A01D34/86

AUTONOMOUS ELECTRIC MOWER SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS

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.

MOWER, MOWING SYSTEM, AND DRIVE CONTROL METHOD

A mower includes: driving devices respectively provided on a right side and a left side of the mower and configured to be driven independently; and one or more processors configured to: estimate a gradient of a slope on a travel path; and drive the driving devices with different driving forces on the right side and the left side based on the estimated gradient such that the mower does not slip down the slope when the mower travels in a direction crossing the slope.

MOWER, MOWING SYSTEM, AND DRIVE CONTROL METHOD

A mower includes: driving devices respectively provided on a right side and a left side of the mower and configured to be driven independently; and one or more processors configured to: estimate a gradient of a slope on a travel path; and drive the driving devices with different driving forces on the right side and the left side based on the estimated gradient such that the mower does not slip down the slope when the mower travels in a direction crossing the slope.

Tree branch and brush cutting attachment
11564356 · 2023-01-31 ·

A cutting attachment includes a mounting bracket and a cutting deck. The mounting bracket is configured to couple to at least one hydraulic arm of a tractor or excavator. The cutting deck is coupled to the mounting bracket. The cutting deck includes an inner surface, an outer surface, a motor coupled to the inner surface, a blade carrier coupled to the outer surface and rotatable by the motor, and at least one blade coupled to the blade carrier.

Swing assistance device for brush cutter
11700788 · 2023-07-18 ·

A swing assistance device for a brush cutter. The swing assistance device includes: a bracket; a coupling unit disposed on the top surface of the bracket, and coupled to a shaft at an inclined angle; left and right extension rods configured such that the outer ends thereof are located on both sides of a blade with the inner ends thereof coupled to both sides of the bracket; left and right rotation parts rotatably coupled to the outer ends of the left and right extension rods, and configured to, when the shaft swings in left-right directions, rotate while drawing arcs and assist in the swing operation; and a plurality of rotation rollers rotatably coupled to the outer circumference of each of the left and right rotation parts, and configured to, when the shaft swings in the left-right directions, rotate and assist in the swing operation.

SLOPE COMPENSATION FOR AUTONOMOUS LAWN MOWER PLANNER SYSTEM

Systems and techniques for compensating for the forces exerted on the autonomous lawn mower exerted by operating on a sloped region to be mowed are provided herein. In some examples, such systems and techniques may include receiving a coverage plan of an area to be mowed that includes a sloped region, determining, based on data for the one or more sensors, an orientation of the autonomous lawn mower and determining a slope force to compensate for the slope on which the autonomous lawn mower is operating. The slope force is then converted into signals to generate torques at one or more wheels to compensate for the slope.

SLOPE COMPENSATION FOR AUTONOMOUS LAWN MOWER PLANNER SYSTEM

Systems and techniques for compensating for the forces exerted on the autonomous lawn mower exerted by operating on a sloped region to be mowed are provided herein. In some examples, such systems and techniques may include receiving a coverage plan of an area to be mowed that includes a sloped region, determining, based on data for the one or more sensors, an orientation of the autonomous lawn mower and determining a slope force to compensate for the slope on which the autonomous lawn mower is operating. The slope force is then converted into signals to generate torques at one or more wheels to compensate for the slope.

Adjustable seat assembly for a lawn maintenance vehicle
11503767 · 2022-11-22 · ·

A lawn maintenance vehicle includes an adjustable seat assembly, wherein the seat assembly is rotatable relative to a frame of the vehicle when the vehicle is operated on a sloped surface. The seat assembly is rotatable in order to maintain the operator in a substantially vertical seated alignment while operating the vehicle on a sloped surface. The seat assembly is also rotatable when the vehicle is in a zero-turn or tight-turn maneuver, wherein the seat is rotated toward the center of turning radius to offset the centrifugal forces experienced by the operator during such a maneuver.

Multipurpose radio-controlled vehicle
11582913 · 2023-02-21 · ·

A radio-controlled vehicle includes a supporting structure, an engine unit, a kinetic unit and a remote control for operating the vehicle remotely, The radio-controlled vehicle also has a cab configured to house, in use, a person. The cab and the supporting structure are mutually movable with respect to each other to selectively arrange the cab in a desired position with respect to the supporting structure.

All wheel drive robotic vehicle with steering brake
11498205 · 2022-11-15 · ·

A robotic vehicle (10) comprising a first chassis platform (200) comprising a first wheel assembly (202) and a second chassis platform (210) comprising a second wheel assembly (212). The first and second chassis platforms (200, 210) is arranged to be spaced apart from each other. The robotic vehicle (10) further comprises a linkage (220) operably coupled to the first chassis platform (200) and the second chassis platform (210). The linkage (220) being coupled so as to be fixed relative to the first chassis platform (200) and so that the second chassis platform (210) is rotatable relative to the first chassis platform (200), wherein the second chassis platform (210) comprises a turning axis (400). Said robotic vehicle (10) further comprising an electric brake (262) disposed proximate to a turning shaft (422) of the linkage (220). The electric brake (262) being selectively applied by processing circuitry (110) to resist turning of the second chassis platform (210) about the turning axis (400) and being selectively released to allow the second chassis platform (210) to turn about the turning axis (400).