Lawn care robot
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A robot lawnmower comprising:
- a drive system configured to maneuver the robot lawnmower across a lawn;
a controller in communication with the drive system;
a grass cutter;
at least one obstacle sensor in communication with the controller and configured to detect surface phenomena indicating potential obstacles;
a boundary responder detection system including a receiver unit configured to receive signals from active boundary responders;
wherein the controller is configured to;
operate in a check setup mode in which a user maneuvers the robot lawnmower to circumnavigate and approach a boundary and obstacles while the robot lawnmower is in manual mode, and topermit operation of the robot lawnmower in an autonomous mode in which the controller determines a location of the robot lawnmower based at least in part on a time-of-flight from one or more of the active boundary responders and only after the check setup mode is completed; and
a user interface configured to provide notification during the check setup mode when the robot lawnmower detects surface phenomena indicated as water content detected by a water content sensor, as surface phenomena detected by a tilt sensor, or as loss of wheel contact detected by a wheel drop sensor.
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Abstract
A robot lawnmower includes a body and a drive system carried by the body and configured to maneuver the robot across a lawn. The robot also includes a grass cutter and a swath edge detector, both carried by the body. The swath edge detector is configured to detect a swath edge between cut and uncut grass while the drive system maneuvers the robot across the lawn while following a detected swath edge. The swath edge detector includes a calibrator that monitors uncut grass for calibration of the swath edge detector. In some examples, the calibrator comprises a second swath edge detector.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A robot lawnmower comprising:
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a drive system configured to maneuver the robot lawnmower across a lawn; a controller in communication with the drive system; a grass cutter; at least one obstacle sensor in communication with the controller and configured to detect surface phenomena indicating potential obstacles; a boundary responder detection system including a receiver unit configured to receive signals from active boundary responders; wherein the controller is configured to; operate in a check setup mode in which a user maneuvers the robot lawnmower to circumnavigate and approach a boundary and obstacles while the robot lawnmower is in manual mode, and to permit operation of the robot lawnmower in an autonomous mode in which the controller determines a location of the robot lawnmower based at least in part on a time-of-flight from one or more of the active boundary responders and only after the check setup mode is completed; and a user interface configured to provide notification during the check setup mode when the robot lawnmower detects surface phenomena indicated as water content detected by a water content sensor, as surface phenomena detected by a tilt sensor, or as loss of wheel contact detected by a wheel drop sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A robot lawnmower comprising:
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a drive system configured to maneuver the robot lawnmower across a lawn; a controller in communication with the drive system; a grass cutter; at least one obstacle sensor in communication with the controller and configured to detect surface phenomena indicating potential obstacles; a boundary responder detection system including a receiver unit configured to receive signals from active boundary responders; and a user interface; wherein the robot lawnmower is configured to operate in a check setup mode during a first time period and operate in an autonomous mode during a second time period after the robot lawnmower has exceeded moving a certain distance in the check setup mode; wherein when the robot lawnmower is operating in the check setup mode, a user manually maneuvers the robot lawnmower to circumnavigate and approach a boundary and obstacles, and the user interface is configured to provide notification when the robot lawnmower detects surface phenomena indicated by the at least one obstacle sensor; wherein when the robot lawnmower is operating in the autonomous mode, the controller determines a location of the robot lawnmower based at least in part on a time-of-flight from one or more of the active boundary responders. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification