Wireless Door Locking Mechanism for Robotic Mower Barriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic lawnmowers face challenges in passing through physical barriers like fences without human assistance, while preventing animals, debris, or intruders from doing so, as existing systems do not allow selective access.
Innovation Solution
A doorway system with a wireless transmitter on the robotic vehicle and a wireless receiver coupled to a locking mechanism in the barrier, enabling the door to unlock and lock automatically when the vehicle approaches and passes through, ensuring secure access and re-locking afterwards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a physical barrier (fence) is installed to separate lawn areas, then security and containment are improved, but robotic mowers cannot pass through autonomously
Solution Approach 1:
A door assembly is introduced as an intermediary component in the barrier fence, allowing selective passage while maintaining overall security. The door acts as a mediator between the barrier's containment function and the robotic mower's need for passage, enabling autonomous operation without compromising security.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly incorporates automatic sensing and actuation mechanisms that enable the door to open and close autonomously in response to the robotic mower's approach and passage. The system uses sensors to detect the mower and automatically controls the door's movement, eliminating the need for human intervention while maintaining security.
2Ease of operation
If a door is added to the barrier to allow passage, then autonomous access is improved, but security against unauthorized access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly uses automatic sensors and actuators to detect the robotic mower's approach and autonomously control the door's opening and closing. This self-service mechanism ensures the door only opens for authorized robotic mowers and automatically secures itself afterward, maintaining security while enabling autonomous passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the presence and passage of the robotic mower, providing feedback to the control mechanism. This feedback ensures the door opens only when needed and automatically closes and locks afterward, maintaining security while enabling autonomous operation.
3Reliability
If manual opening of the barrier is required for robotic mower passage, then security is maintained, but productivity and time efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly automatically detects the robotic mower's approach using sensors and autonomously opens, remains open during passage, and closes afterward. This eliminates the need for human intervention to manually open the barrier, allowing continuous autonomous operation of the robotic mower and significantly improving productivity without compromising security.
4Ease of operation
If the door remains open to allow passage, then ease of operation is improved, but security and protection against animals/debris deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly uses automatic sensing mechanisms to detect when the robotic mower has passed through and autonomously closes and secures the door. This self-service function ensures the door remains closed to prevent unauthorized access by animals and debris while automatically opening only when needed for the robotic mower's passage.
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 autonomous passage of robotic lawnmowers through barriers while preventing unauthorized access, eliminating the need for human intervention and ensuring secure separation of areas.
Implementation Method 1
a wireless transmitter that transmits an electronic signal from the robotic vehicle, and a wireless receiver coupled to a controller
Implementation Method 2
a magnet is disposed between the door and the doorway device to cooperatively assist gravity to encourage the door towards the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A doorway system for a robotic vehicle that accesses a separated area through a barrier that has a doorway formed through it. The system includes a wireless transmitter that transmits an electronic signal from the robotic vehicle, and a door movably disposed within the doorway, between a closed position and an open position. A doorway device with a wireless receiver that is coupled to a locking mechanism is configured to selectively engage and lock the door at the closed position, and unlock the door upon receipt of the electronic signal by the wireless receiver. Movement of the robotic vehicle toward the doorway device enables communication of the electronic signal from the wireless transmitter to the wireless receiver. Upon passage of the robotic vehicle through the doorway to the separated area, and return of the door to the closed position, the controller controls the locking mechanism to engage and lock the door.