Route planning system for agricultural work vehicles

A route planning method for agricultural work vehicles having a definite working width for generation of at least one work path or track over a field, said route planning method comprising the steps of:

• a) inputting at least one field-specific datum and at least one work vehicle-specific datum into an electronic data processing unit;
• b) providing a computational algorithm in said electronic data processing unit for generation of the at least one work path or track, said computational algorithm including at least one optimization criterion for the at least one work path or track;
• and
• c) generating said at least one work path or track by executing said computational algorithm to obtain said at least one work path or track in the form of at least one digitized work route using said at least one field-specific datum and said at least one work vehicle-specific datum, wherein said at least one optimization criterion comprises at least one of the following:
• determination of a shortest work vehicle route over the field, determination of a fastest work vehicle route over the field, determination of a most fuel saving work vehicle route over the field and determining a work vehicle route over the field which minimizes at least one of lost time and vehicle travel distance for unloading/dispensing of harvested material.