Robotic Lawn Mower Boundary Stands for Wireless Route Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robotic lawn mowers lack the ability to allow users to control mowing routes precisely, vary mowing areas, and identify their position relative to the lawn border, making it inconvenient to use them on different lawns or specific areas without the impractical setup of wires.
Innovation Solution
The integration of ultrasonic and RF devices on robotic lawn mowers and boundary stands allows for the definition and monitoring of mowing routes, enabling users to control the mower's position and route through wireless communication, eliminating the need for pre-installed wires by using flexible and portable boundary stands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional robotic lawn mowers use electromagnetic wires to define boundaries, then the mower can detect boundaries and avoid traveling outside the enclosing area, but the system becomes complex and inconvenient to set up and relocate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the boundary definition function from the electromagnetic wire system and relocates it to portable boundary stands with reflective markers. This removes the need for installing electromagnetic wires in the ground while maintaining boundary detection capability through optical sensors that track the positions of the boundary stands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic field-based boundary detection system with an optical detection system using reflective markers and sensors. This substitution eliminates the need for electromagnetic wires and ground installation, allowing for easy relocation and reconfiguration of mowing areas.
2Productivity
If robotic lawn mowers follow fixed wire routes, then the mowing path is predetermined, but users cannot control or vary mowing routes flexibly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic mowing routes by allowing the robotic mower to calculate optimal paths in real-time based on its current position, battery level, and mowing progress. The mower can dynamically adjust its route between boundary stands and return to the docking station, rather than following a fixed predetermined path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the mower continuously monitors its position relative to boundary stands, tracks mowing progress, and adjusts its route accordingly. The system provides feedback to users about mowing status and allows remote control of mowing patterns, enabling flexible adaptation to different lawn conditions and user preferences.
3Extent of automation
If robotic lawn mowers are designed for specific lawn areas with wires, then they can operate autonomously, but they cannot be easily used on different lawns or specific areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal boundary definition system using portable boundary stands that can be placed on any lawn surface without installation. The robotic mower can operate autonomously in different locations by simply repositioning the boundary stands, making the system adaptable to various lawn geometries and locations without requiring wire installation or system reconfiguration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables users to efficiently mow lawns without repeating areas, ensuring complete coverage and allowing for remote monitoring and control of mowing patterns, making it suitable for various lawn geometries and user preferences without the need for complex wire installations.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting ultrasonic waves to the boundary stands
Implementation Method 2
Each boundary stand has an ultrasonic receiver to receive the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the robotic lawn mower
Implementation Method 3
Each boundary stand has an RF transceiver to transmit or to receive RF signals
Data Source
AI summary
At least some embodiments of the present invention disclose a robotic lawn mowing system coupled with boundary stands to control and to monitor the moving of the robotic lawn mower. The robotic lawn mower uses boundary stands to identify the lawn boundary, to determine the position of the robotic lawn mower in a lawn, and to define the mowing routes. The ultrasonic and RF devices are placed on the robotic lawn mower and on the boundary stands. Based on the disclosed technology, users can define and design the mowing routes to mow the lawn according to their preferences. The control of the robotic lawn mower may be wireless, and users may monitor and control the robotic lawn mower with a computer, a cell phone, or a tablet through a wireless network.