Lawn-mower Sensor Segmentation for Obstacle Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lawn-mowers lack the ability to detect grass surfaces and external obstacles, leading to inefficient operation and potential safety hazards during use.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of safety sensors that detect the presence of grass and external obstacles, allowing the lawn-mower to adjust its operation and path to ensure efficient cutting and safety by using programmable control units connected to motors and wheels, with sensors mounted strategically to monitor grass height and proximity to objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If safety sensors are added to detect grass and obstacles, then safety and operational efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system is divided into multiple independent sensors positioned at different locations on the lawn-mower. Each sensor independently detects specific conditions (grass presence, obstacles) and feeds signals to the control unit, which processes them separately to determine appropriate responses. This segmentation allows comprehensive safety monitoring without requiring a single complex sensing mechanism.
2Productivity
If sensors are mounted to detect grass height and proximity, then operational efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensors serve multiple functions: detecting grass presence, measuring grass height, and identifying obstacles. The same sensing mechanism and control unit that detect grass conditions also detect obstacles, eliminating the need for separate specialized devices for each function and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high operational efficiency.
3Productivity
If the lawn-mower autonomously adjusts operation based on sensor detection, then productivity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lawn-mower system performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment based on sensor inputs. The control unit automatically processes sensor signals and adjusts operational parameters without requiring manual intervention from the operator. This self-service capability increases productivity by maintaining optimal cutting conditions continuously while simplifying the operator's role to basic supervision.
Data Source
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AI summary
Lawn-mower comprising one or more motor-driven wheels and at least one cutting device, and further comprising means for determining a distance value of an external mass to modify the behaviour of said lawn-mower in response to said distance.