Automatic Snow Sweeper Path Planning for Directed Snow Throwing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing snow sweepers rely on manual operation, lacking intelligent path planning capabilities, which results in inefficiencies and resource waste due to the influence of personal experience and complex weather and terrain conditions.

Innovation Solution

A path planning method and device for automatic snow sweepers that acquire a snow throwing site and current position, determine a snow throwing direction, plan a snow sweeping path based on preset rules, and control the sweeper to move along the planned path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual operation is used to control snow sweeper movement, then the operator can adjust to complex weather and terrain conditions, but the path selection lacks systematicity and scientificity, resulting in low efficiency and resource waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to complex weather and terrain conditionsVSAvoidsnow cleaning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical control with an automated path planning system that uses sensors, processors, and control algorithms to determine optimal snow cleaning paths. The system substitutes human decision-making with computational algorithms that systematically evaluate terrain data, weather conditions, and cleaning requirements to generate efficient paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The snow sweeper equiped with autonomous path planning capability that enables it to independently determine cleaning paths without human intervention. The system self-adjusts to complex weather and terrain conditions by processing sensor data and automatically modifying the cleaning path, making the machine self-sufficient in adapting to environmental variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If manual operation is used, then the operator can make real-time decisions, but personal experience and skills influence path selection, leading to lack of systematicity and scientificity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time decision making capabilityVSAvoidsystematicity andscientificity of path selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces human cognitive decision-making with computational algorithms that systematically process terrain and weather data. The control system uses standardized algorithms to evaluate multiple factors and generate scientifically-optimal paths, eliminating the variability and subjectivity inherent in human operator experience and skills.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If automated path planning is implemented, then systematic andscientific path selection is achieved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesnow cleaning efficiencyVSAvoidpath planning system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple functions into a unified path planning system that simultaneously processes terrain mapping, weather condition analysis, path optimization, and real-time control. The control device serves multiple purposes: it acts as a navigation system, a data processing center, and an execution controller, thereby managing system complexity through functional integration rather than separate dedicated systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Loss of energy

If automated path planning is used, then resource waste is reduced, but the initial cost and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource waste in snow cleaningVSAvoidautomated control system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces resource-intensive trial-and-error manual operation with computationally-efficient algorithmic path planning. The system uses processing power to calculate optimal paths that minimize energy consumption, time, and material usage, substituting computational resources for physical resource waste while achieving net efficiency gains.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250085718A1Path planning method, device and automatic snow sweeper

Publication Date: 2025.03.13 SHENZHEN HANYANG TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed are a path planning method, a device and an automatic snow sweeper. The method includes the following steps: acquiring a snow throwing site and a current position of an automatic snow sweeper in a snow sweeping map; determining a snow throwing direction of the automatic snow sweeper based on the snow throwing site and the current position; planning a snow sweeping path conforming to a preset rule in the snow sweeping map based on the snow throwing direction; and controlling the automatic snow sweeper to move based on the snow sweeping path.