A working vehicle includes a prime mover, a driver's seat selectively set in either a first posture where a driver can sit thereon or a second posture where the driver cannot sit thereon, a speed controller to receive power from the prime mover and perform a speed-changing of the power, a PTO shaft to receive the speed-changed power from the speed controller, a posture switch to detect whether the driver's seat is set in the first or second posture, a parking switch to detect parking of a vehicle body, and a first actuator. During driving of the prime mover, the first actuator maintains the driving of the prime mover when both the parking and the driver's seat set in the second posture are detected, and stops the driving of the prime mover when neither the parking nor the driver's seat set in the second posture is detected.

A driver status monitor test method is for testing if a driver status monitor generates an alarm operation in accordance with driver motion images. A photographing unit of the driver status monitor is configured to take photographs of the driver motion images. The driver status monitor test method includes a test motion selecting step and a driver motion image displaying step. The test motion selecting step includes selecting at least one test motion for testing the driver status monitor by a user interface. The driver motion image displaying step includes displaying the driver motion images by a display. The driver motion images are a plurality of predetermined image frames in accordance with the test motion. The driver motion images include at least one of a face image, a forelimb image and a torso image.

A work machine includes a frame; an engine supported by the frame; a plurality of ground engaging devices supporting the frame and driven by the engine; an operator cabin supported by the frame; a plurality of sensors and input devices configured to provide a plurality of signals; and a control module. The control module is configured to receive the plurality of signals from the plurality of sensors and input devices, determine if any of the plurality of signals is a positive signal, where a positive signal indicates that an operator is present in the machine, indicate an ‘operator present’ status if at least one of the plurality of signals remains positive for a debounce time, and indicate a ‘no operator present’ status if none of the plurality of signals remains positive for a threshold time.

A work machine includes a frame; an engine supported by the frame; a plurality of ground engaging devices supporting the frame and driven by the engine; an operator cabin supported by the frame; a plurality of sensors and input devices configured to provide a plurality of signals; and a control module. The control module is configured to receive the plurality of signals from the plurality of sensors and input devices, determine if any of the plurality of signals is a positive signal, where a positive signal indicates that an operator is present in the machine, indicate an ‘operator present’ status if at least one of the plurality of signals remains positive for a debounce time, and indicate a ‘no operator present’ status if none of the plurality of signals remains positive for a threshold time.

The present invention relates to an occupant monitoring method and apparatus therefor. A monitoring apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention may include a camera obtaining an image in a vehicle and a processor processing the image. Moreover, the processor may include a detecting module separating each region in which an object exists from the image, a classifying module classifying the object existing in the each separated region and a recognizing module recognizing a pose of an occupant if the object corresponds to the occupant.

A work machine may include a steering system, a user interface, a detection device, and a control device. The user interface may generate an input signal corresponding to operator input. The detection device may generate a detection signal corresponding to a presence of an operator relative to the user interface. The control device may determine that the operator is unavailable based on the detection signal and the input signal, and enable a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable. The control device may determine, while the lockout mode is enabled, a readiness indicator. The readiness indicator may confirm a readiness of the operator based on determining that the detection signal satisfies a readiness criterion. The control device may disable the lockout mode based on determining that the readiness criterion is satisfied.

A work machine may include a steering system, a user interface, a detection device, and a control device. The user interface may generate an input signal corresponding to operator input. The detection device may generate a detection signal corresponding to a presence of an operator relative to the user interface. The control device may determine that the operator is unavailable based on the detection signal and the input signal, and enable a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable. The control device may determine, while the lockout mode is enabled, a readiness indicator. The readiness indicator may confirm a readiness of the operator based on determining that the detection signal satisfies a readiness criterion. The control device may disable the lockout mode based on determining that the readiness criterion is satisfied.

A tractor in which a lift valve of a hydraulic system for lifting up/down a work machine is mechanically coupled to a lift lever, and conditions for an engine startup are set as follows: a reverser lever is at a neutral position thereof; a PTO (power take-off) clutch is disengaged; a seat switch is ON; and the lift lever is at a lowermost position thereof. A switch driving unit is provided on a side face of the lift lever so that the side face is orthogonal to a turning direction of the lift lever; a switch is provided so as to be opposed to the switch driving unit when the lift lever is turned to be at the lowermost position; and the lift lever at the lowermost position is detected by the switch.

A tractor in which a lift valve of a hydraulic system for lifting up/down a work machine is mechanically coupled to a lift lever, and conditions for an engine startup are set as follows: a reverser lever is at a neutral position thereof; a PTO (power take-off) clutch is disengaged; a seat switch is ON; and the lift lever is at a lowermost position thereof. A switch driving unit is provided on a side face of the lift lever so that the side face is orthogonal to a turning direction of the lift lever; a switch is provided so as to be opposed to the switch driving unit when the lift lever is turned to be at the lowermost position; and the lift lever at the lowermost position is detected by the switch.

A system for controlling operation of a vehicle, the system comprising: a voice synthesizer unit for providing voice communication to a driver; a speech recognition unit for receiving speech from a driver; a breath alcohol sensor unit for detecting a presence of alcohol on the breath of a driver and providing a signal representative of the same; a vehicle operation interface for controlling operation of the vehicle; and a controller for (i) selectively causing the voice synthesizer unit to speak to the driver, (ii) operating the speech recognition unit to detect speech by the driver, (iii) receiving the signal from the breath alcohol sensor unit, and (iv) depending on the signal received from the breath alcohol sensor unit, providing a command to the vehicle operation interface to control operation of the vehicle.