Smart Mower Position Correction Near Boundaries and Obstacles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart mowing robots face challenges in maintaining accurate positioning within their working areas, particularly when operating near boundaries or obstacles, leading to potential deviations from intended paths and reduced efficiency in lawn maintenance tasks.
Innovation Solution
A smart mowing system that includes a positioning module, a mapping module, a marking device, a coordinate estimation module, and a positioning correction module, which work together to acquire, estimate, and correct the positioning coordinates of the mowing apparatus by using a coordinate pair set to ensure accurate real-time location and improve operational accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the smart mowing robot uses a positioning module to acquire positioning coordinates, then it can operate autonomously in the working area, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates when operating near boundaries or obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the robot detects boundary markers, calculates the deviation between actual position and expected position based on the area map, and uses this feedback to correct positioning coordinates. The positioning correction module continuously monitors positioning accuracy and adjusts coordinates when deviations are detected, especially near boundaries and obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces boundary markers as intermediary objects placed at known locations around the working area. These markers serve as reference points that mediate between the robot's positioning system and the actual physical boundaries, enabling accurate position determination near boundaries without direct contact or complex sensing.
2Manufacturing precision
If the robot operates autonomously without positioning correction, then the system complexity is reduced, but the operational accuracy deteriorates leading to path deviations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the positioning system into distinct functional modules: a positioning module for acquiring initial coordinates, a coordinate estimation module for calculating expected positions based on area maps and boundary markers, and a positioning correction module for adjusting coordinates. This segmentation allows each module to perform a specific function, improving operational accuracy while keeping the overall system manageable through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing the area map with known boundary marker locations and pre-calculating expected robot positions at different operating points. This preliminary preparation enables rapid real-time position correction without complex calculations during operation, maintaining low system complexity while achieving high operational accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A smart mowing system includes a working area defined by a boundary and a smart mowing apparatus. The system further includes: a positioning module for acquiring positioning coordinates of the smart mowing apparatus; a mapping module for making an area map including the working area; a marking device; a coordinate estimation module configured to estimate approximately real coordinates of the smart mowing apparatus on the area map when the distance between the smart mowing apparatus and the marking device is less than or equal to a set value to obtain a coordinate pair set including the positioning coordinates and the approximately real coordinates; and a positioning correction module configured to determine a coordinate correction amount according to the coordinate pair set and correct the positioning coordinates of the smart mowing apparatus in operation by using the coordinate correction amount to obtain real coordinates.