Electric Mower Blade Detection for Adaptive Cutting Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric mowers often require manual adjustment of cutting speed by operators, which can lead to inefficient energy consumption and suboptimal cut quality due to difficulty in maintaining the preferred cutting speed as grass conditions change.
Innovation Solution
An automatic cutting speed control system that includes a controller with a processor and memory device, which automatically adjusts the blade carrier's speed based on instantaneous grass load and blade type detection, using a closed-loop feedback mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If manual adjustment of cutting speed is used, then operator control is maintained, but energy consumption efficiency deteriorates and cut quality becomes suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects blade type through feedback signals and adjusts cutting speed without operator intervention. The controller autonomously selects optimal speed settings based on detected blade characteristics, eliminating manual adjustment requirements while optimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses blade carrier feedback signals to detect blade type and continuously monitors operating conditions. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically adjusts cutting speed to maintain optimal performance, resolving the contradiction between automated optimization and operator control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed cutting speed is used, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability to changing grass conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously receives feedback signals from the blade carrier and automatically adjusts cutting speed in response to changing grass conditions. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic adaptation without requiring complex operator intervention or manual adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical speed adjustment with an automated electronic control system that uses feedback signals to dynamically adjust cutting speed. This substitution enables adaptability to changing conditions while keeping the physical mechanism simple.
3Productivity
If automatic blade detection is implemented, then cutting speed optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing blade carrier feedback signals to detect blade type and automatically optimize cutting speed. By leveraging available feedback mechanisms rather than adding separate detection sensors, the system achieves blade detection and speed optimization without significantly increasing device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A mower (10, 10') is disclosed. The mower (10, 10') comprising: an electrically driven mower deck (14, 14') including an electric motor (16) configured to drive a rotatable blade carrier (12, 12') supporting at least one first blade (18, 180) for cutting grass, wherein the at least one first blade (18, 180) is interchangeable with at least one second blade (18, 180) for cutting grass, wherein the at least one first blade (18, 180) is a different type of blade than the at least one second blade (18, 180); and a controller (200) operatively coupled with the electric motor (16), the controller (200) including a processor (202), a memory device (204) operatively coupled with the processor (202), and a blade detection logic (218) stored in the memory device (204) and being executable by way of the processor (202) to: measure a blade carrier feedback signal, identify the type of blade based on the blade carrier feedback signal, and control a mower operation based at least in part on the identified type of blade.