Autonomous Mower Radar Detection for Avoiding Animals and Humans

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing autonomous mobile green space processing robots lack effective methods to detect and avoid living beings, leading to potential disruption or damage during operation.

Innovation Solution

The method involves the continuous transmission and reception of radio waves by the robot, evaluating reflected waves for living beings, and adjusting its operation to avoid them, using radar technology to detect movement and heartbeat or breathing patterns, and controlling its movement and processing tools accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the robot operates autonomously without detection systems, then productivity is improved, but harmful factors to living beings increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous operation efficiencyVSAvoiddisruption or damage to living beings
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The radar detection system performs preliminary detection of living beings in the robot's path before the robot reaches them. By continuously scanning the environment and identifying animals or humans in advance, the system allows the robot to adjust its trajectory proactively, preventing harmful interactions while maintaining autonomous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The radar system acts as an intermediary between the robot's autonomous navigation system and the living environment. It provides intermediate detection data about living beings, which the control system uses to mediate between the robot's mowing task and the need to avoid harming living creatures, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the robot uses radar detection to avoid living beings, then harmful factors to living beings are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisruption or damage to living beingsVSAvoiddetection and control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The radar detection system is integrated into the existing autonomous robot platform, serving multiple functions: detecting living beings for safety, providing spatial awareness for navigation, and potentially identifying obstacles. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving the safety benefit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If the robot continuously transmits and evaluates radio waves, then detection precision is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection of living beingsVSAvoidradio wave transmission and evaluation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous transmission, the radar system operates periodically by transmitting radio waves in pulses or at regular intervals. The evaluation device processes these periodic signals to detect living beings, achieving sufficient detection precision while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation. The periodic action maintains effectiveness by updating detection data at frequencies adequate for safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 approach enables the robot to autonomously and safely navigate around living beings, reducing the risk of disruption and ensuring efficient processing of green areas without human intervention.

Implementation Method 1

a) transmitting radio waves by means of the green space maintenance robot; b) receiving the reflected radio waves by means of the green space maintenance robot

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

evaluating the reflected radio waves for the detection of at least one living animal and/or at least one living human, taking into account a movement of the green space management robot

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDoppler effect: Doppler Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4047440B1Method for operating an autonomous mobile mower robot and mowing system
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO KG
  • EP4047440B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating an autonomous mobile green space maintenance robot (1), wherein the method comprises the steps: a) transmitting radio waves (AW) by means of the green space maintenance robot (1), b) receiving reflected radio waves (RW) by means of the green space maintenance robot (1), c) evaluating the reflected radio waves (RW) to detect at least one living animal (100) and/or at least one living human being, and d) controlling the green space maintenance robot (1) depending on the detection.