Robotic Lawn Mower Lane Changes on Slopes With Rear-Led Turning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Robotic lawn mowers experience slipping and grass wear when turning during systematic cutting in slopes, leading to potential stops and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A robotic lawn mower with a control unit that controls the operation to change cutting lanes by positioning the second end portion to face the new lane more than the first end portion, often moving in the rearward direction, and adjusting the rotational movements to minimize slipping during lane changes in slopes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the robotic lawn mower turns to change cutting lanes in slopes, then the mowing coverage is improved, but the mower slips and wears the grass

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemowing coverageVSAvoidslipping during turns

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional turning approach by making the rear end portion face the new cutting lane to a larger extent than the front end portion during lane changes in slopes. This reverse orientation during lane changes reduces the turning radius and minimizes slip distance, thereby maintaining productivity while improving reliability on sloped terrain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If the robotic lawn mower turns to change cutting lanes in slopes, then the mowing coverage is improved, but grass wear occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemowing coverageVSAvoidgrass wear

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the turning orientation so that the rear end portion leads the lane change maneuver, the patent reduces the distance and force of contact between the cutting disc and grass during turns. This minimizes grass wear while maintaining effective lane changing capability for complete mowing coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If the robotic lawn mower moves forward to change lanes, then the mowing efficiency is maintained, but the mower cannot effectively navigate slopes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemowing efficiencyVSAvoidability to navigate slopes

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enhances adaptability to sloped terrain by inverting the lane change maneuver orientation. This allows the mower to effectively navigate slopes while maintaining mowing efficiency, as the rear-led turning approach reduces slip distance and improves control on inclined surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20250359507A1Robotic lawn mower with enhanced cutting properties in slopes

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 HUSQVARNA AB

AI summary

A robotic lawn mower includes a control unit to control the mower, where a first end portion faces a forward direction and a second end portion faces a rearward direction. When the mower changes cutting lanes from a first cutting lane to an adjacent second cutting lane, the mower is controlled to turn such that the second end portion faces the second cutting lane to a larger extent than the first end portion, and to move in the rearward direction, towards the second cutting lane. The mower is further controlled to be positioned to perform grass cutting in the forward direction in the second cutting lane, and to perform grass cutting in the forward direction in the second cutting lane. The cutting lanes have a first inclination in a direction perpendicular to main lane extensions and a second inclination along the main lane extensions, which second inclination falls below the first inclination, and where the second cutting lane runs below the first cutting lane.