Smart Mower Boundary Sensing With Direction Memory in Narrow Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart mowers currently cannot determine their original walking direction and often collide with obstacles in narrow areas, leading to inefficient navigation and potential inability to exit such spaces.
Innovation Solution
A smart mowing system that includes a boundary module with a signal transmitting unit generating a magnetic field and a signal receiving module that converts this field into a boundary line induction signal, allowing the control module to determine the mower's position relative to a boundary line and adjust its walking direction accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a smart mower uses only obstacle and boundary sensing without directional memory, then the device complexity is reduced, but the navigation reliability deteriorates causing random collisions in narrow areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by recording the initial walking direction before entering narrow passages. The control module stores this directional information in memory, enabling the smart mower to recall and maintain its original trajectory when navigating constrained spaces, thereby preventing random collisions without adding complex real-time sensing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a directional recording and memory system that acts as a mediator between the simple sensing system and the navigation control. This intermediary stores and retrieves directional information, allowing the mower to maintain navigation reliability in narrow areas while keeping the overall system complexity low.
2Ease of operation
If a smart mower operates without directional memory in narrow passages, then the ease of operation is improved (simpler control), but the loss of time increases due to repeated collisions and inability to exit
Solution Approach 1:
The control module performs preliminary action by recording the initial walking direction before the smart mower enters a narrow passage. When the mower encounters obstacles or boundaries in the narrow area, it retrieves the stored directional information and adjusts its trajectory accordingly, enabling efficient exit without repeated collisions and minimizing time loss while maintaining simple operation.
3Device complexity
If a smart mower lacks directional orientation capability, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity decreases due to inefficient navigation and repeated collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements preliminary action by storing the initial walking direction in the control module before the smart mower enters narrow passages. This stored directional information enables the mower to navigate efficiently through constrained areas, avoid repeated collisions, and maintain productive mowing operations without requiring a complex real-time directional orientation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart mower performs self-service by using its own recorded directional information to navigate and exit narrow passages. The control module automatically retrieves and applies the stored initial direction when needed, enabling the mower to correct its own trajectory and maintain productivity without external intervention or complex additional systems.
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
Enables the smart mower to accurately determine its location within a designated area and navigate along or within boundary lines, preventing collisions and ensuring efficient operation within and outside narrow passages.
Implementation Method 1
a signal transmitting unit (12) configured to generate a boundary signal (BS) and transmit the BS to the boundary line (11)... A magnetic field is generated when the boundary signal BS flows through the boundary line (11)
Implementation Method 2
at least one signal receiving module (26) configured to convert the magnetic field into a corresponding boundary line induction signal (MS)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4a
Figure 4b~4c
AI summary
Provided is a smart mowing system. The smart mowing system includes a boundary line, a signal transmitting unit and a smart mower. The boundary line is configured to plan a working area of the smart mower. The signal transmitting unit is electrically connected to the boundary line and configured to generate a boundary signal and transmit the boundary signal to the boundary line. A magnetic field is generated when the boundary signal flows through the boundary line. The smart mower includes a second signal receiving module and a control module. The second signal receiving module is a preset distance away from a first signal receiving module. The control module is configured to determine whether the first signal receiving module is located inside the boundary line according to at least a first boundary line induction signal; to determine whether the second signal receiving module is located inside the boundary line according to at least a second boundary line induction signal; and when at least one of the first signal receiving module or the second signal receiving module is located outside the boundary line, to control the smart mower to walk basically along the boundary line.