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.

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.

Systems and techniques for detecting suboptimal mowing due to impacted vegetation and/or orientation changes are discussed. In some examples, blade speeds, blade heights, torques, and/or a current required to spin the blades of a mower at a determined rate may be calibrated and associated with a lawn mower and/or map. Changes in any one or more of the blade speed, current required, torque, etc. (and/or additional data from one or more sensors on the mower) may be used as an indication for determining whether vegetation has impacted the underside of a mower, whether the blade has struck an object, whether the mower is undergoing an orientation change, whether the mower requires maintenance, and the like. Based on the indication, the mower can perform one or more functions to attempt to remediate the problem autonomously and/or send a signal to a user for additional help.

Systems and techniques for detecting suboptimal mowing due to impacted vegetation and/or orientation changes are discussed. In some examples, blade speeds, blade heights, torques, and/or a current required to spin the blades of a mower at a determined rate may be calibrated and associated with a lawn mower and/or map. Changes in any one or more of the blade speed, current required, torque, etc. (and/or additional data from one or more sensors on the mower) may be used as an indication for determining whether vegetation has impacted the underside of a mower, whether the blade has struck an object, whether the mower is undergoing an orientation change, whether the mower requires maintenance, and the like. Based on the indication, the mower can perform one or more functions to attempt to remediate the problem autonomously and/or send a signal to a user for additional help.

A woody vegetation suppressor equipment, being a forest implement, for the grinding of woody vegetation, bushes, grass, stumps and pruning remains; it is composed by a metallic structure all reinforced in steel, with a hitch on the three points of the tire tractor, drive cardan, bidirectional transmission box with lateral transmission made with belts and pulleys and at the bottom an axle with displaced knives; the equipment is coupled in the front part in a tire tractor, where it is driven by the tractor’s power take-off, the power take-off turns in high rotation through the main and secondary transmission, drives the cutting system making the axle underneath the equipment that is equipped with cutting blades reach a high torque, being able to shred all the vegetation that comes in contact. The benefit is to mechanize the process of clearing vegetation, using shredding, providing a faster and more environmentally friendly operation.

A woody vegetation suppressor equipment, being a forest implement, for the grinding of woody vegetation, bushes, grass, stumps and pruning remains; it is composed by a metallic structure all reinforced in steel, with a hitch on the three points of the tire tractor, drive cardan, bidirectional transmission box with lateral transmission made with belts and pulleys and at the bottom an axle with displaced knives; the equipment is coupled in the front part in a tire tractor, where it is driven by the tractor’s power take-off, the power take-off turns in high rotation through the main and secondary transmission, drives the cutting system making the axle underneath the equipment that is equipped with cutting blades reach a high torque, being able to shred all the vegetation that comes in contact. The benefit is to mechanize the process of clearing vegetation, using shredding, providing a faster and more environmentally friendly operation.

A grounds maintenance vehicle has a vehicle frame defining a column opening having a first end and a second end. An implement is coupled to the vehicle frame. A height adjustment column has a base and distal end, where the base is fixed to the implement. The distal end of the height adjustment column extends through the column opening from the first end beyond the second end. The height adjustment column defines a first locking structure and a plurality of height setting locations. A height selection tool is couplable to the height adjustment column and is translatable to each of the plurality of height setting locations. A second locking structure is coupled to the vehicle frame, where the second locking structure is configured to releasably engage the first locking structure such that the plurality of height setting locations are positioned beyond the second end of the column opening.

A grounds maintenance vehicle has a vehicle frame defining a column opening having a first end and a second end. An implement is coupled to the vehicle frame. A height adjustment column has a base and distal end, where the base is fixed to the implement. The distal end of the height adjustment column extends through the column opening from the first end beyond the second end. The height adjustment column defines a first locking structure and a plurality of height setting locations. A height selection tool is couplable to the height adjustment column and is translatable to each of the plurality of height setting locations. A second locking structure is coupled to the vehicle frame, where the second locking structure is configured to releasably engage the first locking structure such that the plurality of height setting locations are positioned beyond the second end of the column opening.

Power tools are provided. A power tool can include a drop wheel moveable in a vertical direction about a pivot axis; a spring rotatably biasing the drop wheel about the pivot axis; a stop mechanism defining a plurality of stop positions each corresponding with a different relative position of the drop wheel; and a user interface configured to selectively disengage the stop mechanism to permit the drop wheel to rotate about the pivot axis until the stop wheel contacts an underlying surface below the power tool, wherein the user interface is disposed at a handle of the power tool.

Power tools are provided. A power tool can include a drop wheel moveable in a vertical direction about a pivot axis; a spring rotatably biasing the drop wheel about the pivot axis; a stop mechanism defining a plurality of stop positions each corresponding with a different relative position of the drop wheel; and a user interface configured to selectively disengage the stop mechanism to permit the drop wheel to rotate about the pivot axis until the stop wheel contacts an underlying surface below the power tool, wherein the user interface is disposed at a handle of the power tool.