Abstract:
An autonomous robot, that is for example, suitable for operations such as vacuuming and surface cleaning includes a payload configured for vacuum cleaning, a drive system including a steering system, a navigation system, and a control system for integrating operations of the aforementioned systems.
Abstract:
The laser guidance assembly (20) includes a first mirror (22), a mirror support (24), and a platform (26) rotatably supporting the mirror support (24) for rotation of a first mirror (22) about a vertical axis (28). The assembly (20) further includes a diode (30) attached to the platform (26) for emitting a laser beam (32) in a laser path (34). The assembly (20) is characterized by having a pivotal connection (36) between the first mirror (22) and the mirror support (24) for allowing oscillation of the first mirror (22) about a horizontal axis (48) relative to the diode (30) during rotation of the mirror support (24) about the vertical axis (28). The assembly (20) has a second mirror (38) supported by the platform (26) and fixed relative to the platform (26) for reflecting a reflected laser beam (40) from the first mirror (22).. the second mirror (38) has a filter section (44) and reflective section (46) for allowing the laser beam (32) to pass through and for reflecting the reflected laser beam (40). A processor (52) integrates a first signal (132) which is the reflected laser beam (40) signal, an oscillation signal (134) for the position of the first mirror (22) about the horizontal axis (48), and a rotational signal (136) for the position of the first mirror (22) about the vertical axis (28) to determine the precise location of a lawn mower upon which the assembly (20) is mounted.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a self-propelling vehicle which first, and possibly with the aid of a driver, drives along a selected route from a starting point to a destination, whereby the vehicle receives position signals from a positioning system and stores said signals in a data memory. The vehicle first receives an associated current position signal from the positioning system and at a point of departure when the vehicle subsequently and automatically drives along exactly the same selected route. Said signal is compared to the position of the starting point. If the positions do not match, the evaluation device calculates the direction towards and the distance to the starting point, whereupon the vehicle drives along this route. The direction and the distance to the next stored position are subsequently calculated using successively received current position data. The vehicle drives along the corresponding route. The vehicle can drive along a predetermined route inside a building when a local positioning system is used.
Abstract:
In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus and method for determining a path (22) or series of paths at a work site (20) for a mobile machine (28) capable of operating autonomously or semi-autonomously is provided. The present invention determines a series of rows that are substantially parallel to the machine's (28) heading. The width of the rows is based on the width of the path (22) worked by one or more of the machine's (28) work implements. The work site (20) is bounded by three or more corner points and the perimeter (24) of the work site (20) is defined by boundary lines connecting the corner points. A first line (108) substantially perpendicular to the machine's (28) heading is calculated starting at an initial corner point and ending at a terminal point (106) along the line (108) having a distance approximately equal to the width of the path (22). A second line parallel to the machine's (28) heading and passing through the terminal point (106) is determined. The points of intersection of the second line with the boundary lines are calculated and stored as end points (104) of a first path (22). Endpoints (104) of successive paths (22) are found in a similar manner by incrementing the distance along the parallel line by the width of the work path (22).
Abstract:
An electronic bordering system (1) for a working tool (2), in which a border cable (3), i.e. an electric cable, is placed above, under or on ground or floor, so that it separates an inner area (4) within the border cable (3) from an outer area (5). The working tool is preferably intended for attendance of ground or floor, such as grass-cutting, vacuum-cleaning, etc. A signal generator (6) feeds the border cable with current, whose magnetic field (7) affects at least one sensing unit (8) located on the working tool, so that the sensing unit emits signals (9) to a control unit (10), which in cooperation with an engine control (11), or a signal system for a driver, and at least one driving source (12, 13) directs the tool's movement in order to prevent it from remoting from the inner area. The signal generator feeds the border cable with current containing at least two alternating-current components (14, 15) of different frequency, and the components are lying in a known relation of time to each other. Thereby the control unit can evaluate the difference in the signals (9) caused by the magnetic field's different directions in the inner area (4) and the outer area (5), and the control unit can emit an area signal (16), which mainly takes up one of two states depending on the position of the sensing unit in relation to the border cable, i.e. an outer area state (17) or an inner area state (18).
Abstract:
A method is disclosed for controlling the movement of an autonomous, random movement electric machine within a zone of movement which may contain obstacles. The machine is fitted with at least two detectors fitted on either side of the machine centre line. The machine is operated in forward mode (phase a), its movement is reversed over a predetermined distance in response to an obstacle detection or zone boundary signal (phase b), its direction of movement is altered by turning it through a predetermined angle away from that of the detector emitting the signal (phase c), and its direction of movement is again reversed. An electric machine is also provided, particularly a lawn mower, using the above method.