Automatic Lawn Mower Positioning Fault Detection With Map Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic lawn mowers face challenges in accurately recognizing and navigating within their working regions due to poor positioning signals, leading to safety issues and reduced efficiency, and existing methods for creating maps of these regions are inaccurate and complex, requiring complex boundary line arrangements and restricted installation of base stations.

Innovation Solution

A state detection method for automatic working systems that includes a mobile station with a first antenna for receiving satellite signals and a base station sending differential information for precise positioning, along with an alarm system to notify users of positioning faults, and a map generation method that allows real-time updates and user intervention to improve accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a boundary line is arranged along the boundary of the working region to enable the automatic lawn mower to recognize the working region, then the automatic lawn mower can determine whether it is located inside or outside the working region, but the arrangement of the boundary line is complex and adversely affects the look of the lawn

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking region recognition accuracyVSAvoidboundary line arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the boundary line arrangement from the working region recognition system and replaces it with a map-based approach. The boundary information is stored digitally in a map rather than being physically represented by wires or lines on the lawn, eliminating the visual impact and installation complexity while maintaining recognition accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy (map) of the working region boundary and obstacle information. Instead of using physical boundary lines, the system uses a stored map representation that the mobile station references to determine position and boundaries, achieving the same functional result without physical installations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Device complexity

If a map of the working region is created to enable the automatic lawn mower to recognize the working region without arranging a boundary line, then the look of the lawn is improved, but the navigation module may encounter faults resulting in positioning exceptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboundary line arrangementVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by creating and storing a detailed map of the working region before the automatic lawn mower begins operation. The map includes boundary information and obstacle locations, which are pre-processed and stored for reference during operation, enabling the system to handle positioning faults by referencing this pre-established map data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the mobile station continuously compares its actual position (determined by navigation module) with its expected position on the stored map. When discrepancies or navigation faults are detected, the system can identify positioning exceptions by cross-referencing with the map data and take corrective actions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of manufacture

If the base station is integrated with the charging station to power the base station, then the charging station can power both the automatic lawn mower and the base station, but the installing position of the base station is restricted and the positioning signal quality is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase station installationVSAvoidpositioning signal quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the base station functionality from the charging station location constraint. The base station can be positioned at optimal locations for signal reception (such as rooftops or elevated positions) while the charging function remains at ground level, allowing each component to be optimally positioned for its specific function without compromising the other

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enhances the reliability and accuracy of automatic lawn mower navigation by providing real-time signal quality feedback and enabling users to correct map inaccuracies, ensuring safe and efficient operation within defined working regions.

Implementation Method 1

a first antenna configured to receive a satellite signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSatellite signal reception: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a base station configured to send differential information to the mobile station to enable the mobile station to perform positioning according to the differential information

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDifferential positioning:

Data Source

PatentEP3557355B1State detection method for an automatic working system and mobile station
Publication Date: 2023.07.12 POSITEC POWER TOOLS (SUZHOU) CO LTD
  • EP3557355B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3557355B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3557355B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for providing an alarm about a positioning fault in a self-moving device. A self-moving device is configured to autonomously move, based on positioning of the self-moving device, inside a working region defined on a map. The method includes: receiving positioning data from a satellite positioning system to locate the self-moving device; detecting whether a positioning fault occurs in the self-moving device; and in response to a detected positioning fault that occurs in the self-moving device, providing an alarm about the positioning fault.