Canopy Parking Station for Self-Moving Devices With Protected Utility Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-moving devices for lawn care, such as intelligent mowers and irrigation robots, face challenges with user comfort and installation costs, particularly when dealing with uneven or soft ground surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A station for self-moving devices that includes a support member, such as a wall or pillar, and a canopy part that extends from the support member to provide partial or complete coverage for the device. The station is equipped with a water inlet and supply device, as well as an electrical power inlet and supply device, which are protected from environmental impacts and easy to connect to the self-moving device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the self-moving device is left exposed outdoors, then installation costs are reduced, but the device is exposed to environmental damage from sun and rain
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy is pre-installed on the support member before the self-moving device is deployed. This preliminary protective structure is already in place to shield the device from environmental factors, eliminating the need for costly post-installation protective measures while maintaining low overall installation costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy acts as an intermediary element between the self-moving device and the harsh outdoor environment. It provides a protective barrier that filters out harmful UV radiation and shields against rain, thereby reducing environmental damage without requiring the device itself to be modified or enclosed in expensive protective housing.
2Device complexity
If supply devices are exposed outdoors, then installation complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases due to environmental exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply device and electrical supply device are nested under the canopy structure, which is itself supported by the support member. This nested arrangement places the sensitive supply devices in a protected micro-environment without adding significant installation complexity, as they share the same structural support system.
Solution Approach 2:
The station is segmented into distinct functional zones: the support member provides structural support, the canopy provides environmental protection, and the supply devices are positioned in the protected zone underneath. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the device is parked without a canopy, then installation costs are lower, but user comfort and device protection are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy is designed with a simple attachment mechanism to the support member that allows for easy installation and removal. This dynamic design enables the canopy to be added or removed based on user needs, providing protection when required while maintaining installation flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy design uses simple, replicated structural elements that can be manufactured using standard, cost-effective methods. The support member and canopy are designed with straightforward geometries that can be produced through common manufacturing processes, keeping installation costs low while still providing adequate protection and user comfort.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a station (1) for a self-moving device (2), in particular lawn-care self moving device, comprising at least one support member, in particular wall (14), and at least one canopy part (10), wherein the canopy part extends from the at least one wall (14) and is configured for parking the self-moving device at least partially under the canopy part, wherein the station is provided with a water inlet (15) and water supply device (30) and an electrical power inlet (16) and an electrical supply device (32), the water supply device (30) and the electrical supply device (32) being configured for connecting the self-moving device (2). The invention further relates to a system (3) comprising the station and the self-moving device (2).