, at least a portion of the functions that are distributed across the management server 2 and the user terminal 3 may be consolidated in the management server 2 or in the user terminal 3.

As shown in FIG. 19, the result comparison screen P5 may be configured to allow the reference map M2 to be changed. The result comparison screen P5 illustrated in FIG. 19 has a map selection button B51 for changing the reference map M2, and a recalculation button B52. This makes it easy to change the reference map M2 from a growth map (NDVI map) to another performance map such as a yield map, and recalculate the work map M1, for example.

The configurations of the work map creation system 10 for realizing the function of creating a work map M1 for two or more fields F1 at once, the function related to the calculation process, and the function related to the restriction process can each be employed alone. Furthermore, the configuration of the work map creation system 10 related to the correction process can also be employed alone. For example, the creation processing unit 12 may not employ the function of creating a work map M1 for two or more fields F1 at once, but rather employ a function of correcting the work index and re-creating the work map M1 in accordance with the correction operation.

In addition, the multiple sections K of the work map M1 may be set by dividing them into any shape, etc., rather than being limited to mesh (square) division.

The display unit 33 and operation unit 34 of the user terminal 3 need only have a function as a user interface, and the manner of information output and the manner of information input (operation) are not limited to the above-mentioned manner. As an example, the display unit 33 may adopt a manner such as projection by a projector, audio output, or printing as a manner of information output. In this case, various screens may be, for example, projected by a projector or displayed on a sheet by printing. The operation unit 34 may adopt a manner such as voice input, gesture input, or input of an operation signal from another terminal as a manner of information input. Furthermore, for operation units other than the user terminal 3, the manner of voice input, gesture input, or input of an operation signal from another terminal may also be adopted.

Furthermore, the work support information D1 may be any information that supports spraying work in a field, and is not limited to the work map M1. The work support information D1 may be information (spraying information) such as the spraying amount (spraying amount per unit area) applied to the entire field F1. In other words, since the work map creation system 10 is an example of a work support information creation system, the product is not limited to the work map M1, but may be work support information D1 in a broad sense. Similarly, the method of generating the work map M1 is an example of a method of generating work support information D1, and the work map generation program is an example of a work support information generation program.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the application is a fertilizer, and the specific component contained in the application is nitrogen, but the specific component is not limited to nitrogen. For example, when the application is a fertilizer, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc., which are known as the three elements of fertilizer, can be the specific components of the application. In other words, other than nitrogen, for example, phosphorus or potassium, etc. may be used as the specific component, and in this case, instead of the weight of nitrogen, the amount of phosphorus or potassium, etc. per unit area of the field F1 becomes the "specific amount."

(Embodiment 2)
20, the task map creation system 10A according to this embodiment differs from the task map creation system 10 according to the first embodiment in that, in addition to the management server 2, it includes another server 6 that cooperates with the management server 2. Hereinafter, components similar to those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

The "other server" in this disclosure is a server separate from the management server 2; for example, the operating entity (management entity) of the other server 6 is separate from the management server 2. The other server 6 is connected to the communication network N1 and can communicate with the management server 2 via the communication network N1. In this embodiment, the function of the "correction processing unit" of the creation processing unit 12 is implemented in the other server 6 instead of the management server 2.

In this embodiment, as an example, the other server 6 has an API (Application Programming Interface). The other server 6 provides the functions of the correction processing unit 61 to the management server 2 by having the API called from the management server 2 via the communication network N1. In this way, the management server 2 cooperates with the other server 6 to realize the functions of the task map creation system 10A.

That is, the separate server 6 according to this embodiment includes a correction processing unit 61, a correction time calculation unit 62, a presentation processing unit 63, and an interface unit 53 that accepts input of information from the management server 2. Therefore, in this embodiment, the correction processing unit 123 (see FIG. 1) and the correction time calculation unit 15 (see FIG. 1) are omitted from the management server 2.

As a variation of the second embodiment, it is not essential that the multiple functions of the separate server 6 are concentrated in one housing, and the components of the separate server 6 may be distributed across multiple housings. Furthermore, at least some of the functions of the separate server 6 may be realized by the cloud (cloud computing) or the like.

10, 10A Work map creation system (work support information creation system)
2 Management server 3 User terminal 11 Designation unit 12 Creation processing unit 15, 62 Correction time calculation unit 16, 63 Presentation processing unit 22 Operation reception unit F1 Field K Section M1 Work map M2 Reference map P6 Result correction screen Z61 Correction range

Claims (13)

A designation unit capable of designating two or more fields as target fields;
a creation processing unit that creates a work map corresponding to each of the two or more fields designated as the target fields, the work map having a plurality of sections, each of which has a work index set in accordance with mapping conditions; and
an operation receiving unit that receives a user's correction operation for the work map created by the creation processing unit ,
the creation processing unit modifies the work index in accordance with the modification operation and recreates the work map;
When the work index is set individually for each of the plurality of sections, the creation processing unit modifies the work index while maintaining a distribution of the work index.
Working mapping system. The work map includes a spraying map in which the work index is the amount of spraying material at each position corresponding to the plurality of sections in the field,
The task map creation system according to claim 1 . the mapping conditions include: if a reference map is designated corresponding to the field, creating the work map based on the reference map to set the work index individually for the multiple plots; and if a reference map is not designated corresponding to the field, setting the work index uniformly for the multiple plots.
3. A task map creation system according to claim 1 or 2. The reference map includes a growth map showing the distribution of crop growth conditions in the field.
4. A task map creation system according to claim 3. The growth map indicates a growth status for each of a plurality of small areas in the farm field,
the task map has a plurality of sections corresponding to the plurality of small regions;
5. A task map creation system according to claim 4. The reference map includes a yield map showing a distribution of crop yields in the field.
6. A task map creation system according to claim 3. The yield map indicates a yield for each of a plurality of small areas in the farm field,
the task map has a plurality of sections corresponding to the plurality of small regions;
7. A task map creation system according to claim 6. the creation processing unit creates the work map based on one or more reference maps selected in accordance with a priority order from among the plurality of reference maps for the field for which a plurality of reference maps are designated;
The task map creation system according to any one of claims 3 to 7. a correction calculation unit that calculates a total resource amount required for work in the field based on the corrected work map;
and a presentation processing unit that presents the total resource amount to the user.
9. A task map creation system according to claim 1 . The creation processing unit corrects the work index for a correction range specified on a result correction screen including the work map.
10. The task map creation system according to claim 1 . when the correction range is specified across a plurality of the fields, the creation processing unit corrects the work index for the plurality of the fields collectively.
The task map creation system according to claim 10 . 1. A method for generating a working map executed by one or more processors, comprising:
Accepting the designation of two or more fields as target fields;
creating a work map for each of the two or more fields designated as the target fields, the work map having a plurality of sections, each of which has a work index set in accordance with mapping conditions, and corresponding to each of the two or more fields;
and accepting a user's modification operation on the created task map ;
According to the modification operation, the work index is modified to regenerate the work map;
When the work index is set individually for each of the plurality of sections, the work index is corrected while maintaining the distribution of the work index.
How to generate a working map. Accepting the designation of two or more fields as target fields;
creating a work map for each of the two or more fields designated as the target fields, the work map having a plurality of sections, each of which has a work index set in accordance with mapping conditions, and corresponding to each of the two or more fields;
and accepting a user's modification operation on the created work map .
According to the modification operation, the work index is modified to regenerate the work map;
When the work index is set individually for each of the plurality of sections, the work index is corrected while maintaining the distribution of the work index.
Working map generator.