Autonomous Mowing Area Assessment Under GNSS and Terrain Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous mowing technologies face limitations due to factors such as GNSS signal blocking, terrain slope, and obstacles, making it difficult to determine the suitability of a property for autonomous mowing.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for determining suitability for autonomous mowing using sensor data collection, analysis, and scoring to identify suitable and unsuitable areas, which can be displayed as a heat map or used for path planning to optimize mowing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If autonomous mowing is implemented in areas with building obstructions or tree canopy, then workforce efficiency is improved, but GNSS signal reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary assessment system that mediates between the autonomous mowing operation and the GNSS signal environment. The system evaluates GNSS signal strength and reliability as an intermediate metric to determine whether autonomous mowing should be performed in a given location, thereby protecting the autonomous mowing system from operating in unsuitable conditions while still enabling workforce efficiency improvements in appropriate areas.
2Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous mowing is attempted in areas with poor GNSS signal, then operational flexibility is improved, but mowing accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by assessing GNSS signal conditions before initiating autonomous mowing operations. The system pre-evaluates the operational environment using the suitability assessment tool to determine whether the area is appropriate for autonomous mowing, thereby preventing accuracy deterioration from occurring in the first place while maintaining operational flexibility in suitable locations.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive sensor data collection is performed to assess property suitability, then mowing suitability accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the suitability assessment into distinct, modular components: GNSS signal strength measurement, terrain evaluation, and obstacle detection. Each component independently assesses a specific aspect of suitability, and the results are combined to generate an overall assessment. This segmentation improves measurement precision by dedicating specialized sensors to each parameter while managing system complexity through modular architecture.
4Loss of time
If autonomous mowing is deployed without suitability assessment, then deployment speed is improved, but operational reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing a suitability assessment before deploying autonomous mowing operations. The system evaluates GNSS signal strength, terrain characteristics, and obstacle presence in advance to determine whether the property is suitable for autonomous mowing. This preliminary assessment ensures operational reliability by preventing deployment in unsuitable conditions while minimizing deployment time through automated evaluation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems include receiving sensor data obtained from mowing at least one part of an area; and determining, based at least on the sensor data, whether the at least one part of the area is suitable for autonomous mowing.