AUTONOMOUS IMPLEMENT

• US 20140257620A1
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Biber, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,456,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation

Abstract

An autonomous implement, in particular an autonomous lawnmower, includes at least one computing unit configured to travel over an area to be worked. The computing unit is configured at least partly to automatically initialize relocalization in at least one operating state.—

Claims

1. An autonomous implement, comprising:

at least one computation unit configured to travel along an area that is to be treated, the computation unit being further configured to initiate relocation at least to some extent automatically in at least one operating state.

2. The autonomous implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computation unit is configured to initiate a specific travel maneuver for relocation on the area that is to be treated in at least one operating state.

3. The autonomous implement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sensing unit configured to detect at least one sensing element.

4. The autonomous implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computation unit is, in an initial step configured to initiate travel along an outer border of the area that is to be treated and store, at least to some extent, a sequence of at least punctual border signatures therefrom.

5. The autonomous implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the computation unit is, in a step of relocation, configured to initiate a navigation strategy until the sensing unit detects the at least one sensing element.

6. The autonomous implement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the computation unit is, in a step of relocation, configured to initiate travel at least to some extent along the at least one sensing element that bounds the area that is to be treated and compare a sequence of at least punctual border signatures that arises therefrom with a stored sequence.

7. The autonomous implement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a locating unit configured to determine a position of its own at least within the area that is to be treated.

11. The autonomous implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the autonomous implement is configured as an autonomous lawnmower.

8. A method using an autonomous implement, the autonomous implement including at least one computation unit configured to travel along an area that is to be treated, the computation unit being further configured to initiate relocation at least to some extent automatically in at least one operating state, the method comprising:

automatically initiating relocation at least to some extent on the area that is to be treated in the at least one operating state.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the autonomous implement, in an initial step, travels along an outer border of the area that is to be treated and the computation unit, at least to some extent, stores a sequence of at least punctual border signatures therefrom.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the autonomous implement, in at least one step of relocation, searches for a sensing element that bounds the area that is to be treated and then travels at least to some extent along said sensing element, wherein the computation unit produces the sequence of the at least punctual border signatures that arises in the process and compares the sequence with the stored sequence.