A method for the operation of a cleaning vehicle, in particular a street sweeper capable of being operated in automated fashion, by a control device. A trajectory is calculated and control commands are produced for a longitudinal guiding and transverse guiding of the cleaning vehicle during travel of the calculated trajectory. Measurement data are received from at least one sensor in order to ascertain a cleaning region. At least one actuator is controlled, based on the received measurement data, in order to position a cleaning device of the cleaning vehicle in the longitudinal direction and/or transverse direction relative to a direction of travel of the cleaning vehicle, in order to clean the cleaning region. A control device, a computer program, and a machine-readable storage medium are also described.

A method for the operation of a cleaning vehicle, in particular a street sweeper capable of being operated in automated fashion, by a control device. A trajectory is calculated and control commands are produced for a longitudinal guiding and transverse guiding of the cleaning vehicle during travel of the calculated trajectory. Measurement data are received from at least one sensor in order to ascertain a cleaning region. At least one actuator is controlled, based on the received measurement data, in order to position a cleaning device of the cleaning vehicle in the longitudinal direction and/or transverse direction relative to a direction of travel of the cleaning vehicle, in order to clean the cleaning region. A control device, a computer program, and a machine-readable storage medium are also described.

A grass treatment system includes a first ground engaging rolling element, a second ground engaging rolling element, a comb having a leading edge including a plurality of comb teeth spaced apart at intervals, the comb is mounted between the first and second rolling elements and transversely to a direction of travel, a substantially cylindrical brush positioned above the comb and configured to engage at least a portion of a top surface of the comb, wherein the brush rotates relative to the comb to propel debris lifted from an area of turf grass by the comb.

A dock assembly is provided. The dock assembly is configured for docking with a robot. An alignment platform of said dock assembly is configured to receive a sweeper module from the robot when the robot is docked and said sweeper module disengages from the robot. The alignment platform has a plurality of cones positioned on a top side of the alignment platform. The plurality of cones are configured to engage a plurality of holes positioned on an underside of the sweeper module when the sweeper module becomes disengaged from the robot. The plurality of cones enable self-alignment of the alignment platform to the sweeper module as the plurality of cones engage the plurality of holes. The alignment platform has a plurality of support pads positioned on a bottom side of the alignment platform. The support pads are configured to rest on a plurality of bearings that permit lateral movement of the alignment platform when the plurality of cones engage the plurality of holes and the alignment platform self-aligns to the sweeper module.

An autonomous sweeper is provided, including a sweeper module, and a robot chassis having a length along a pair of sides, a front side, a back side and a top side that define an interior space. The sweeper module is configured to fit within the interior space when the robot chassis moves over the sweeper module. A pair of wheels is disposed proximate to the back side of the robot chassis and a single wheel is disposed proximate to the front side. A pair of scissor lifts is disposed along said pair of sides. A lift frame including alignment pegs that fit into corresponding alignment holes is disposed on the top side of the sweeper module. The lift frame is raised and lowered by said pair of scissor lifts, and said scissor lifts assist in lifting the sweeper module while aligning said sweeper module to the robot chassis using said alignment pegs and alignment holes.

Methods and software for setting parameters for operating a modular robot are disclosed. One method includes receiving, by a server, communications data from a controller of the modular robot. The modular robot has storage for storing program instructions for executing autonomous movement at a location. The method includes sending, by the server, calibrated mapping data for the location. The calibrated mapping data identifies an outline at the location. The method includes sending, by the server, identification of at least two zones at the location, where the at least two zones define different areas at the location. The method includes sending, by the server, a work function to be performed by the modular robot for each of the at least two zones. The work function in each of the at least two zones set to be different at said server. The controller of the modular robot is configured to use the calibrated mapping data for said autonomous movement at the location and the controller is configured to operate said respective work function in each of the at least two zones. The work function can be to sweep, to scrub, to polish, to mow or to perform different work functions over zones of a location, and providing remote access to view real-time operation of the modular robot, and to program zones and other control parameters of the modular robot.

A modular robot is provided. The modular robot includes a sweeper module having a container for collecting debris from a surface of a location. The sweeper module is coupled to one or more brushes for contacting the surface and moving said debris into said container. Included is a robot module having wheels and configured to couple to the sweeper module. The robot module is enabled for autonomous movement and corresponding movement of the sweeper module over the surface. A controller is integrated with the robot module and interfacing with the sweeper module. The controller is configured to execute instructions for assigning of at least two zones at the location and assigning a work function to be performed using the sweeper module at each of the at least two zones. The controller is further configured for programming the robot module to activate the sweeper module in each of the two zones. The assigned work function is set for performance at each of the at least two zones. The work function can be to sweep, to scrub, to polish, to mow or to perform different work functions over zones of a location, and providing remote access to view real-time operation of the modular robot, and to program zones and other control parameters of the modular robot.

An apparatus is provided which includes a processing circuit and a plurality of sensors connected to a vehicle, where at least one of the plurality of sensors is positioned on an undercarriage of the vehicle. The plurality of sensors can detect variations in a road on which the vehicle is traveling. The plurality of sensors can also generate information corresponding to the variations of the road. The plurality of sensors can also transmit the information corresponding to the variations in the road to the processing circuit. The information collected by the plurality of sensors may then be used to augment a driving capability of the vehicle.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for handling loose material being mounted to or mountable on a forward end of a prime mover, the apparatus having a frame which is configured to suspend a plurality of rotary tools therefrom for cutting and/or moving material and at least one tool being configured so as to be able to direct the material in a pre-determined direction relative to a forward movement of the prime mover.

A power sweeper has a handle having a first end graspable by a user and a second end, a drive shaft extending along the handle, and a power head coupled to the handle to rotate the drive shaft. A gear box is coupled to the drive shaft adjacent the second end, and a brush is coupled to the gear box for rotation in response to rotation of the drive shaft. The power sweeper includes an axle, and first and second wheels coupled to the axle. A shield is coupled to the gear box and defines an aperture through which the handle extends. The axle is moveable with respect to the shield and the brush to adjust an angle between the handle and the ground surface.