Method of operating an automated land maintenance vehicle
First Claim
1. A method of operating an automated land maintenance vehicle over a work area defined by a closed boundary so as to create a desired visually discernible pattern on the surface of the work area, the method comprising:
- (a) determining a work regime by;
dividing the work area into a plurality of regions in accordance with the visually discernible pattern desired on the surface;
selecting an instruction for the vehicle to follow with respect to each region, the selection of the instruction being determined on the basis of that part of the visually discernible pattern contributed by said region;
providing data relating to the regions and to the associated instructions to processing means; and
computing, by the processing means, the work regime for the vehicle from the data; and
(b) providing data relating to the work regime to the control means of the vehicle whereby the vehicle is operated to follow the work regime, thereby creating the desired visually discernible pattern on the surface of the work area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of operating an automated land maintenance vehicle over a work area includes (a) determining a work regime by dividing the work area into regions; selecting at least one instruction for the vehicle to follow with respect to each region; providing data relating to the regions and to the associated instructions to a processor; computing, by the processor, the work regime for the vehicle from the data; and (b) providing data relating to the work regime to a controller of the vehicle, whereby the vehicle is operated to follow the work regime.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating an automated land maintenance vehicle over a work area defined by a closed boundary so as to create a desired visually discernible pattern on the surface of the work area, the method comprising:
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(a) determining a work regime by; dividing the work area into a plurality of regions in accordance with the visually discernible pattern desired on the surface; selecting an instruction for the vehicle to follow with respect to each region, the selection of the instruction being determined on the basis of that part of the visually discernible pattern contributed by said region; providing data relating to the regions and to the associated instructions to processing means; and computing, by the processing means, the work regime for the vehicle from the data; and (b) providing data relating to the work regime to the control means of the vehicle whereby the vehicle is operated to follow the work regime, thereby creating the desired visually discernible pattern on the surface of the work area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Ground maintenance equipment comprising:
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an automated land maintenance vehicle for operation over a work area defined by a closed boundary; control means on the vehicle for controlling the operation of the vehicle so as to create a desired visually discernible pattern on the surface of the work area; means for inputting a first set of data relating to a plurality of work regions in accordance with the visually discernible pattern desired on the surface; means for inputting a second set of data relating to instructions to be followed with respect to each region, the selection of the instructions being determined on the basis of that part of the visually discernible pattern contributed by said region; processing means for computing a work regime for said vehicle from said first and second sets of data; means for providing the data relating to the work regime to the vehicle control means, wherein the vehicle is operated to follow the work regime, thereby creating the desired visually discernible pattern on the surface of the work area. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification