Robotic Lawn Mower Navigation for Flexible Boundary and Obstacle Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic lawn mowers are either too simple or too complex, requiring rigorous setup and planning for a particular lawn and are inflexible, lacking manual and autonomous modes, and do not adapt quickly to different environments.
Innovation Solution
A robotic lawn mower equipped with a traction motor system, blade motor system, sensors, and processing circuitry that allows for user input to define boundaries and mow patterns, detects obstacles, and operates autonomously or manually guided, using beacons or satellite communication for location determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing robotic mowers use simple control systems, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but adaptability to different lawns and obstacles is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic mower is designed with a universal control system that can handle multiple functions: autonomous navigation, manual guidance mode, obstacle detection and avoidance, and adaptation to different lawn configurations. The system accepts various input methods (boundary wires, visual markers, GPS coordinates) and can operate in different modes (autonomous, semi-autonomous, manual), making it adaptable to diverse lawn scenarios without requiring completely different system architectures.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically switches between autonomous and manual guidance modes based on user input and environmental conditions. The handle mechanism allows dynamic transition between guided and autonomous operation. The obstacle avoidance system dynamically adjusts the mowing path in real-time based on detected obstacles, maintaining adaptability while using a consistent base control architecture.
2Manufacturing precision
If existing robotic mowers require rigorous setup and planning, then mowing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-mapping the lawn boundaries and features during an initial setup phase using simple boundary wires or visual markers. The control system stores this spatial information and uses it for autonomous navigation, eliminating the need for complex real-time setup. The boundary definition and obstacle mapping are accomplished through straightforward procedures that require minimal user expertise.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic mower performs self-service by autonomously navigating the lawn using pre-defined boundaries and stored spatial maps. The obstacle detection system automatically identifies and avoids obstacles without user intervention. The system self-corrects its path based on real-time sensor feedback, maintaining precision while requiring minimal ongoing user input after the initial simple setup.
3Productivity
If existing robotic mowers operate in fixed autonomous mode, then labor cost is reduced, but ease of operation worsens due to lack of flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The operational mode of the robotic mower is made dynamic, allowing transition between fully autonomous operation and manual guidance. The handle mechanism enables the user to take control when needed (e.g., for complex obstacles or boundary adjustments) while allowing autonomous operation for routine mowing tasks. This dynamic flexibility maintains high labor efficiency for standard operations while providing ease of intervention when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the user can monitor the autonomous mower's performance and intervene through the handle when necessary. The obstacle detection system provides feedback about detected objects, allowing the user to adjust behavior. This feedback loop maintains productivity by keeping the mower autonomous most of the time while providing flexible manual override capability when the situation requires it.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic lawn mower (100) includes a traction motor system (114) and a blade motor system (116) that, respectively, drives wheels (110) and drives a blade (108) of the robotic lawn mower (100). The robotic lawn mower also includes processing circuitry (102) for receiving user inputs that indicate a boundary (432), a mow pattern (1210), and/or a pre-planned path for a location (400). The processing circuitry (102) may control the traction motor system (114) and the blade motor system (116), in accordance with the user input, such that the robotic lawn mower (100) mows a lawn (430) at the location (400) based on the boundary (432), the mow pattern (1210), and/or the pre-planned path. The processing circuitry (102) may also detect an obstacle (820) in the lawn (430) based on the data generated by sensors (810) and operate the robotic lawn mower (100) to avoid the obstacle (820) and continue to mow the lawn based on the boundary (432), mow pattern (1210), and/or pre-planned path.WO