Robotic Lawnmower Navigation in Satellite-Shadowed Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic lawnmowers face challenges in navigating with high accuracy, especially in areas with many structures or foliage, where satellite navigation is disrupted, leading to reduced positional accuracy and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The robotic lawnmower system employs a combination of satellite navigation, deduced reckoning, and object sensors to identify and navigate towards reference objects, allowing it to confirm its position and continue operating even in satellite shadowed areas by using deduced reckoning sensors and object sensors to determine the presence and location of obstacles, thereby maintaining high accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the robotic lawnmower uses satellite navigation sensor for positioning, then navigation accuracy is improved in open areas, but positioning fails or accuracy deteriorates in satellite shadowed areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple positioning methods (satellite navigation, deduced reckoning, and object recognition) into a unified navigation system. The controller selectively switches between or integrates these methods based on environmental conditions, ensuring reliable positioning both in open areas with satellite coverage and in shadowed areas where satellite signals are blocked.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces reference objects (such as poles, markers, or natural features) as intermediary elements in the navigation system. These objects serve as mediating reference points that the robotic lawnmower can detect and use to confirm its position when satellite navigation is unavailable, effectively bridging the gap in positioning capability during shadowed periods.
2Device complexity
If the robotic lawnmower navigates using only satellite navigation, then the system complexity is reduced, but navigation accuracy deteriorates in satellite shadowed areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple sensing systems (satellite navigation sensor, deduced reckoning sensor, and object sensor) with their corresponding algorithms into a cohesive navigation framework. This multi-layered approach adds complexity but ensures high navigation accuracy across diverse environmental conditions by providing redundant positioning capabilities.
3Reliability
If the robotic lawnmower frequently switches navigation methods, then navigation reliability is improved in shadowed areas, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessments of satellite signal availability and pre-loads reference object data and deduced reckoning calculations. By preparing alternative positioning methods in advance and having the controller ready to switch between them, the system minimizes processing delays when transitioning between navigation modes, ensuring rapid response to changing environmental conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for use in a robotic lawnmower system comprising a robotic lawnmower arranged to operate in an operational area based on the satellite navigation sensor, determining that the robotic lawnmower is in a satellite shadowed area and in response thereto querying the map application for a reference object, and navigate to the reference object based on the deduced reckoning sensor, determining that the reference object has been reached based on the object sensor and, if so, confirming a new position of the robotic lawnmower, determining that the robotic lawnmower is not in the satellite shadowed area and in response thereto again operate based on the satellite navigation sensor.