Contour-Following Orchard Mower With LIDAR Obstacle Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mowing methods for hillside orchards are inefficient, pose safety risks to operators, and fail to accurately follow ground contours, leading to high energy consumption and poor cutting performance.
Innovation Solution
A ground-contour-following autonomous obstacle avoidance mower equipped with a tracked chassis, two-dimensional laser radar, and a control system that includes a navigation system, radar-associated attitude sensor, and 4G communication, allowing for intelligent path planning and obstacle avoidance, while using buffer depth-limiting mechanisms and dual cutter motors for efficient cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional hand-held mowing methods are used in hillside orchards, then personnel can perform mowing operations, but the degree of intelligence is low and accurate mowing cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical mowing operations with an autonomous robotic system equipped with sensors, controllers, and automated cutting mechanisms. The robot uses laser radar for navigation and ground contour following, while microprocessors control the cutting height and angle, eliminating the need for manual operation and achieving both high automation and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The mowing system operates autonomously without human intervention during the mowing process. The robot independently navigates the terrain, detects ground contours, adjusts cutting parameters, and performs mowing operations on its own, demonstrating self-service capability that achieves both automation and accuracy.
2Reliability
If conventional mowing methods are used, then mowing operations can be performed, but kinetic energy of mowing machinery is relatively high posing safety threats to operators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces high-kinetic-energy conventional mowing machinery with a lightweight autonomous robot that uses electric motors and controlled cutting mechanisms. This substitution eliminates operators from the hazardous environment and reduces kinetic energy through precise electronic control of the cutting system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mowers are used in potholes, then mowing operations can be attempted, but ground contour following effect is not good
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic ground contour following system where the robot continuously scans the terrain using laser radar and adjusts its cutting height in real-time based on detected ground variations. The system dynamically adapts to potholes and uneven terrain by modifying wheel positions and cutting angles, achieving both terrain adaptability and precise contour following.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot uses laser radar and sensors to continuously detect ground contour information and feeds this data back to the control system. The controller processes this feedback and adjusts the cutting mechanism accordingly, enabling accurate ground contour following even in challenging terrain with potholes.
4Loss of energy
If conventional mowing methods are used, then mowing operations can be performed, but energy consumption is rather high leading to unnecessary waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces energy-inefficient conventional mowing machinery with an autonomous robot that uses electric motors and optimized cutting mechanisms. The system consumes less energy by using precise electronic control, lighter materials, and intelligent path planning that avoids redundant movements, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining or improving mowing efficiency.
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
The mower achieves efficient, safe, and accurate cutting with reduced energy consumption, capable of navigating complex terrains and maintaining optimal cutting angles, ensuring high operational reliability and maintenance convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a two-dimensional laser radar is mounted at a top end of the winch support; the two-dimensional laser radar, the navigation system, the radar-associated attitude sensor, and the barometer all communicate with the upper industrial computer
Implementation Method 2
the buffer depth-limiting mechanism includes a mounting base, a buffer spring, a rotating pair connecting rod and a universal depth-limiting wheel, a lower side of the mounting base is connected to the front depth-limiting-mechanism connecting plate and the rear depth-limiting-mechanism connecting plate, two ends of the buffer spring are respectively connected to the rotating pair connecting rod and the mounting base
Data Source
AI summary
A ground-contour-following autonomous obstacle avoidance mower for hillside orchards and a control method thereof are provided to achieve multi-angle cutting and low energy consumption in mowing operation through cooperation of a push rod motor and a connecting-rod rotating pair. A connecting rod is arranged and forms a flexible mechanism together with an upper base bearing, a lower base bearing and a base-connecting unthreaded shaft. The flexible mechanism interacts with the push rod motor to achieve ground contour following operation, so that the mower as a whole can conduct ground-contour-following mowing operation on a complex orchard terrain, with a better cutting effect than that of a traditional mower.