Mower Orientation Control for Deck Height and Blade Speed Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mowing operations are compromised by vegetation impacting the mower, leading to blade damage, reduced performance, and suboptimal cutting quality, particularly in high grass or sloping regions.
Innovation Solution
The lawn mower adjusts blade height, speed, and motor current based on real-time monitoring and calibration, using sensors and actuators to maintain optimal cutting conditions and prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the mower operates in high grass or sloping regions, then the mower can cover more terrain, but vegetation impacts the mower causing blade damage and reduced performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration to establish baseline values for motor current, blade speed, and orientation before actual mowing operations. This advance preparation enables the mower to detect vegetation impact by comparing real-time sensor data against these pre-established baselines, allowing early intervention before blade damage occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors motor current, blade speed, and mower orientation using sensors, and compares these readings against calibrated baseline values. When deviations indicating vegetation impact are detected, the system provides feedback control by adjusting blade height or mower speed to prevent blade damage while maintaining operational continuity.
2Productivity
If the mower maintains constant blade speed and height, then mowing efficiency is maximized, but vegetation impact causes blade damage and suboptimal cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts blade height and mower speed based on real-time detection of vegetation impact conditions. By making the previously static parameters (blade height, speed) variable and adaptive, the mower maintains high productivity in normal conditions while automatically reducing speed or raising the blade when vegetation impact is detected, preventing blade damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (blade height, mower speed) in response to detected vegetation impact. The calibration process establishes baseline parameter values, and when sensor readings deviate from these baselines indicating grass accumulation or impact, the system modifies parameters to eliminate the harmful effect while minimizing disruption to mowing productivity.
3Ease of operation
If the mower uses fixed cutting parameters, then operation is simple, but accumulated vegetation causes improper mulching and poor fertilization
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically establishing baseline values for motor current, blade speed, and orientation without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach maintains ease of operation while enabling the sophisticated sensor-based monitoring and adaptive control needed to ensure proper mulching and uniform cutting quality across varying terrain conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques for detecting a difference in orientation between a lawn mower and a surface on which the mower is mowing, or between portions of such surface, based on one or more of sensor data or map data are discussed. The difference in orientation may then be used to control the lawn mower by, for example, raising a deck height or idling a blade speed, though other actuations are contemplated. In some examples, an amount the deck height is raised may be based on the difference in orientation. Based on a subsequent difference detected being at or below a threshold difference, the mower may return to previous operating conditions including, but not limited to, returning a blade speed to a previous blade speed and/or returning the deck height to a previous deck height, among other controls. Such techniques may prevent undercutting turf due to such differences.