Autonomous blower for debris herding

• US 20090282642A1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Samuel Batchelder, Rachael Anne Batchelder
• Original Assignee: John Samuel Batchelder, Rachael Anne Batchelder
• Inventors: Batchelder, John Samuel, Batchelder, Rachael Anne
• Granted Patent: US 8,074,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/405
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 20/47 Vacuum or blower devices
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0809 Loosening or dislodging by blowing combined with suction E01H1/0863; with steam E01H1/10; removing snow by blowing E01H5/106; cleaning rails by blowing E01H8/105, E01H8/125; removing fog by blowing E01H13/00; cleaning joints in road construction by blowing E01C23/0906; Drying by means of gas streams by heat only E01H1/08; combined with snow or ice melting E01H5/10, E01H5/106, E01H5/108

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.

Claims

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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical power source is selected from at least one of the following electrical power sources:

a fuel cell, a battery, a solar cell, a capacitor, and a motor generator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a docking port attached to the chassis and electrically connected to the power source, whereby the power source can be charged by positioning the chassis proximate to a charging station and engaging the docking port with a connection on the charging station.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power to operate the air-exhausting blower is selected from at least one of the following power sources:

the electrical power source, a fuel cell, a gasoline motor, and a compressed air tank.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an air deflector attached to the chassis and receiving a signal from the controller, whereby the controller can direct blown air away towards target areas.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the database of GPS coordinates of the clearable area and the target area is accumulated in a teaching mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the database of GPS coordinates of the clearable area and the target area is transmitted to the controller using an Internet-based tool.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the database of GPS coordinates of the clearable area and the target area further comprises no-trespassing areas.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the database of GPS coordinates of the clearable area and the target area further comprises no-blowing areas.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an air deflector attached to the chassis and receiving a signal from the controller, whereby the controller can direct blown air away from the no-blowing areas.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an obstacle avoidance sensor attached to the chassis and providing a signal to the controller.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a portion of the serpentine trajectory is concentric arcs.

13. A method for blowing ground debris from a clearable area to a target area utilizing GPS coordinate signals, comprising:

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.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the database of GPS coordinates of the clearable area and the target area is accumulated in a teaching mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the database of GPS coordinates of the clearable area and the target area is transmitted to the controller using an Internet-based tool.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the database of GPS coordinates of the clearable area and the target area further comprises no-trespassing areas.