Autonomous lawn mower
US5204814A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 1990 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T90/16
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Disclosed is an automatic, self propelled lawn mower that references its position within a cutting area using electronically stored path and terrain information as a primary navigation system, senses a non magnetic, non-current carrying metallic guide path as a secondary navigation system, senses underground metallic references for use as position reference points as a further navigation system, incorporates an ultrasonic obstacle detection system to stop the vehicle if unexpected obstacles are encountered. The vehicle further includes a cow-catcher front bumper arrangement to divert small objects away from the cutting blades, contains bumper switches to shut off the vehicle upon contact with large objects, contains an inclinometer sensor to halt the vehicle during unexpected tilting, incorporates a radio communications link to notify an off-board monitoring system of problems, contains an on-board power generation system using an internal combustion engine, generator, and a battery arrangement. The lawn mower also provides a navigation controller and servo motor positioning system that plans path motion, using sensory data and stored map data and to turn the drive wheels to propel…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.