A system includes a series of converters provided along a boundary of an agricultural cultivated area. A converter is configured to emit a second signal in response to an incoming first signal. The system also includes an autonomously driving agricultural machine including a transmitting device configured to emit the first signal in an environment of the agricultural machine, a receiving device configured to receive the second signal emitted in response to the first signal, and a processing device configured to determine a position of the agricultural machine with respect to the boundary based on the received second signal. An arrangement and/or a conversion characteristic of converters is designed differently at a first section of the boundary than at a second section of the boundary.

A method controls an apparatus comprising at least two sensors, and an active device interfering with signals detectable by the at least two sensors. The method comprises: detecting, by means of the at least two sensors, signals at different points in time, the signals including burst signals from a signal source, storing data indicative for the detected signals in a memory, comparing signal values determined based on the data indicative for the signals stored in the memory of three different points in time with one another to differentiate the signal values into a low signal value, an intermediate signal value and a high signal value, subtracting the intermediate signal value from a current signal value detected by means of at least one of the at least two sensors to obtain at least one processed signal value and controlling operation of the apparatus based on the processed signal value.

A zone mobility system and method for an autonomous device includes a work area within which the autonomous device is intended to operate, one or more electrically separated boundary conductors, each boundary conductor surrounding a work zone within the work area, a transmitter base electrically connected to at least one of the boundary conductors, and a removably coupled transmitter configured to transmit a signal for directing movement of the autonomous device on the boundary conductor wire. The transmitted signal can be adjusted to optimize the power consumption of the transmitter, and a work operation can be commenced utilizing a transmitter interface, and/or utilizing an autonomous device user interface.

A charging station capable of guiding a self-driving device to interface includes a base plate installed in a working area to fix the self-driving device; a first wire surrounding on the base plate and connected to a signal generator independently of a boundary; a second wire surrounding on the base plate and connected to the signal generator independently of the boundary and the first wire; and the signal generator sending a guide signal to the first wire and/or the second wire; where multiple areas surrounded by the first wire and the second wire include at least a first area having a first magnetic field signal, a second area having a second magnetic field signal, and a third area having a third magnetic field signal.

A selectively operable door (50) for a robotic vehicle (10) may include a door frame disposable in a barrier dividing two areas in which the robotic vehicle (10) is enabled to travel, a door body (54) hingedly connected to the door frame (52), and a latching assembly configured to alternately allow movement of the door body (54) such that the robotic vehicle (10) to enabled to pass through the selectively operable door (50) via displacement of the door body (54) and prevent movement of the door body (54) such that the door body (54) is retained in a closed state. The latching assembly may include an automatic lock configured to define a release position in which movement of the door body (54) from the closed state is allowed, and a capture position in which movement of the door body to the closed state is allowed and movement of the door body from the closed state is prevented.

Proximity detection systems and proximity detections methods are disclosed herein. In one aspect of the disclosure the systems and methods include measuring and analyzing the vector components of a generated magnetic field. In another aspect of the present disclosure, the results of the vector component measurements are used to take safety actions which may result in an alert to an operator or pedestrian, and/or automatic action by a vehicle or machine.

A material handling vehicle guidance system comprises a first conductive member, a second conductive member, and an electrical current source. The second conductive member is electrically coupled to the first conductive member and extends parallel to the first conductive member to define a loop. The first conductive member and second conductive member are coupled to a shielded cable connector. The electrical current source supplies current to the first conductive member in a first direction and supplies current to the second conductive member in a second direction opposite the first direction to produce a narrowcast radio frequency signal detectable between the first conductive member and the second member.

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.

An autonomous work system controls an autonomous work machine that detects a magnetic field of an area signal generated by energization to an area wire disposed on an outer periphery of a work area, specifies a boundary of the work area based on the magnetic field, and works autonomously in the work area. The autonomous work system comprises: a storage unit configured to store position information of a plurality of the work areas; a setting unit configured to set, based on the position information, different energization modes; and an energization unit configured to energize, based on the energization modes, the area wires disposed on the respective outer peripheries of the plurality of adjacent work areas.

It includes an intensity pattern determination section to determine an intensity pattern indicating a distribution of a magnitude of a target quantity in at least a part of a moving path of the moving object, a subarea determination section to determine, among a plurality of subareas, one or more subareas having an intensity pattern which matches or is similar to an intensity pattern determined by the intensity pattern determination section based on map information which associates area identification information which identifies each of a plurality of subareas included in a target region having a predetermined geographic range and an intensity parameter indicating a magnitude of a target quantity premeasured in the subarea, and an output section to output, as a location of the moving object, one or more subareas determined by the subarea determination section.