Autonomous Utility Vehicle Control With Virtual Work Area Boundaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional control apparatuses for autonomously navigating utility vehicles face difficulties in easily dividing a working area into multiple regions, as they require folding back the boundary wire, which is cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize an ECU with sensors and a wireless module to generate a working area map, allowing operators to designate imaginary boundary lines on a displayed map, dividing the area into regions and establishing a preferential working region, enabling the vehicle to autonomously navigate and work within specific areas without re-laying the boundary wire.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the boundary wire is folded back to divide the working area into multiple regions, then the working area can be divided into multiple regions, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a virtual copy of the boundary wire in the form of an imaginary boundary line displayed on a map interface. Instead of physically folding the actual boundary wire, the system generates a digital representation that can be easily modified by operators through simple input operations, thereby achieving area division without the time-consuming physical wire folding process
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical operation of physically folding and re-laying boundary wires with an electronic control system that processes virtual boundary line data. The ECU receives input data defining imaginary boundary lines and automatically generates control instructions, substituting manual mechanical wire manipulation with automated electronic boundary management
2Adaptability or versatility
If the boundary wire is folded back at arbitrary positions spaced at predetermined intervals, then the working area can be divided into multiple regions, but the operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a virtual map interface where imaginary boundary lines are displayed as digital copies of the working area divisions. Operators can easily modify these virtual boundaries through simple input operations without dealing with complex physical wire configurations, making the division process both flexible and operationally simple
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a map display interface as an intermediary between the operator and the boundary wire system. This intermediary layer allows operators to define and modify boundary divisions through intuitive visual feedback and simple input operations, eliminating the need to directly manipulate complex physical wire configurations
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
Enables easy and efficient division of the working area into multiple regions, allowing the vehicle to perform tasks like lawn mowing in preferred areas without the need for re-laying the boundary wire, simplifying the process of establishing preferential working regions and ensuring accurate navigation within designated boundaries.
Implementation Method 1
a position detector that produces an output indicating a position of the vehicle
Data Source
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AI summary
In an apparatus for controlling operation of an autonomously navigating utility vehicle equipped with a prime mover to travel about a working area delineated by a boundary wire laid thereat in order to perform work autonomously, there are provided with a working region establishing unit (43) that divides the working area into multiple regions by an imaginary boundary line designated by an operator and establishes a preferential working region in the working area, and a travel controlling unit (44) that controls operation of the prime mover to make the vehicle travel autonomously in the preferential working region, discriminates whether the vehicle has reached the imaginary boundary line based on a detected vehicle position detector, and when the vehicle has reached the imaginary boundary line, controlling operation of the prime mover to make the vehicle turn toward inside of the preferential working region.