INTELLIGENT GROUNDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20160198644A1
• Filed: 08/13/2014
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Inventors: Alexiusson, Mikael, Wietelmann, Sven, Grufman, Stefan, Mattsson, Anders, Lameli, Peter, Jgenstedt, Patrik, Schiedt, Christoph, Willgert, Mikael, Dernebo, Lars, Larsn, Martin
• Application Number:
  US14/912,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20160198644A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

A system may include sensor equipment, task performance equipment, and a yard maintenance manager. The sensor equipment may include one or more sensors disposed on a parcel of land. The task performance equipment may be configured to perform a task on the parcel. The task may be associated with generating a result that is enabled to be monitored via the sensor equipment. The yard maintenance manager may be configured to interface with the sensor equipment and the task performance equipment to compare measured conditions with desirable conditions to direct operation of the task performance equipment.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

sensor equipment including one or more sensors disposed on a parcel of land;

task performance equipment configured to perform a task on the parcel, the task being associated with generating a result that is enabled to be monitored via the sensor equipment; and

a yard maintenance manager configured to interface with the sensor equipment and the task performance equipment to compare measured conditions with desirable conditions to direct operation of the task performance equipment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors and at least one device of the task performance equipment that is within a predetermined distance thereof receive power from a same source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are powered from local sources comprising battery or solar cells.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors and at least one device of the task performance equipment are in communication with the yard maintenance manager via wireless communication facilitated by a communication hub.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the parcel is divided into a plurality of zones and each zone is associated with at least one sensor and at least one device of the task performance equipment.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the yard maintenance manager comprises processing circuitry storing map data descriptive of the parcel and each of the zones is defined by a corresponding geographic description relative to the map data.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein each of the zones is associated with plant data corresponding to at least one plant within a respective one of the zones, and wherein the plant data defines desirable parameters for growth of the at least one plant.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the yard maintenance manager compares the measured conditions from the at least one sensor of a particular zone to the plant data associated with the particular zone to determine whether to control the task performance equipment relative to the particular zone to alter conditions therein.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor equipment and the task performance equipment are fixed within the parcel.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the yard maintenance manager is configured to synchronize or sequence operation of different types of devices of the task performance equipment.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the yard maintenance manager communicates with the sensor equipment or the task performance equipment via a communication network for automated control over the task performance equipment.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the yard maintenance manager communicates with an operator via a remote terminal to suggest operator interaction with the task performance equipment.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor equipment at least receives power and a sprinkler component of the task performance equipment at least receives water via an integrated electric and water provision system.

14. A method comprising:

receiving sensor data from sensor equipment including one or more sensors disposed on a parcel of land;

determining current conditions on the parcel based on the sensor data;

comparing the current conditions to desirable conditions associated with vegetation planted on the parcel of land; and

providing at least one instruction relative to operation of task performance equipment configured to perform a task on the parcel, the task being associated with generating a result that is enabled to be monitored via the sensor equipment.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein sensors of the sensor equipment and at least one device of the task performance equipment are provided within a predetermined distance of each other and receive power from a same source.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensor equipment is powered from local sources comprising battery or solar cells.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein sensor equipment and at least one device of the task performance equipment are in communication with a yard maintenance manager configured to provide the at least one instruction via wireless communication facilitated by a communication hub.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the parcel is divided into a plurality of zones and each zone is associated with at least one sensor and at least one device of the task performance equipment.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the yard maintenance manager comprises processing circuitry configured to store map data descriptive of the parcel and each of the zones is defined by a corresponding geographic description relative to the map data.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the zones is associated with plant data corresponding to at least one plant within a respective one of the zones, and wherein the plant data defines desirable parameters for growth of the at least one plant.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the yard maintenance manager compares the measured conditions from the at least one sensor of a particular zone to the plant data associated with the particular zone to determine whether to control the task performance equipment relative to the particular zone to alter conditions therein.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensor equipment and the task performance equipment are fixed within the parcel.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein operation of different types of devices of the task performance equipment are synchronized or sequenced.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising enabling a yard maintenance manager to communicate with the sensor equipment or the task performance equipment via a communication network for automated control over the task performance equipment.

25. The method of claim 14, further comprising enabling a yard maintenance manager to communicate with an operator via a remote terminal to suggest operator interaction with the task performance equipment.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensor equipment at least receives power and a sprinkler component of the task performance equipment at least receives water via an integrated electric and water provision system.

27. A system comprising:

sensor equipment including one or more sensors disposed on a parcel of land; and

a yard maintenance manager configured to interface with the sensor equipment to monitor growing conditions on the parcel.