Solid-State LIDAR Sensor Arc for Power Equipment Obstacle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power equipment used for outdoor maintenance, such as lawn mowers and trimmers, face challenges in operating safely and efficiently due to complex turf management requirements and dynamic environmental conditions, necessitating advanced safety and object detection systems to prevent accidents.
Innovation Solution
The development of an electronic machine vision device equipped with solid-state LIDAR sensors and infrared sensors arranged along a two-dimensional or three-dimensional curvature, capable of detecting objects and generating ranging data to initiate safety responses, such as speed reduction or stopping, through a microprocessor that communicates with the power equipment's control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If advanced safety and object detection systems are implemented, then operational safety is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the detection task across multiple sensors arranged in an array, with each sensor handling a specific field of view sector. This segmentation allows the complex safety monitoring function to be distributed across simpler individual sensor units, improving reliability through redundancy while managing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor array serves multiple functions: object detection, distance measurement, and environmental monitoring. By making the detection system multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate specialized systems, thereby improving safety coverage without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sensor arrays with wide field of view are deployed, then object detection capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single complex wide-angle sensor, the system segments the field of view across multiple standard sensors arranged in an array. Each sensor uses conventional optics and detection elements, keeping individual unit costs low while achieving comprehensive coverage through geometric arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point detection approach to a distributed array approach, adding spatial dimensionality to the detection system. This allows standard sensors to achieve wide-field coverage through their geometric arrangement rather than requiring each sensor to have complex wide-angle optics.
3Speed
If high reporting frequency is used to identify objects in real-time, then safety response time is improved, but processing requirements and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the processing load by having each sensor independently monitor its own field of view sector and generate alerts only when objects are detected in its zone. This distributed processing approach enables high reporting frequencies without requiring a single complex processor to analyze all sensor data simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system processes data at high frequency only when necessary (when objects are detected), rather than continuously processing all sensor data at maximum rate. This partial processing approach maintains fast safety response times while reducing average processing requirements and costs.
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 solution provides a cost-effective and reliable safety and object avoidance system for power equipment, enabling safe operation in various environments by detecting objects and adjusting the equipment's movement in real-time, thus enhancing operational safety and reducing the risk of accidents.
Implementation Method 1
The LIDAR sensors can be selected to generate ranging data with a reporting frequency sufficient to identify objects
Implementation Method 2
a sensor adapted to detect reflection of the projected infrared frequency from an object within a field of view of the sensor
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of infrared sensors arranged in an arc approximately along a two dimensional or three-dimensional surface, an infrared sensor of the plurality of infrared sensors adapted to detect presence of an object
Data Source
AI summary
A machine vision device is provided usable in conjunction with power equipment machines. By way of example, an array of sensors can be deployed to detect proximity of objects to the power equipment machine, and issue an alert in response to detecting an object within a threshold distance. The alert can be utilized by the power equipment machine to take corrective action to mitigate or avoid running over or striking the object. Sensors having respective fields of view can be arranged along an arc to facilitate machine vision of a spatial volume in a proximity of the machine, and ranging determinations can be coupled with low cost processing devices to facilitate a machine vision solution far more cost effective than other technologies in the art.