Robot Mower Installation Mapping With Restorable Boundary Points

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for installing autonomous mobile devices, such as robot lawnmowers, in working areas like gardens and lawns are cumbersome and unreliable, particularly due to the need for perimeter wire installation and the inability to accurately define contours without significant deviations, which poses safety risks and operational inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

An installation method that uses a mobile device to map and define working areas by following an operator, recording their path, and associating information with stretches of the contour, utilizing GPS, UWB, or Bluetooth for coordinate determination, and optical or time-of-flight detection systems to monitor distance and orientation, allowing for precise contour definition and operation within defined boundaries without perimeter wires.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If perimeter wire is laid to define working area contours, then safety compliance is improved, but installation complexity and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety complianceVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical perimeter wire system with an optical detection system consisting of cameras and marker detection. The mobile device uses visual tracking to define working area contours without physical wire installation, eliminating the need for burying or pegging wires while maintaining safety compliance through accurate contour definition and deviation detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If perimeter wire is used to define working area, then contour definition is achieved, but the operation becomes lengthy and tiring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontour definition accuracyVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables preliminary definition of working area contours through visual marker placement and camera tracking during installation. The system pre-defines contours by detecting markers placed at contour locations and tracking the mobile device's path, allowing rapid contour establishment without time-consuming wire laying operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If signal tracking is used to chase terminal position, then distance detection is solid, but orientation detection is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance detection accuracyVSAvoidorientation information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple detection systems: optical cameras for visual marker detection and contour tracking, time-of-flight sensors for distance measurement, and GPS for position information. This multi-sensor fusion compensates for individual sensor limitations, providing both accurate distance measurement and reliable orientation detection through integrated data processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Measurement precision

If marker is added to terminal for camera detection, then tracking capability is improved, but installation flexibility and reliability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition detection accuracyVSAvoidinstallation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses visual markers as simplified representations (copies) of terminal positions that can be easily detected by cameras. Instead of requiring complex direct terminal tracking, the system detects visual markers that represent terminal locations, making the installation process more flexible and reliable while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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 enables safe, efficient, and intuitive installation and operation of autonomous mobile devices, ensuring compliance with safety regulations by accurately defining working areas and preventing deviations, while eliminating the need for perimeter wire installation and improving operational reliability.

Implementation Method 1

said following step being carried out by means of an optical detection system (3), in particular said optical detection system comprising at least a camera or a 3D radar sensor integral with said mobile device (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection:

Implementation Method 2

a control of the distance between said operator (50) and said mobile device (2) by means of a time-of-flight detection system (4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentEP3864948A1Installation method of a mobile device for land maintenance
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 STIGA S P A IN BREVE ANCHE ST SPA
  • EP3864948A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3864948A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3864948A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention relates to an installation method of a mobile device (2) for land maintenance. The installation method includes a mapping step of a working area (1) for the mobile device (2), which also includes a definition step of at least one contour (10) for delimiting at least partially the working area (1) or a definition step of at least one reference path within the working area (1). According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the definition step of at least one contour and/or reference path comprises the step of providing a plurality of intermediate points along the contour (10) and/or along the reference path. The intermediate points can be configured to act as restoration points of the definition step of at least one contour and/or of reference path after an event that has previously caused an interruption of the definition step of at least one contour and/or reference path.