Robotic Mower Path Planning to Prevent Lawn Rutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robotic mowers face issues with rutting and reduced efficiency due to repeated paths when returning to charging stations, which affects lawn quality and battery life, especially in large areas with obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A path planning method for robotic mowers that involves using pre-laid boundary or guide wires to guide the mower to a predetermined position, allowing it to exit the charging station along a different path each time, avoiding fixed tracks and optimizing mowing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the robotic mower leaves the charging station along a fixed track, then the path planning is simple, but it causes rutting that affects lawn growth and requires repeated mowing of the same path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic path planning where the robotic mower randomly selects different exit directions (left or right) from the charging station each time it returns for charging. This dynamic approach prevents fixed rut formation while maintaining relatively simple path planning logic through randomization of the exit choice.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the robotic mower follows conventional smart mower methods to avoid obstacles, then it can navigate complex areas, but it takes longer paths that consume more power and may not return to charging normally
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-sets boundary wires around the working area and guide wires leading from the charging station to different entry points of the working area. This preliminary arrangement of physical guides allows the mower to efficiently navigate around obstacles without complex real-time calculations, reducing power consumption while maintaining adaptability.
3Area of stationary object
If the robotic mower operates in large working areas, then it can cover more ground, but it needs to return to charging station multiple times which reduces battery life and increases working cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guide wires that extend from the charging station to multiple different entry points around the perimeter of the working area. This dimensional expansion allows the mower to access different parts of large working areas more efficiently, reducing the number of charging cycles needed and extending battery service life.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic mower and a path planning method, system and device are provided and the method includes controlling the robotic mower to exit a charging station, controlling the robotic mower to find a boundary wire or guide wire, where the boundary wire is pre-laid on the edge of the working area of the robotic mower, and the guidance line is pre-laid in the working area of the robotic mower, controlling the robotic mower to follow the boundary wire or guide wire to move until it reaches the predetermined position. With the disclosure, tracks generated when the robotic mower exit the charging station along a fixed path can be avoided, and the damage to the lawn or vegetation can be reduced.