Robotic Lawnmower Vision Control for Newly-Sown Grass

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Solution Overview

Problem

Robotic lawnmowers struggle to efficiently handle areas with newly-sown grass, as existing methods fail to differentiate it from other grass types, leading to potential damage or improper cutting.

Innovation Solution

Equipping robotic lawnmowers with a vision sensor and AI-based image processing to detect newly-sown grass, and adapting operations such as cutting height, navigation, and cutting schedule to avoid damaging the newly-sown areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the robotic lawnmower operates in newly-sown grass areas using standard cutting methods, then it can maintain the lawn uniformly, but it causes damage to the newly-sown grass

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelawn maintenance efficiencyVSAvoiddamage to newly-sown grass

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The robotic lawnmower performs preliminary detection of newly-sown grass areas using a vision sensor before executing cutting operations. The controller identifies these areas by analyzing sensor data, and preemptively adjusts cutting parameters or avoids these areas entirely during initial growth phases, preventing damage before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting height and cutting schedule are made dynamic and adaptable based on real-time detection. When newly-sown grass is detected, the system dynamically adjusts cutting height to higher settings or reduces cutting frequency, allowing the grass to establish roots before regular maintenance begins

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the robotic lawnmower uses standard operation in all areas, then the device complexity remains low, but it cannot differentiate and properly handle newly-sown grass areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle different grass areasVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A vision sensor serves as an intermediary detection device between the robotic lawnmower and the grass areas. The sensor captures visual data that is processed by the controller to identify newly-sown regions, enabling the system to differentiate between established and new grass without requiring complex mechanical modifications to the cutting mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical differentiation methods with optical sensing and digital image processing. Instead of using multiple cutting mechanisms or physical sensors to detect grass age, the system uses vision-based detection and software analysis to identify newly-sown areas, reducing mechanical complexity while increasing adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4674246A1Improved operation for a robotic lawnmower with regards to newly-sown grass

Publication Date: 2026.01.07 HUSQVARNA AB

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AI summary

A method for use in a robotic lawnmower system comprising a robotic lawnmower (100) arranged to operate in an outdoor operational area (205), and the robotic lawnmower comprising a vision sensor (185), and wherein the method comprises: detecting (420) an area of newly-sown grass (310) by receiving sensor data from the vision sensor (185) and perform analysis on the sensor data in order to detect newly-sown grass, and adapting (430) its operation for the area of newly-sown grass (310).