Scheduling Interface for Robotic Garden Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in monitoring and adjusting scheduled operation times for robotic garden tools, as existing systems lack an efficient user interface for revising and tracking scheduling information.
Innovation Solution
A user interface on an external device displays scheduling details in an organized manner, allowing users to easily revise and adjust scheduled operation times for robotic garden tools, including a scheduling screen with editable time blocks and options for different operations, with the ability to transmit changes to the robotic tool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional scheduling interface is used for robotic garden tools, then the system structure remains simple, but user monitoring and adjustment efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The scheduling interface is segmented into multiple interactive elements including draggable time blocks, separate operation type selectors, and hierarchical navigation between daily and weekly views. This segmentation allows users to interact with specific portions of the schedule independently, improving monitoring and adjustment efficiency without requiring a complete redesign of the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary graphical interface layer between the user and the robotic garden tool's scheduling system. This interface acts as a mediator that translates user drag-and-drop actions and selections into structured scheduling data, which is then transmitted to the robotic tool. The intermediary layer handles the complexity of schedule management while presenting a simplified interaction model to users.
2Loss of information
If scheduling information is displayed in detail, then user understanding of operation times improves, but information organization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scheduling information is organized across multiple dimensions including time (daily vs. weekly views), operation types (mowing, edging, blowing), and visual hierarchy (time blocks nested within days). This multi-dimensional organization allows detailed scheduling information to be presented in a structured manner that maintains clarity while comprehensively displaying operation times, types, and durations without overwhelming the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a copying mechanism where a selected time block from the daily view can be copied and pasted to create additional scheduled operations. This copying feature allows users to efficiently replicate scheduling patterns across different days or times, reducing the need to manually enter identical scheduling information multiple times while maintaining accurate and detailed schedule records.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
An external device that may include a display and a device network interface configured to allow the external device to wirelessly communicate with one or more robotic garden tools. The external device may be configured to display a scheduling screen on the display. The scheduling screen may include a first display area including a calendar that includes a plurality of time blocks. Each time block may represent a time period during which a first robotic garden tool is scheduled to operate. The scheduling screen may include a second display area including first scheduling information about a selected time block. The first scheduling information and the selected time block may be editable via user inputs. The user inputs change the scheduling information or the time block, and the external device also correspondingly changes the other of the scheduling information or the time block in response to the user inputs.