Grass Field Operation Management for Timely Edge Cutting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The timing of edge cutting operations is often delayed or unknown when using automated lawn mowers and edge cutters, leading to inefficient maintenance of grass fields, which can also occur with manual operations.

Innovation Solution

An operation management device and method that acquires first operation completion data, generates boundary data, and outputs implementation data to prompt efficient execution of subsequent operations, including edge cutting or lawn mowing, even in non-implemented areas, using machines with varying cut widths to adapt to complex boundaries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If automated lawn mowers and edge cutters are used independently, then operation autonomy is improved, but operation timing coordination deteriorates causing delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation autonomyVSAvoidoperation timing coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The operation management device receives completion notifications from both the lawn mower and edge cutter, tracks their operational status, and sends notifications to ensure timely execution. This feedback mechanism coordinates the independent automated operations, preventing delays by monitoring and communicating operational completion status between devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The operation management device serves as an intermediary between the lawn mower and edge cutter. It receives completion data from one device, processes the information, and triggers notifications to the other device, ensuring proper sequencing and timing coordination without requiring direct communication between the lawn mower and edge cutter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If operation completion data is not tracked, then system complexity is reduced, but operation timing accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidoperation timing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments operation tracking into discrete completion notifications received from each device (lawn mower and edge cutter). Rather than implementing a complex continuous monitoring system, the operation management device divides the tracking function into simple completion event notifications, maintaining timing accuracy through structured data processing of these segmented events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If boundary areas are not specifically managed, then operation coverage is reduced, but operation efficiency is improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation efficiencyVSAvoidoperation coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The operation management device applies local quality management by specifically identifying and managing boundary areas where the lawn mower and edge cutter operations interface. It generates notifications targeted at boundary regions, ensuring these critical areas receive appropriate attention from the edge cutter after lawn mowing completion, thereby expanding coverage without sacrificing overall efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4129038B1Operation management device, operation management program and operation management method
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4129038B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4129038B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4129038B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An operation management device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: an operation completion data acquisition unit which acquires first operation completion data indicating that a first operation related to maintenance of a grass field has been completed; and an operation implementation data output unit which outputs, when the first operation completion data is acquired, operation implementation data which prompts implementation of a second operation that is an operation related to the maintenance of a grass field and is different from the first operation.