Robotic Garden Mapping With Interactive Parcel Visualization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Robotic mowers lack the capability to generate interactive models of gardens, limiting their utility and functionality in visualizing and mapping garden areas for user interaction.

Innovation Solution

Equipping robotic vehicles with cameras and processing circuitry to combine position data and image data, generating models of gardens that can be interacted with to view content items associated with specific locations, enabling virtual tours and enhanced garden management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If robotic mowers are equipped with cameras and processing circuitry to generate interactive models, then the utility and functionality for garden visualization is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveutility and functionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The robotic vehicle is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional mowing operations and garden visualization/modeling. By integrating camera systems and processing circuitry into the existing robotic mower platform, the system can both cut grass and generate interactive 3D models of gardens, allowing one device to serve multiple purposes and reducing the need for separate specialized equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates digital copies of the physical garden environment through photogrammetry and 3D modeling. Instead of requiring users to physically visit or manually measure their gardens, the robotic vehicle captures images and generates accurate digital replicas that can be viewed, measured, and interacted with remotely, simplifying the user experience while adding functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If position data and image data are combined to generate detailed garden models, then the measurement precision and visualization quality are improved, but the loss of time for data processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The robotic vehicle collects and processes imaging and positioning data during its normal mowing operations. By gathering the necessary data for 3D modeling as part of its routine tasks, the system performs preliminary data collection without requiring separate dedicated surveying trips, thus achieving high measurement precision without significant additional time investment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously collects and processes data during the mowing operation itself. The robotic vehicle simultaneously performs maintenance tasks and gathers visualization data in an uninterrupted continuous operation, rather than requiring separate phases for data collection and processing, thereby maintaining productivity while enabling precise garden modeling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3158409B1Garden visualization and mapping via robotic vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.01.20 HUSQVARNA AB
  • EP3158409B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3158409B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3158409B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for creating a visualization of a parcel or garden may include receiving information indicative of position data of a robotic vehicle transiting a parcel and corresponding image data captured by the robotic vehicle at one or more locations on the parcel. The method may further include generating a model of the parcel based on the information received, providing a graphical representation of the parcel based on the model, and enabling an operator to interact with the graphical representation to view one or more content items associated with respective ones of the one or more locations.