Lateral Charging Station for Robotic Mower Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic mowers are limited in their ability to cover working areas behind and on both sides of charging stations due to the need to enter and exit the charging station, leading to ground deterioration and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A charging station design with a charging support and contact that allows the robotic mower to dock and charge without retreating, enabling it to depart directly along the entering direction, and a guide control module for automatic navigation to and from the charging station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the charging contact is disposed in front of the robotic mower and the charging station allows entrance for charging, then the robotic mower can be charged automatically, but the robotic mower cannot cover the working area behind and on both sides of the charging station
Solution Approach 1:
The charging contact is moved from the front of the robotic mower to the lateral side, and the charging station opening is repositioned from the front to the lateral side. This inversion of the charging interface location allows the robotic mower to charge while positioned laterally at the charging station, enabling it to subsequently access and mow areas behind and on both sides of the charging station that were previously inaccessible.
2Reliability
If the robotic mower enters and exits the charging station for each charging cycle, then the battery can be recharged, but ground deterioration and dents are caused at the entrance area
Solution Approach 1:
The charging interface is relocated from the front-docking dimension to the lateral-side dimension. The charging station opening is positioned on the lateral side of the station body, allowing the robotic mower to approach and charge from the side rather than repeatedly entering and exiting the same front entrance, thereby distributing wear across different ground areas and reducing localized deterioration.
3Productivity
If the robotic mower must exit the charging station after charging, then continuous work can be performed, but the robotic mower cannot directly depart along the entering direction
Solution Approach 1:
The charging contact and station opening are repositioned to the lateral side, which enables the robotic mower to approach the charging station from one direction, charge, and then depart in the same general direction along the lateral axis. This lateral charging configuration simplifies the operational sequence compared to front-docking designs that require full entry and exit maneuvers.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic working system includes a robotic mower automatically moving and mowing in a working area, and a charging station for docking and charging of the robotic mower; the charging station includes: a charging support and a charging contact mounted on the charging support; and the robotic mower includes a housing, and a charging connector disposed on a lateral side of the housing and connected to the charging contact to receive electric energy when the robotic mower is in a docking position where the robotic mower is docked with the charging station. When the robotic mower is in the docking position, the charging support is located on a lateral side of the robotic mower, and the charging station is open in a front and back direction of the robotic mower to form a passage for the robotic mower to enter and exit the charging station approximately along a same direction.