Robotic mower launch point system

US8549826B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Deere & Company · US

Inventors

• Justin A. Kraft · Raleigh, US
• Roger Kane · Lyndon Station, US
• Jeffrey Thompson · Hightstown, US
• Francisco Olympio Marcon da Rocha · Boca Raton, US
• Monte Andre Dickson · Charlotte, US
• Mark W. Waldvogel · Raleigh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 25, 2011
• Grant date: Oct 8, 2013
• Expiry date: Oct 5, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A01D34/008
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A robotic mower launch point system includes a user interface for an operator to enter a plurality of launch point locations, durations and frequencies, and a vehicle control unit that stores the locations, durations and frequencies, determines a sequence of launches based on the launch point frequencies, and commands the robotic mower to exit a charging station and follow a boundary wire to each launch point in the sequence where the robotic mower mows for that launch point's duration before returning to the charging station. The vehicle control determines the sequence based on the frequency of each launch point relative to a total of the launch point frequencies.