Autonomous blower for debris herding
First Claim
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1. An autonomous blower utilizing GPS signals for blowing ground debris from a clearable area to a target area, comprising:
- a chassis mounted on wheels;
an electrical power source attached to the chassis;
a controller attached to the chassis and electrically connected to the power source;
a first motor attached to a wheel and electrically connected to the controller, the first motor impelling the chassis forwards or backwards in response to an output a signal from the controller;
a second motor attached to the chassis and electrically connected to the controller, the second motor steering the chassis in response to a signal from the controller;
a GPS receiver attached to the chassis and electrically connected to the controller, the GPS receiver providing GPS signals to the controller indicative of the global coordinates of the chassis;
an air-exhausting blower attached to the chassis and capable of blowing a portion of ground debris near the chassis;
a database accessible by the controller of GPS coordinates of the clearable area and the target area; and
an algorithm in the controller for computing a serpentine trajectory of GPS coordinates of the chassis from the database;
whereby the controller autonomously coordinates the movement of the chassis through the computed serpentine trajectory using the GPS signals from the GPS receiver and signals to the motors, and the air exhausting from the blower blows ground debris from the clearable area to the target area.
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Abstract
An autonomous blower is described that utilizes GPS signals for blowing ground debris from a clearable area to a target area. A controller coordinates motors that propel and steer the autonomous blower. A database created in a teaching mode defines clearable, target, and no-trespassing areas with respect to GPS coordinates. An algorithm in the controller computes a serpentine trajectory for the autonomous blower so that it traverses the clearable area while transporting ground debris to the target area.
15 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An autonomous blower utilizing GPS signals for blowing ground debris from a clearable area to a target area, comprising:
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a chassis mounted on wheels; an electrical power source attached to the chassis; a controller attached to the chassis and electrically connected to the power source; a first motor attached to a wheel and electrically connected to the controller, the first motor impelling the chassis forwards or backwards in response to an output a signal from the controller; a second motor attached to the chassis and electrically connected to the controller, the second motor steering the chassis in response to a signal from the controller; a GPS receiver attached to the chassis and electrically connected to the controller, the GPS receiver providing GPS signals to the controller indicative of the global coordinates of the chassis; an air-exhausting blower attached to the chassis and capable of blowing a portion of ground debris near the chassis; a database accessible by the controller of GPS coordinates of the clearable area and the target area; and an algorithm in the controller for computing a serpentine trajectory of GPS coordinates of the chassis from the database;
whereby the controller autonomously coordinates the movement of the chassis through the computed serpentine trajectory using the GPS signals from the GPS receiver and signals to the motors, and the air exhausting from the blower blows ground debris from the clearable area to the target area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for blowing ground debris from a clearable area to a target area utilizing GPS coordinate signals, comprising:
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generating a database of GPS coordinates of the clearable area and the target area; computing a serpentine trajectory of GPS coordinates from the database; traversing the serpentine trajectory with a chassis to which is attached a controller, a receiver of GPS coordinate signals, and a blower; and communicating GPS coordinate signals from the GPS receiver to the controller, and correcting following errors in the chassis position with respect to the serpentine trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification