Soil Treatment Robot Perimeter Definition via Image Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current soil treatment robots, particularly robot mowers, face challenges in easy configuration and precise delimitation of work areas, requiring tedious manual intervention and often inaccurate virtual maps that need resetting upon changes in the terrain.
Innovation Solution
A method using a portable device with geolocation and image capture modules to determine and transfer positioning information to the robot, allowing for automatic definition of a cartography and movement strategy for the work area, enabling precise and flexible delimitation without ground-level preparatory work.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If boundary demarcation is performed using visible physical elements or buried perimeter wires, then the work area can be clearly delimited, but the installation process becomes laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical boundary demarcation systems (physical edges, buried wires) with an optical/image-based system. The portable device captures images of the terrain, and software automatically processes these images to define the work area perimeter, eliminating the need for manual installation of physical boundary elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy (image) of the physical terrain and work area. Instead of physically marking boundaries, the system captures an image of the area, processes it to identify the perimeter, and uses this digital representation to guide the robot, thereby avoiding time-consuming physical installation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If perimeter modification is performed using buried wires or physical barriers, then the work area boundary can be changed, but the process requires tedious restoration work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical boundary modification (digging, installing/removing wires and barriers) with digital image processing. The portable device captures new images of the modified perimeter, software automatically updates the boundary definition, and the robot adapts to the new area without any physical restoration work being needed.
3Ease of operation
If satellite positioning systems are used to locate work areas, then the robot can navigate between plots, but the virtual maps lack precision and require resetting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a precise visual copy of the work area using images captured by the portable device. This image-based map provides accurate visual reference for the robot's navigation and positioning, replacing imprecise satellite-based virtual maps with high-resolution terrain images that capture actual landscape features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image processing software as an intermediary between the captured images and the robot's navigation system. The software automatically identifies perimeter features, creates accurate boundary definitions, and provides precise positioning information to the robot, eliminating the need for manual map resetting.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for implementing a soil treatment robot and a corresponding system. This soil treatment robot includes, in particular, a control and steering unit, an absolute or relative positioning device, a data storage means, and a transmission module.The method is characterized in that, before said robot (1) processes a new work area or a modified work area (6), it consists of collecting, by means of a suitable portable device (7) equipped with an absolute or relative geolocation module and/or image capture, compatible with the positioning device of the robot (1), positioning information determining a plurality of positions or points (9, 9') along the perimeter(s) (10, 10') delimiting said work area (6), transferring this information to the robot (1), possibly after correction using at least one local fixed point, and automatically defining a map and/or a movement strategy for the robot (1) for the virtually delimited work area (6) after integration of said information.