Navigation System and Method for Autonomous Mower
First Claim
1. A vehicle control unit for a robotic mower, the vehicle control unit comprising a navigation arbitration logic configured to arbitrate a selection between at least a first propagation mode and a second propagation mode, the first propagation mode being a mode of straight propagation of the mower and the second propagation mode being a mode of arc-shaped propagation of the mower, the navigation arbitration module being configured to select the second propagation mode when receiving sensor information indicating that the mower approaches a boundary of a specified area and has a distance from the boundary that is equal to or smaller than a specified turn distance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A navigation system for a robotic mower includes a boundary wire defining a boundary of a specified area; a boundary sensor assembly, and a vehicle control unit with a navigation arbitration logic configured to arbitrate a selection between at least a straight propagation mode and an arc propagation mode. The navigation arbitration module is configured to select the arc propagation mode when the sensor assembly indicates that the mower approaches the boundary of the specified area and has a distance from the boundary that is equal to or smaller than a specified turn distance. The boundary sensor assembly generates a sensor signal representative of a measured yaw angle of the mower relative to the boundary wire, and the navigation arbitration logic is configured to generate output information representative of a desired yaw angle dependent on an assumed actual yaw angle.
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Citations
41 Claims
- 1. A vehicle control unit for a robotic mower, the vehicle control unit comprising a navigation arbitration logic configured to arbitrate a selection between at least a first propagation mode and a second propagation mode, the first propagation mode being a mode of straight propagation of the mower and the second propagation mode being a mode of arc-shaped propagation of the mower, the navigation arbitration module being configured to select the second propagation mode when receiving sensor information indicating that the mower approaches a boundary of a specified area and has a distance from the boundary that is equal to or smaller than a specified turn distance.
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15. A navigation system for a robotic mower, the navigation system comprising:
a boundary wire defining a boundary of a specified area, a boundary sensor assembly, and a vehicle control unit including a navigation arbitration logic configured to arbitrate a selection between at least a first propagation mode and a second propagation mode, the first propagation mode being a mode of straight propagation of the mower and the second propagation mode being a mode of arc-shaped propagation of the mower, the navigation arbitration module being configured to select the second propagation mode when the sensor assembly indicates that the mower approaches the boundary of the specified area and has a distance from the boundary that is equal to or smaller than a specified turn distance. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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19. The navigation system of claim 19, wherein in the second propagation mode the desired yaw angle represents a mirror reflection of the measured yaw angle on a vertical plane extending along the boundary wire.
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29. A method of navigating a robotic mower, the method comprising the steps of
receiving sensor information representative of a measured distance from a boundary of a specified area and a measured yaw angle relative to the boundary; - and
arbitrating a selection between at least a first propagation mode and a second propagation mode, the first propagation mode being a mode of straight propagation of the mower and the second propagation mode being a mode of arc-shaped propagation of the mower; wherein the second propagation mode is selected when receiving sensor information indicating that the mower approaches the boundary of the specified area and that the distance from the boundary is equal to or smaller than a specified turn distance. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification