Robotic Mower Wire-Following Control for Narrow Passages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic mowers face challenges in navigating narrow passages without creating permanent tracks on lawns, as existing methods for following guide or boundary wires can result in the mower becoming 'out of bounds' due to varying distances, requiring complex computational adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A method where a robotic mower uses sensors to detect signal strengths from guide and boundary wires, randomly selecting distances and thresholds to maintain constant signal strength, allowing it to adaptively follow the wires and avoid creating tracks, particularly through narrow passages by switching between guide and boundary wire distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the robotic mower follows the guide wire at a variable distance to avoid permanent tracks, then track creation is reduced, but the mower may get out of bounds when passing narrow passages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the following distance adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the following distance based on real-time signal strength measurements from the guide wire, allowing the mower to maintain optimal tracking while adapting to varying conditions such as narrow passages and signal interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through continuous monitoring of the guide wire signal strength by the sensor. The control unit receives feedback about signal strength and adjusts the following distance accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains reliable boundary adherence while avoiding permanent tracks.
2Manufacturing precision
If the robotic mower uses a complex computational method to determine varying distances based on signal strength, then navigation precision through narrow passages is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by directly using the guide wire signal strength as the control parameter for adjusting following distance. Instead of complex computational algorithms, the system changes the distance parameter in direct response to signal strength variations, simplifying the control mechanism while maintaining navigation precision.
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 approach provides a simple and robust solution to prevent track creation on lawns while ensuring the mower can navigate narrow passages effectively, avoiding the 'out of bounds' issue with adaptive signal strength management.
Implementation Method 1
detecting, by means of the at least one sensor, a signal from the guide wire
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic mower and method for controlling a robotic mower to a predetermined position, by means of a guide wire. The robotic mower includes a control unit and at least one sensor. At least one of the sensors detects a signal from the guide wire and follows the guide wire at a first distance that is randomly determined. The robotic mower follows the guide wire until detecting, by means of the at least one sensor, a signal from a boundary wire and then following the boundary wire at a second distance, which is randomly determined. When detecting that the signal strength from the guide wire falls outside a first predetermined threshold, the robotic mower starts following the guide wire again.