Systems and techniques for generating a set of connected segments for a device or system to traverse in order to reach every point of the region (a coverage plan). Nodes defining the region to be traversed define a polygon. The polygon is decomposed into a mesh and a graph of the mesh is generated. The graph may be used to determine a longest funneled path which, in turn, may be used to either optimize for a longest path or to divide the polygon for eroding sides. The longest path and/or erosions are used to define a set of segments. The segments are connected, which in some examples is done via an optimization to minimize an amount of time or energy to traverse all segments and connections. The resultant coverage plan is sent to a system configured to receive the plan and traverse the region.

A method docks an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot to a docking station. An electrical conductor arrangement runs in the region of the docking station, wherein the conductor arrangement is designed such that a periodic current flows through the conductor arrangement, wherein the current generates a periodic magnetic field. The green area maintenance robot has two magnetic field sensors, wherein the two magnetic field sensors are designed such that the magnetic field respectively causes a periodic sensor signal in the magnetic field sensors. The method has the steps of: determining a phase shift between the two sensor signals or signals based on the sensor signals, and controlling movement of the green area maintenance robot for docking on the basis of the determined phase shift.

Disclosed in the present invention are a grass-cutting robot and a control method therefor. The grass-cutting robot comprises a travelling apparatus, a motive power apparatus, a detection apparatus and a control apparatus. The travelling apparatus is configured to facilitate travel of the grass-cutting robot on a physical surface in a first direction. The motive power apparatus is configured to drive the travelling apparatus. The detection apparatus is configured to detect an attitude of the grass-cutting robot. The control apparatus is configured to apply a control signal to the grass-cutting robot when the attitude meets a predetermined condition, the control signal causing resistance to arise in the travelling apparatus, and the resistance causing a tendency of at least part of the travelling apparatus to move in the first direction to be hindered. Further disclosed in the present invention is a control method for a grass-cutting robot. The grass-cutting robot and control method therefor according to one or more embodiments of the present invention can improve the precision of grass-cutting robot control, and increase work effectiveness and safety.

An autonomous electric mower for mowing a lawn comprises a frame, drive wheels, cutting deck, computer, a Lidar sensor, at least one color and depth sensing camera. The computer is programmed and operable to: determine the location of the mower; detect obstacles; and to instruct the mower to avoid the obstacles. Advantageously, the system is operable to analyze the data from the multiple sensors and to instruct the mower to continue to safely operate and cut the lawn despite one or more of the sensors being obstructed. Novel route planning methods are also described.

A system is for determining a position on a golf course. The system has a master unit and at least one slave unit. The master unit and the at least one slave unit are adapted to communicate through a telecommunications network. The master unit comprises a receiver for a satellite navigation system, the receiver being operable at a fixed position on the golf course. The master unit is configured to: obtain a position determined by the receiver; process the displacement between the obtained position and the fixed position; and make the processed displacement available to the at least one slave unit through the telecommunications network. A slave unit then makes use of the processed displacement to improve positions determined by itself.

Disclosed is a mobile robot configured to cut lawn in a work area. The mobile robot may include a main body, a weight sensing sensor, an obstacle sensing sensor, a blade, and a processor. The mobile robot may execute an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm and/or a machine learning algorithm, and perform communication with other electronic devices in a 5G communication environment. As a result, it is possible to enhance user convenience.

A robotic work tool system (200) for defining a working area perimeter (105). The robotic work tool system (200) comprises a robotic work tool (100) and a controller (210). The robotic work tool (100) comprises a position unit (175) and a sensor unit (170). The controller (210) is configured to receive, from the sensor unit (170), edge data indicating whether the robotic work tool (100) is located next to a physical edge (430). The controller (210) is further configured to control the robotic work tool (100) to travel along the physical edge (430) while the edge data indicating that the robotic work tool (100) is located next to the physical edge (430) and to receive, from the position unit (175), position data while the robotic work tool (100) is in motion. The controller (210) is configured to determine, based on the edge data and position data, positions representing the physical edge (430) and to define, based on the determined positions, at least a portion of the working area perimeter (105).

A method for operating a robotic work tool (1) comprising a sensor for detecting a boundary wire (3) demarcating a work area (2). The method comprises the steps of detecting (9) at least a partial crossing of the boundary wire (3), allowing (12) a crossing of the boundary wire (3) by an offset, switching (8) between a first offset setting and at least a second offset setting of the work tool (1) based on one or more events (7). A robotic work tool (1) comprises a controller for controlling the operation of the robotic working tool (1). The controller is configured to: control the work tool (1) to operate within the work area (2), determine whether the work tool (1) crosses the boundary wire (3), allow a crossing of the wire (3) by the offset, and switch (8) between at least two offset settings stored in the work tool (1).

A work tool system (200) comprising a work tool (100) and a server (320), the server (320) comprising a controller (321) and a communication interface (325) and the work tool (100) comprising a controller (110) and a communication interface (115), wherein the server (320) is configured to: receive movement indications for a user (U) through the communication interface (325); determine a movement pattern based on the movement indications; determine a Do Not Disturb area suitable for the movement pattern; and to transmit information on the Do Not Disturb area to the work tool (100) through the communication interface (325); and wherein the work tool (100) is configured to: receive information on the Do Not Disturb area; control the work tool so that the Do Not Disturb area is not violated.

The disclosure relates to a method for mapping a processing area, in particular for determining a processing area, as part of a navigation method for autonomous robot vehicles. According to the disclosure, said method is characterized in that boundary lines between adjoining mapped and unmapped subareas of the processing area that is to be mapped are identified by comparing distances traveled by the robot vehicle during an initial mapping trip within the processing area, mapping of an unmapped subarea adjoining a boundary line is initiated from a point on one of those identified boundary lines during another mapping trip of the robot vehicle into the unmapped subarea, and a map of the processing area is created on the basis of the subareas mapped by the robot vehicle.