Lawn Mower Robot Boundary Navigation via Light Signal
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Solution Overview
Problem
In busy daily life, it is challenging for individuals to operate lawn mowers, especially in large areas like playgrounds, leading to increased hiring costs for lawn maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A lawn mower robot system equipped with a boundary display apparatus that produces signals, a mowing device, sensors, and a controller to navigate and mow lawns autonomously along the boundary signals, allowing the robot to move and mow lawns without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a human directly operates the lawn mower, then the mowing task can be completed with simple equipment, but it requires significant time and effort from the user
Solution Approach 1:
The lawn mower robot autonomously performs mowing tasks without human intervention. It navigates independently using sensors to detect boundary signals, controls its own movement via moving device, and executes mowing operations automatically, thereby eliminating the need for continuous human operation and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated control system. The controller substitutes human decision-making by processing sensor data and generating control signals for the moving device and mowing device, transforming a manually-operated mechanical system into an autonomous electromechanical system.
2Ease of operation
If a robot is used to mow lawns autonomously, then user time and effort are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary display apparatus serves multiple functions: it emits light signals for navigation guidance and simultaneously defines the operational boundaries for the robot. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby managing device complexity while enabling autonomous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The light signal acts as an intermediary between the boundary display apparatus and the robot's sensor system. Instead of requiring complex direct communication or recognition systems, the robot uses the optical signal as a simple, reliable mediator for navigation and boundary detection, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Extent of automation
If the robot navigates using light signals from boundary display apparatus, then autonomous navigation is achieved, but additional components and system complexity are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical navigation systems with an optical-based guidance system. The robot uses light sensors to detect optical signals from boundary display apparatus, substituting mechanical steering and positioning mechanisms with a simpler sensor-controlled navigation approach that achieves autonomous navigation with reduced mechanical complexity.
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
The system enables efficient and cost-effective lawn mowing by allowing the robot to autonomously navigate and mow within defined boundaries, reducing the burden on users and minimizing hiring costs for lawn maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor that senses the signal produced from the signal producing unit
Data Source
AI summary
A lawn mower robot includes a body including a mowing device; a sensor disposed in the body and sensing light signal produced from a signal producing unit in the outside; a moving device disposed in the body; and a controller controlling the moving device based on information sensed from the sensor, wherein the controller controls the moving device so that the lawn mower robot is moved along the light signal.