Lawn Mower Area Classification for Simpler Mowing Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intelligent lawn mowers face inefficiencies in mowing special areas like flagstone paths and manhole covers, as they avoid these regions, leading to incomplete mowing and increased path complexity, reducing overall mowing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves setting up 'ineffective areas' on a map, allowing the lawn mower to pass through these regions without avoidance, using non-contact sensors to identify grass and non-grass areas, and contact sensors to navigate obstacles, thereby simplifying the walking path and improving mowing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lawn mower avoids non-grass areas based on sensor information, then the mower can prevent damage to non-grass surfaces, but the mowing efficiency decreases due to complex detours and incomplete coverage of special areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between different types of non-grass areas. Restricted areas (like ponds and buildings) maintain avoidance behavior, while ineffective areas (like flagstone paths and manhole covers) allow passage. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by permitting mowing on safe non-grass surfaces while maintaining protection for hazardous areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its avoidance behavior based on the type of area encountered. The lawn mower transitions from a static avoidance policy to a dynamic one where the avoidance decision changes depending on whether the area is classified as restricted or ineffective, enabling efficient mowing on safe surfaces while maintaining safety constraints.
2Reliability
If the lawn mower follows a complex avoidance path around non-grass areas, then the mower maintains safety, but the walking path becomes more complex and mowing coverage becomes incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments non-grass areas into two distinct categories: restricted areas requiring avoidance and ineffective areas permitting passage. This segmentation simplifies the walking path by eliminating unnecessary detours around ineffective areas while maintaining safety through continued avoidance of restricted areas, thus reducing overall path complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying a universal avoidance rule to all non-grass areas, the patent inverts the approach by creating exceptions for ineffective areas. This inversion allows the mower to pass through areas that would traditionally be avoided, simplifying the path while maintaining safety through the segmented classification system.
3Reliability
If the lawn mower avoids flagstone paths and manhole covers, then the mower prevents damage to these surfaces, but grass on these areas remains unmowed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by specifically identifying flagstone paths and manhole covers as ineffective areas where passage is permitted. This allows the mower to mow grass on these surfaces without causing damage, as the system recognizes these areas as safe for mower passage while still providing protection for truly hazardous restricted areas.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a mowing control method, a setting method, a lawn mower, a setting apparatus and an electronic device. The mowing control method is applied to a lawn mower, and the lawn mower includes a first sensor, where the first sensor is a non-contact sensor, and the non-contact sensor is used to distinguish between a grass area and a non-grass area. The mowing control method includes: controlling the lawn mower to avoid the non-grass area to walk; receiving first position information of an ineffective area; when it is determined according to the first position information that the lawn mower walks to the ineffective area, controlling the lawn mower to pass and perform mowing within the ineffective area. Since there is no need to avoid the ineffective area, the walking path of the lawn mower is simpler, thereby improving the mowing efficiency of the lawn mower.