Robotic Work Tool Navigation Between Sheltered Dock and GNSS Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic work tools, such as robotic lawnmowers, face challenges in reliably navigating to and accessing service stations, especially when these stations are sheltered from environmental factors, leading to increased wear and tear and difficulty in signal reception.
Innovation Solution
The robotic work tool utilizes deduced reckoning and magnetic field sensors to navigate a predefined distance from a service station where satellite navigation is unreliable, allowing it to exit or enter the station, and then switches to satellite navigation once reliable signals are regained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the charging station is positioned in direct line of sight with the signal navigation device, then the robotic work tool can reliably receive navigation signals, but the charging station is exposed to environmental factors increasing wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary location - a handover point - where the robotic work tool temporarily exits the sheltered charging station area to acquire reliable satellite navigation signals. This handover point acts as a mediator between the need for signal reliability and the need to minimize environmental exposure. The tool alternates between operating from the sheltered charging station and positioning at the handover point for navigation signal acquisition.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the charging station is positioned under a roof or shelter, then wear and tear from environmental factors is reduced, but the robotic work tool cannot reliably receive navigation signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the operational area into two distinct zones: a sheltered charging station area protected from environmental factors, and an exposed handover point area providing reliable satellite signal reception. The robotic work tool intelligently transitions between these two segmented zones - remaining in the sheltered area for charging and maintenance, and moving to the handover point only when navigation signals are needed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the robotic work tool continuously operates from the charging station, then environmental exposure is minimized, but navigation signal reception becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having the robotic work tool regularly alternate between two operational modes: operating from the sheltered charging station and positioning at the exposed handover point to acquire navigation signals. This periodic transition ensures that the tool maintains reliable navigation capability while minimizing overall environmental exposure by remaining in the sheltered area for the majority of operational time.
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 efficient and reliable navigation to and from service stations, even when sheltered, reducing wear and tear and improving operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a satellite navigation device (290) arranged to receive a satellite signal and output current location information
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic field sensor (270) arranged to detect a magnetic field
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A robotic work tool comprising a propulsion device, a satellite navigation device and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to: cause the robotic work tool to exit a service station a predefined distance by operating the propulsion device; determine that the satellite navigation device is receiving reliable signals and then navigate the robotic work tool based on the satellite navigation device.