Robot Lawnmower Beacon Mapping for Wire-Free Boundary Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robot lawnmower systems lack an efficient method for accurately mapping and displaying the area to be mowed, relying on boundary wires or manual teaching, which can be cumbersome and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising beacons positioned around the area, a detection system on the robot lawnmower to detect these beacons, and a controller that collects mapping data, aligns it with a coordinate system, and displays a map image, allowing for autonomous mowing and user confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a continuous boundary wire is used to confine the robot, then the robot can be confined within the lawn area, but the setup becomes complex and requires external power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the boundary definition function from the continuous wire system and implements it through discrete beacons positioned at key locations. The beacons emit signals that define the mowing area boundaries, eliminating the need for a continuous physical wire loop and its associated power supply requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical boundary wire system with an optical/electromagnetic signal-based beacon system. Instead of using a continuous conductive loop that requires power supply, discrete beacons transmit electromagnetic signals that the robot detects to determine area boundaries.
2Measurement precision
If manual teaching is used to map the area, then the robot can learn the boundaries, but the process is cumbersome and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-positioning beacons at known locations within the mowing area before the robot begins operation. The beacons are configured to emit signals that define the area boundaries in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual teaching processes during robot setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses beacons to create a signal-based copy or representation of the physical area boundaries. Instead of manually teaching the robot by moving it along boundaries, the beacons emit electromagnetic signals that replicate the boundary information, allowing the robot to automatically determine the mowing area through signal detection.
3Ease of operation
If beacons are used for mapping, then the setup is simplified, but the system requires detection and alignment processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordinate system alignment mechanism as an intermediary between beacon detection and area mapping. The system detects beacons, determines their positions in a local coordinate system, then aligns this data with a map image coordinate system using reference points. This intermediary processing step simplifies the overall system by providing a standardized method for integrating detection data with visual representation.
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 precise mapping and visualization of the mowing area, simplifying the setup process and improving the robot's navigation and mowing efficiency by providing a clear, accurate representation of the area to be mowed.
Implementation Method 1
a detection system configured to detect the beacons; and a controller configured to, while traversing the area to be mowed, detect the beacons using the detection system and collect mapping data
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A method of mapping an area to be mowed (20) with an autonomous mowing robot (10) comprises receiving mapping data from a robot lawnmower (10), the mapping data specifying an area to be mowed (20) and a plurality of locations of beacons (805) positioned within the area to be mowed (20), and receiving at least first and second geographic coordinates for first and second reference points that are within the area (20) and are specified in the mapping data. The mapping data is aligned to a coordinate system (456) of a map image (452) of the area (20) using the first and second geographic coordinates. The map image (452) is displayed based on aligning the mapping data to the coordinate system (456).