Autonomous Lawnmower Rework Using Rear Imaging Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional self-propelled lawnmowers often fail to achieve a high level of finishing quality in lawn mowing, leading to unevenness due to insufficient spots being missed during the mowing process.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous lawnmower equipped with forward and backward imaging devices to assess grass conditions, a control unit to adjust operational parameters like speed and direction, and a storage unit to record rework locations, enabling rework on identified insufficient spots with enhanced operational efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional self-propelled lawnmowers perform predetermined lawn mowing autonomously, then work efficiency is improved, but finishing quality becomes unstable and insufficient spots remain undetected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the backward imager captures images of the mown lawn, the control unit analyzes these images to detect insufficient spots, and the system automatically plans rework routes to address detected deficiencies. This closed-loop feedback system ensures high finishing quality while maintaining autonomous operation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary lawn mowing across the entire area first, then uses image analysis to identify insufficient spots before planning targeted rework. This preliminary action approach allows the lawnmower to efficiently cover large areas while ensuring quality through subsequent focused rework on problematic areas.
2Manufacturing precision
If the lawnmower performs rework on insufficient spots, then finishing quality is improved, but operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of re-mowing the entire lawn, the system applies local quality by performing rework only on specifically identified insufficient spots. The backward imager detects problem areas, and the control unit generates rework routes that target only these localized deficiencies, maintaining high finishing quality while minimizing additional operation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the lawn mowing operation into two distinct phases: preliminary mowing of the entire area, and targeted rework of identified insufficient spots. This segmentation allows the system to efficiently handle large areas while dedicating resources only where quality improvements are needed, reducing overall operation time.
3Productivity
If the lawnmower changes traveling speed and rotation speed during rework, then operational efficiency is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control where the lawnmower adjusts its traveling speed and blade rotation speed based on operational phase and detected conditions. During rework operations, the system increases both speeds to improve efficiency. The control unit dynamically manages these parameters based on real-time operational context, optimizing performance while maintaining manageable control complexity through automated decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous lawn mower comprises: a lawnmower body that performs predetermined lawn mowing work while autonomously traveling on vegetation; a rearward imaging means provided, directed toward the rear in the running direction of the lawnmower body; a storage unit that stores the content of the predetermined lawn mowing work performed by the lawnmower body; and a control unit that controls the drive of the lawnmower body and, according to an imaging result of the rearward imaging means, instructs rework on the vegetation at an imaging location indicated by the imaging result.