Map generation system and map generation method

A computer-implemented method for generating map data for an agricultural machine to automatically travel on a road around a field, the map generation method comprising:

• displaying, on a display screen, a graphical user interface (GUI) for setting a width and a height of each of the plurality of feature block images:
• in response to a user setting, via the GUI, the width and the height of each of the plurality of feature block images, store the width and height in association with each corresponding feature block image in the storage;
• acquiring position distribution data on one or more types of features existing around the road, the position distribution data being generated based on at least one of sensor data from a LiDAR sensor and image data from an imager, the sensor data and the image data being output while a movable body including at least one of the LiDAR sensor and the imager is moving along the road;
• reading, from a storage, one or more types of feature block images associated with the one or more types of features;
• and
• aligning the feature block images each having the width and the height set on the GUI in accordance with the position distribution data to generate map data on a region including the road.

A map generation system to generate map data for an agricultural machine to automatically travel on a road around a field, the map generation system comprising:

• a storage to store a plurality of feature block images respectively associated with a plurality of types of features existing around the road;
• and
• a processor configured or programmed to:
• receive at least one of sensor data from a LIDAR sensor and image data from an imager, the sensor data and the image data being output while a movable body including at least one of the LiDAR sensor and the imager is moving along the road;
• recognize one or more types of features existing around the road based on the at least one of sensor data and image data;
• generate position distribution data on the one or more types of features based on GNSS data output from a GNSS receiver included in the movable body and the sensor data;
• read, from the storage, one or more types of feature block images associated with the one or more types of features;
• and
• align the feature block images in accordance with the position distribution data to generate map data on a region including the road.