Robotic Mower Guide-Wire Navigation Using Signal Polarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic mowers face inefficiencies in navigating back to charging stations due to varying signal levels of guide wires influenced by wire length, surface routing, and weather conditions, leading to increased battery consumption during navigation.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing magnetic field sensors to measure the polarity of guide wires, allowing the robotic mower to determine its orientation and direction relative to the wire, enabling efficient and reliable navigation by aligning and straddling along the wire to the charging station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If signal level is used for navigation, then the robotic mower can detect the wire, but the navigation time increases due to signal variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from signal level (amplitude) to signal polarity (phase). By using polarity detection instead of level detection, the system achieves more reliable wire detection that is not affected by signal strength variations caused by wire length, placement, or weather conditions, thereby reducing navigation time while maintaining detection reliability.
2Productivity
If signal level is used for navigation, then the robotic mower can follow the wire, but battery consumption increases due to extended search time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from signal level to signal polarity. This parameter change enables the robotic mower to quickly and reliably detect and follow the wire without extended search time, thereby improving navigation efficiency while reducing battery consumption. The polarity detection method eliminates the need for time-consuming signal strength searches.
3Ease of operation
If boundary wire following is used, then the robotic mower can return to charging station, but the path is longer compared to guide wire
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide wire as an intermediary element to facilitate faster navigation. The guide wire provides a direct path from the robotic mower to the charging station, serving as a mediator that enables shorter and faster return trips compared to following the boundary wire, while still maintaining ease of operation through simple polarity-based detection.
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 method reduces unnecessary battery consumption and navigation time by accurately determining the mower's position and direction, ensuring quick and robust guidance to the charging station.
Implementation Method 1
The wire forms a part of an electric circuit. A current through the wire creates a magnetic field around the wire. The sensors are adapted to measure this magnetic field.
Data Source
AI summary
A method navigates a robotic mower (2) by means of a wire (8). The robotic mower (2) comprises at least two sensors (12; 14). The method comprises detecting (S101), by means of the at least two sensors (12, 14), at least one signal from the wire (4a; 8; 10), measuring (S102) a polarity of the at least one signal of the wire (4a; 8; 10) by means of each one of the at least two sensors (12, 14), determining (S103) a direction based on the polarities measured by means of the at least two sensors (12, 14) and turning (S104) the robotic mower (2) towards the determined direction.