Lawn Mower Robot Structure for Simplified Sensor and Battery Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing lawn mower robots have complex structures and increased manufacturing costs due to separate components like coil sensor holders, additional IR transparent windows, and battery cases, which complicate assembly and lead to higher costs and repeated collisions with obstacles.

Innovation Solution

The lawn mower robot design simplifies assembly by using a PCB-type coil sensor directly fastened to the inner body, eliminates the need for an IR transparent window by using a transparent ultrasonic sensor frame, integrates fastening hooks on the bumper to prevent deformation, and removes the battery case by directly fastening the battery to the robot body, reducing parts and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a coil sensor holder is used to assemble the coil sensor, then the coil sensor can be securely mounted, but the structure becomes complicated and the number of assembling processes increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoil sensor mounting stabilityVSAvoidcoil sensor holder structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coil sensor holder is integrated directly into the inner body structure, merging two separate components (holder and inner body) into one unified structure. This eliminates the need for a separate coil sensor holder while maintaining secure mounting capability through direct attachment points on the inner body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If an IR transparent window is separately manufactured and assembled to the ultrasonic sensor module, then infrared transmission is enabled, but the structure becomes complicated and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinfrared transmission capabilityVSAvoidultrasonic sensor module structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The IR transparent window is integrated directly into the ultrasonic sensor module housing, merging the window and housing into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate assembly of the transparent window while maintaining infrared transmission capability through the module housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a separate battery case is provided to accommodate the battery, then the battery is protected and easily removable, but the manufacturing cost and number of assembling processes increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The battery case is integrated directly into the inner body structure, merging the battery case and inner body into one unified structure. This eliminates the need for a separate battery case while maintaining battery protection through the inner body's structural design and integrated fastening mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of manufacture

If the bumper is installed without additional fastening hooks, then the assembly process is simpler, but the bumper gets lifted and deformed due to repeated collisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebumper assembly simplicityVSAvoidbumper stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Fastening hooks are pre-integrated into the bumper structure during manufacturing, so that the bumper is already equipped with proper attachment points before installation. This preliminary inclusion of fastening hooks ensures stable mounting without requiring additional assembly steps or separate fastening components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 design simplifies the assembly process, reduces manufacturing costs, prevents bumper deformation, and enhances the robot's ability to navigate without repeated collisions, while maintaining functionality and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the lawn mower robot has a coil sensor, and when the lawn mower robot touches the wire while traveling, the coil sensor senses a contact between the wire and the robot

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

mount an ultrasonic sensor module in front of an outer body of the robot to sense an obstacle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic wave reflection: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 3

an infrared ray sensor that recognizes the location of a charging stand for charging is applied to an inside of the ultrasonic sensor module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3560312B1Lawn mower robot
Publication Date: 2021.10.20 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3560312B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3560312B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3560312B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a lawn mower robot, and the lawn mower robot may include an outer cover (100); an inner body (120) accommodated into the outer cover to mount a plurality of wheels (109) for traveling on both sides thereof; a plurality of wheel drive motors mounted on both sides of the inner body, respectively, to drive the plurality of wheels, respectively; a rotating plate (112) rotatably mounted on a bottom surface of the inner body; a plurality of blades (111) rotatably mounted on the rotating plate to mow the grass; a blade drive motor (113) mounted inside the inner body to rotate a plurality of blades together with the rotating plate; a battery (130) mounted inside the inner body to supply power to the wheel drive motor and the blade drive motor; a battery receiving portion (131) extended upward in a protruding manner from a bottom surface of the inner body toward an inner space of the inner body to accommodate the battery therein at the bottom surface of the inner body; and a battery cover (132) mounted to cover a lower portion of the battery receiving portion, thereby improving convenience of assembly.