Robotic Lawn Mower Boundary Cutting With User-Defined Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic lawn mower systems lack flexibility in boundary cutting, as they typically perform uniform cutting along the entire boundary, failing to accommodate user-defined preferences for specific cutting areas.
Innovation Solution
A method for a robotic lawn mower system that allows users to control boundary cutting through a user terminal, where boundary data is acquired and presented to the user, enabling them to define specific boundary parts for cutting, and the mower is programmed to perform boundary cutting only along those defined parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If uniform boundary cutting is performed along the entire boundary, then the boundary cutting function is simple to implement, but the system lacks flexibility to accommodate user-defined preferences for specific cutting areas
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary is divided into multiple selectable segments or portions, allowing users to choose specific sections for cutting. The system processes boundary cutting requests by identifying and executing cuts only on the selected segments rather than the entire boundary, thereby providing flexibility without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The boundary cutting configuration is made dynamic and adjustable through user interaction. Users can modify which boundary portions are subject to cutting through a user interface, allowing the system to adapt to different cutting preferences and scenarios without hardware changes.
2Productivity
If boundary cutting is performed along the entire boundary, then the cutting coverage is complete, but the cutting time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts or identifies specific portions of the boundary that require cutting, separating them from the rest of the boundary. By focusing cutting operations only on the selected portions rather than the entire boundary, the system reduces cutting time and energy consumption while maintaining effectiveness for the required areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing cutting action along the entire boundary, the system applies partial action by limiting cutting to only the necessary portions. This selective approach reduces overall cutting time and resource consumption while still achieving the desired cutting coverage for the selected boundary sections.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users can define specific boundary parts for cutting, then the system flexibility is improved, but the user interface and control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital representation or model of the boundary that can be displayed and manipulated through the user interface. Users interact with this digital copy to select cutting portions, which are then translated into actual cutting operations. This abstraction simplifies user interaction by providing a visual or conceptual model rather than requiring direct control of physical cutting parameters.
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 solution enables precise and flexible boundary cutting, allowing users to customize cutting areas within the operation boundary, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of robotic lawn mower operations.
Implementation Method 1
An electric control signal may be transmitted through the boundary wire thereby generating an (electro-) magnetic field emanating from the boundary wire. The robotic working tool is typically arranged with one or more sensors adapted to sense the control signal.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a robotic lawn mower (100) that is adapted to operate within an operation area (311) defined by a boundary (310) and comprises a mower control unit (110) adapted to control the operation of the robotic lawn mower (100). The mower control unit (110) is adapted to receive data defining at least one boundary part (320, 321), comprised in the boundary (310), where the mower control unit (110) is adapted to control the robotic lawn mower (100) to perform boundary cutting (330, 331, 332) along said boundary part (320, 321), and to perform normal cutting along the rest of the boundary. The boundary cutting (330, 331, 332) is a procedure adapted to enable cutting over the boundary (310) in a pre-defined manner.