Robotic Lawn Mower Scheduling Using Calendar-Aware Event Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current robotic garden tools lack an efficient method to automatically adjust their operation schedules to avoid times when a lawn is planned or likely to be occupied, leading to potential operation during undesirable events and requiring frequent user updates.

Innovation Solution

A communication system comprising an external device and a robotic garden tool that retrieves and analyzes calendar information using natural language processing and word recognition to generate scheduling information, ensuring the robotic tool avoids operating during events and optimizes lawn maintenance before anticipated use, with the ability to adjust and transmit this information for motor control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the robotic garden tool operates continuously to maintain the lawn, then the productivity of lawn maintenance is improved, but it may operate during undesirable events when the lawn is occupied, causing harmful effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelawn maintenance frequencyVSAvoidoperation during occupied lawn

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by analyzing calendar information in advance to identify scheduled events before they occur. The processor extracts event data from calendar applications and proactively adjusts the operational schedule to prevent the robotic tool from operating during occupied periods, thereby avoiding harmful effects while maintaining productivity during appropriate times

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring calendar information and event data, then adjusting the operational schedule based on this information. The processor receives calendar data, analyzes it for occupied periods, and modifies the operational timetable accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to changing lawn usage patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the user manually updates the operational schedule frequently to avoid occupied periods, then the reliability of avoiding undesirable operation is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to frequent user updates required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveschedule accuracyVSAvoiduser update frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically retrieving calendar information from the user's calendar application, analyzing the event data to identify occupied periods, and autonomously adjusting its operational schedule without requiring user intervention. The robotic tool's processor independently manages the entire process from data retrieval to schedule modification, eliminating the need for frequent manual updates while maintaining high reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary component - the calendar information analysis system - that acts as a mediator between the user's calendar data and the robotic tool's operational schedule. This intermediary automatically processes calendar events and translates them into operational constraints, bridging the gap between user intentions and machine execution without requiring direct user involvement in schedule adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the robotic garden tool analyzes calendar information using natural language processing, then the adaptability to user schedules is improved, but the device complexity increases due to advanced processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalendar integration capabilityVSAvoidprocessing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves universality by implementing a multi-functional processor that can perform both standard operational control tasks and advanced calendar information analysis with natural language processing. The same processor unit handles diverse functions including retrieving calendar data, analyzing event descriptions, extracting occupied periods, and adjusting operational schedules, thereby achieving high adaptability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4298883A1Smart scheduling of operation of a robotic garden tool

Publication Date: 2024.01.03 TECHTRONIC CORDLESS GP

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AI summary

A communication system may include an external device and a robotic garden tool. The external device electronic processor may be configured to retrieve calendar information associated with a location that includes a lawn, and analyze, using at least one of natural language processing and word recognition, the calendar information to extract first information related to use of the lawn at one or more time periods. The external device may be further configured to generate scheduling information for the robotic garden tool based on the first information, and transmit the scheduling information to the robotic garden tool. The robotic garden tool may be configured to receive the scheduling information from the external device, and control operation of the at least one wheel motor to control movement of the robotic garden tool in accordance with the scheduling information.