Lawn Mower Robot Frame Load Sensor for Obstacle Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lawn mower robots face challenges in navigating obstacles and irregularities, ensuring safety, and adapting to unforeseen conditions during operation, which can lead to damage or injury.
Innovation Solution
A lawn mower robot equipped with a control unit, load sensors, and orientation actuators that detect deformations and contacts with external elements, allowing for autonomous adaptation and control of movement and cutting operations to avoid obstacles and ensure safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the robot operates autonomously in areas with obstacles and irregularities, then the maintenance quality may be affected, but the robot can cover more working areas
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs preliminary actions by detecting obstacles and irregularities before they affect cutting quality. The control unit continuously monitors sensor data to identify potential issues ahead of time, allowing the robot to adjust its path or cutting parameters proactively rather than reactively, thus maintaining quality across diverse terrains
Solution Approach 2:
The robot dynamically adapts its operation based on real-time conditions. The control unit modifies cutting speed, blade engagement, and navigation parameters according to detected terrain variations, enabling consistent cutting quality whether on flat lawns or irregular surfaces with obstacles
2Productivity
If the robot continues operation after wheel lift-off, then productivity is maintained, but the cutting means may cause damage or injury
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit uses feedback from load sensors mounted on the frame to detect wheel lift-off conditions. When the sensors indicate that wheels have lost contact with the ground, the control unit immediately stops the cutting means, preventing potential damage or injury while allowing the robot to pause safely during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary anti-action by preemptively stopping the cutting means upon detecting wheel lift-off, before any harmful contact can occur. This protective measure is activated as soon as the abnormal condition is detected, eliminating the risk of damage or injury to persons, animals, or objects
3Productivity
If the robot operates at high speed, then productivity increases, but the risk of impact with obstacles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs periodic monitoring of sensor data at predetermined intervals during operation. This continuous check allows the robot to maintain high speeds between detections while quickly identifying obstacles that require speed reduction, optimizing the balance between productivity and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The robot dynamically adjusts its operating speed based on real-time obstacle detection. The control unit modifies speed parameters according to the presence and proximity of detected objects, allowing high-speed operation in clear areas while automatically reducing speed when obstacles are detected, thus maintaining both productivity and safety
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 robot can autonomously navigate and adapt to obstacles, preventing damage and injury by modifying its movement direction and power supply, thereby maintaining efficient grass maintenance while ensuring safety.
Implementation Method 1
at least one load sensor (5) positioned on said frame (2) and configured for detecting a deformation of at least one portion of the frame (2) and/or for detecting a contact of at least one portion of the frame (2) with an external element (6)
Data Source
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AI summary
Described is a lawn mower robot comprising: - a frame (2), - movement means (3), associated with said frame (2), configured for moving the robot (1) along an advancement direction (D), the movement means (3) comprise a plurality of wheels (31), including at least a first drive wheel (32A) and a second drive wheel (32B), and a traction motor (MA, MB) for each drive wheel (32A, 32B) configured for rotating the respective drive wheel (32A, 32B), - grass cutting means (4) for performing an operation for cutting grass, - a control unit (U) configured to control at least the movement means (3) and the cutting means (4), the lawn mower robot (1) being characterised in that it comprises at least one load sensor (5) positioned on the frame (2), configured for detecting a deformation of at least a portion of the frame (2) and/or a contact of at least a portion of the frame (2) with an external element (6) and connected to the control unit (U) to send to the control unit (U) an operating signal (S), and wherein the control unit (U) is configured for: - determining an abnormal operating condition of the robot (1), as a result of an operating signal (S) received from the load sensor (5) representing a deformation of at least one portion of the frame (2) and/or a contact of at least one portion of the frame (2) with an external element (6); - controlling the movement means (3) and/or the cutting means (4) as a function of said determined abnormal operating condition.