Grass Cutter Controller Calculates Remaining Work Duration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The usability of grass cutters is compromised due to inexperienced operators' difficulty in accurately assessing the remaining work duration based on battery levels, leading to inefficient work planning and battery management.
Innovation Solution
A grass cutter system that includes a controller to calculate and display the remaining work duration by detecting battery consumption and level, using sensors and an hour meter to provide accurate and real-time feedback on the battery's capacity for further cutting operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If convenient functions are implemented in the grass cutter, then functionality is improved, but usability deteriorates due to operators' inability to easily grasp work capacity based on battery level
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback to the operator by calculating and displaying the remaining work duration based on actual battery consumption patterns. The controller continuously monitors battery level changes during operation and translates this data into meaningful time information, allowing operators to understand how much longer they can work with the current battery charge.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the abstract parameter of battery level (percentage charge) into a more meaningful parameter of remaining work duration (time). This parameter transformation makes the battery status directly relevant to the operator's work planning needs, converting technical data into operational intelligence.
2Device complexity
If battery level information is provided without calculation of remaining work duration, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information increases as operators cannot accurately assess work capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The controller acts as an information processing unit that receives raw battery level data, processes it through consumption rate calculations, and outputs meaningful remaining duration information. This feedback loop converts incomplete information (battery percentage) into complete information (usable time remaining).
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves as an intermediary between the battery system and the operator. Instead of directly presenting raw battery level data, the controller mediates this information by calculating consumption rates and translating it into remaining work duration, bridging the gap between technical data and operational understanding.
3Ease of operation
If real-time remaining duration calculation is implemented, then usability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions: it manages the PTO mechanism, monitors battery level, calculates consumption rates, and displays remaining duration information. By making the controller multi-functional, the system avoids adding separate dedicated hardware for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the battery monitoring function with the existing PTO control system. The same controller that manages the PTO mechanism also handles battery level detection and remaining duration calculation, combining multiple functions into a single integrated control unit rather than adding separate systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present inventors have noticed that usability when convenient functions are used is not necessarily good in a grass cutter of the related art. A grass cutter includes a grass cutting device (100) that cuts grass; a battery (200) that supplies electric power for cutting the grass; a grass storage container (300) that stores the cut grass; and a controller (400). A work duration and a battery consumption required for a predetermined cutting amount of grass cutting work are detected. The controller (400) calculates a remaining duration during which the grass cutting work can be performed, based on the detected work duration, the detected battery consumption, and a battery level.