A robotic work tool (100) comprising a controller (110), the controller (110) being configured to determine that an area, where there is an increased risk of impact to a surface travelled, is entered by the robotic work tool (100); and in response thereto reduce an acceleration utilized by the robotic work tool (100).

An autonomous mower conversion kit and method for autonomously controlling a zero-turn mower. The conversion kit include a vehicle control unit containing a navigation processor in data communication with one or more global positioning (GPS) devices configured for inputting GPS coordinates to the navigation processor. The navigation processor is configured to send a signal to a pair of high torque servo motors attached to a housing of a mower. Each of the pair of high torque servo motors has a tie rod removably attached on a first end to one of the pair of high torque servo motors and on a distal end to a mower steering arm. A safety override switch is connected to the vehicle control unit and is configured for converting the mower to autonomous control.

A drive system for a zero turning radius (ZTR) vehicle includes a steering control and a sensor configured to receive a position of the steering control. A damper is coupled to the steering control and is configured to apply a selectable amount of resistive force to the steering control. A controller is in communication with the sensor and is configured to operate a motor of the ZTR vehicle responsive to the position of the steering control, and to operate the damper to apply a resistive force to the steering control responsive to actuation of the steering control.

A rain detection device for sensing rain drops on a surface includes at least one sensor unit and at least one evaluation unit. The sensor unit includes at least one capacitive sensor element. The sensor element is configured such that a capacitance characteristic of the sensor element changes based on an object contacting the surface. The evaluation unit is configured to detect rain drops on the surface based on a differential signal of the sensor element. The evaluation unit is configured to detect a rain drop on the surface based on a symmetry characteristic of the differential signal with respect to a zero point.

A lawnmower comprising: a body; a cutting element coupled with the body; a motor configured to drive the cutting element; a sensor comprising an accelerometer configured to detect an angular displacement of the lawnmower with respect to a vertical axis and a wobble of the cutting element with respect to a horizontal plane; and a processor configured to: compare the detected angular displacement against a tilt threshold value; compare the detected wobble against a wobble threshold value; and control an operational speed of the cutting element when the angular displacement exceeds the tilt threshold value or when the wobble exceeds the wobble threshold value.

Autonomous vehicle navigation is disclosed. A tangible computer readable medium includes instructions which, when executed cause a machine to divide an image of an area being approached by a lawn mower into a grid of separate image sections. Each of the image sections corresponds to a respective portion of the area being approached. For each of the image sections in the grid, the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to calculate, using an image recognition algorithm, a percentage of the image section categorized as corresponding with unmowable material and assign a result value based on a comparison between the calculated percentage and one or more movement thresholds. The instructions, when executed, also cause the machine to instruct a drive system to control movement of the lawn mower based on an arrangement of result values in the grid of the image sections.

A work system includes a plurality of working machines each including a working unit; and a power feeding device configured to supply power to the plurality of working machines. The plurality of working machines includes a plurality of types of working machines different in amount of power required to drive the working unit. The power feeding device includes at least one first power transmission unit configured to wirelessly transmit power to a working area of the plurality of working machines. Each of the plurality of working machines includes a power reception unit configured to receive the power wirelessly transmitted to the working area.

A system in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a battery pack and an electric work machine. The battery pack includes a battery, a first interface, a first memory and a first controller. The first controller is configured to transmit battery data identifying a type of the battery pack. The electric work machine includes a motor, a second interface, a switching element, a manual switch, a second memory and a second controller. The second controller is configured to transmit electric apparatus data identifying a type of the electric work machine.

A method of navigating a self-propelled robotic tool (14) within a work area (12) defined by a boundary (13) comprises determining a positioning status comprising a position (P) of the robotic tool (14) within the area; based on the determined position (P) of the robotic tool (14), estimating a boundary distance value indicative of a distance (D1, D2, D3) from the robotic tool (14) to the boundary (13); setting a maximum dead reckoning navigation distance based on the boundary distance value; if a new positioning status cannot be reliably obtained, continuing navigating the robotic tool (14) based on dead reckoning; and if no new positioning status of the robotic tool (14) within the area has been reliably obtained upon reaching the maximum dead reckoning navigation distance, executing a safety operation based on having reached the maximum dead reckoning navigation distance.

A control apparatus of an autonomously navigating work machine driven by drive units while servicing a work area which is equipped with an information acquisition unit that acquires information relating to a navigation-desired region where navigation is desired inside or outside of the work area, a search unit that searches for a navigation route from a current location of the work machine to a desired location based on acquired information relating to the navigation-desired region, and a control unit that drives the work machine to run by driving the drive units in accordance with the navigation route searched by the search unit.