Communication and safety device for boundary aided systems

• US 8,838,291 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2010
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Inventors: Jgenstedt, Patrik, Markusson, Olle
• Primary Examiner(s): EL CHANTI, HUSSEIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/808,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20130110322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/23
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0265 using buried wires

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method 400 and a system 100 for controlling a robotic garden tool 202 around a working area 204 in a boundary wire aided system. The system includes the robotic garden tool 202 to perform an operation within the working area 204, which is at least partly defined by a boundary. The boundary separates the working area 204 from a non-working area. The robotic garden tool also includes detecting means for detecting the boundary. Further, the robotic garden tool 202 is adapted to receive a status signal 110 sent from a signal source and the robotic garden tool 202 is configured to stop the operation, when the status signal 110 provides a stopping signal.

Claims

1. A robotic garden tool comprising a control unit configured to control the robotic garden tool such that the robotic garden tool performs an operation in a working area, the working area at least partly being defined by a boundary, the boundary separates the working area from a non-working area, wherein the robotic garden tool is configured to detect the boundary, wherein the robotic garden tool is configured to receive a status signal wirelessly communicated from a signal source, wherein the robotic garden tool is configured to stop operating when the status signal wirelessly communicated from the signal source provides a stopping signal, wherein the signal source that generates the stopping signal is connected to the boundary wire.

2. A robotic garden tool according to claim 1, wherein the boundary is at least partly defined by a boundary wire configured to conduct an electric boundary signal, and wherein the robotic garden tool comprises at least one detecting means configured to detect the boundary signal.

3. A robotic garden tool according to claim 2, wherein the status signal is configured to provide the stopping signal to the robotic garden tool as a response to the boundary signal from the boundary wire being discontinued.

4. A robotic garden tool according to claim 2, wherein the status signal is configured to be discontinued if the boundary signal from the boundary wire is discontinued.

5. A robotic garden tool according to claim 1, wherein the signal source is separated from the boundary.

6. A robotic garden tool according to claim 1, wherein the robotic garden tool is configured to stop operating if the receiving of the status signal is discontinued.

7. A robotic garden tool according to claim 1, wherein the robotic garden tool is configured to stop operating if the status signal is discontinued.

8. A robotic garden tool according to claim 1, wherein the status signal is configured to provide operating instructions to the robotic garden tool.

9. A robotic garden tool according to claim 1, wherein the robotic garden tool further comprises a charging station, and wherein the signal source is located at the charging station.

10. A robotic garden tool according to claim 1, wherein the boundary is at least partly defined by surface changes.

11. A robotic garden tool according to claim 10, wherein the robotic garden tool further comprises a surface detecting means configured to detect said surface changes.

12. A robotic garden tool according to claim 1, wherein the robotic garden tool is configured to calculate the distance to the signal source based on signal strength of the detected status signal.

13. A robotic garden tool according to claim 1, wherein the robotic garden tool is configured to recognize an identity signal sent from the signal source, such that the robotic garden tool and the signal source are connected to each other to form a system unit.

14. A robotic garden tool according to claim 1, wherein the robotic garden tool is a robotic lawnmower.

15. A method of controlling a robotic garden tool operating within a working area, wherein the working area is at least partly defined by a boundary, wherein the robotic garden tool is configured to detect the boundary, the method comprising;

receiving a status signal wirelessly communicated from a signal source during the operation of the robotic garden tool within the working area; and

stopping the operation of the robotic garden tool as a response to the status signal wirelessly communicated from the signal source providing a stopping signal, wherein the signal source that generates the stopping signal is connected to the boundary wire.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the boundary is at least partly defined by a boundary wire configured to conduct an electric boundary signal, and wherein the robotic garden tool comprises at least one detecting means configured to detect the boundary signal;

or

wherein the boundary is at least partly defined by surface changes and wherein the robotic garden tool comprises a surface detecting means configured to detect said surface changes.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the method further comprises the step of detecting that the boundary signal is discontinued and wherein the stopping signal is provided as a response to the detection of the boundary signal being discontinued.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the step when the status signal provides a stopping signal comprises the step of discontinuing the status signal and wherein the method further comprises the step of stopping the operation of the robotic garden tool as a response to the status signal being discontinued.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein the status signal further is configured to provide operating instructions for the robotic garden tool and wherein the robotic garden tool is configured to recognize an identity signal sent from the signal source, such that the robotic garden tool and the signal source are connected to each other to form a system unit.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein the robotic garden tool is a robotic lawn mower.