Boundary Wire Signaling for Remote Control of Autonomous Mowers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous mobile device systems using boundary wires for defining working areas lack flexibility and adaptability, requiring manual parameter adjustments and lacking remote operation capabilities, which limits their ability to respond to environmental changes or operator needs without increasing production costs.
Innovation Solution
A system where the base station encodes data and commands onto the radio signal emitted by the boundary wire, enabling bidirectional communication with autonomous mobile devices to control their operation, adapt to environmental changes, and receive remote instructions, allowing for flexible operation and adaptive behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual parameter adjustment is used in autonomous mobile devices, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to environmental changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary wire serves as an intermediary communication channel between the base station and autonomous mobile devices. By encoding control signals and parameters onto the electromagnetic signals emitted by the boundary wire, the system enables remote adaptation without requiring complex onboard processing or additional communication hardware in the mobile devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The boundary wire system is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it continues to define the working area boundaries while simultaneously serving as a communication medium for transmitting control signals, parameter updates, and operational commands. This multi-functionality avoids adding separate communication infrastructure.
2Ease of operation
If remote operation capabilities are added to autonomous mobile devices, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary wire acts as a mediator for remote communication, carrying encoded commands from the base station to mobile devices. This approach enables remote operation without requiring direct wireless communication modules or complex signal processing in the mobile devices, as the boundary wire infrastructure already provides the communication pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous mobile devices autonomously decode and execute commands received through the boundary wire without requiring complex interpretation layers. The system leverages the existing autonomous navigation and boundary-following capabilities already present in the devices, adapting them to respond to encoded remote commands.
3Loss of information
If data transmission is implemented through the boundary wire, then information loss is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary wire system is enhanced to simultaneously perform boundary definition and data transmission functions. By modulating existing electromagnetic signals with encoded data, the system achieves reliable communication without adding separate transmission infrastructure, keeping manufacturing costs comparable to standard boundary wire systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing electromagnetic field infrastructure of the boundary wire to carry additional information layers. Rather than creating new communication channels, it encodes data onto the existing signal structure, leveraging the already-deployed boundary wire hardware for dual purposes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the adaptivity and flexibility of autonomous mobile devices by enabling remote control and data transmission, allowing them to automatically adjust operations based on environmental conditions or operator commands without significant cost increases, improving safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The boundary wire emits an electromagnetic signal that is generated in such base station
Implementation Method 2
the electromagnetic field emitted by the boundary wire is sensed by sensors that are mounted on the autonomous mobile device
Data Source
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AI summary
A system comprising an autonomous mobile device (3) and a base station (2) connected to a boundary wire (14) is configured to transmit information from the base station to the autonomous mobile device (3). The base station (2) is configured to generate a radio signal to be emitted by the boundary wire (14), wherein the autonomous mobile device (14) is configured to autonomously drive within a working area based on the signal emitted by the boundary wire (14). The base station (2) on the other hand is configured to encode data and/or commands into the radio signal which is then emitted by the boundary wire (14). The autonomous mobile device (3) receive the emitted radio signal and is configured to decode the encoded data and/or commands in order to retrieve the original information.