Autonomous Work Vehicle Shortcut-Wire Routing to Prevent Ruts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous work vehicles, such as robotic lawn mowers, face challenges in large working areas where they may waste power and create ruts due to increased travel distances and difficulty in detecting shortcut wires, leading to inefficient navigation and ground damage.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous work vehicle equipped with sensors and a control unit that detects signals from both area and shortcut wires, allowing it to trace the shortcut wire at a predetermined variable distance to reduce travel distance and prevent rut formation, thereby optimizing navigation and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the autonomous work vehicle traces the area wire in large working areas, then the vehicle can navigate the entire working area, but the travel distance increases and power is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the working area into multiple zones using multiple area wires (first area wire, second area wire, etc.), allowing the vehicle to navigate more efficiently by segmenting the navigation path rather than traversing the entire perimeter of a large single area wire
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces shortcut wires as intermediary elements that provide direct paths between different areas of the working area, allowing the vehicle to bypass long perimeter routes and reduce travel distance while maintaining navigation reliability
2Productivity
If the autonomous work vehicle traces the shortcut wire multiple times, then the vehicle can return to charging station efficiently, but a rut is formed near the wire due to repeated passage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent varies the tracing distance from the shortcut wire based on location, using a first tracing distance when approaching the charging station and a second, different tracing distance when leaving it, which distributes the vehicle's impact across different paths and prevents concentrated rut formation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the tracing distance parameter based on the vehicle's operational state (charging vs. working), changing the navigation behavior adaptively rather than using a fixed tracing distance, which helps distribute wear and prevent permanent rut formation
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
The solution enables the vehicle to efficiently navigate large working areas by reducing travel distance and power consumption while minimizing rut formation, improving operational efficiency and maintaining ground appearance.
Implementation Method 1
at least one sensor detecting the signal emitted by the wire
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous work vehicle is adapted to be guided by a signal emitted by a wire disposed at a working area. The autonomous work vehicle includes a control unit comprising a processor, and at least one sensor detecting the signal emitted by the wire. The wire includes an area wire surrounding the working area, and a shortcut wire disposed inside the working area. When the at least one sensor detects the shortcut wire while the autonomous work vehicle is tracing the area wire at a predetermined variable distance, the control unit is configured to control the autonomous work vehicle to trace the shortcut wire at a predetermined variable distance.