WORKING DEVICE THAT IS AUTOMATICALLY MOVABLE OUTDOORS

Abstract

A working device that can move self-sufficiently over terrain, which carries task-specific tools. The tools are allocated to different working modules. The different working modules can optionally be used by the working device. The working modules can be a watering tool, a cutting tool, a mowing tool, a sweeping tool, a fertilizer distributing tool or a soil treating tool. The plants are processed with the help of a planning aid which has a database. The planning aid is used to transmit task data to the working device.

Claims

1. A working device that is automatically movable outdoors, comprising: a chassis, a control device configured for controlling the chassis, wherein the control device uses control data obtained by sensors of a sensor array and a cartography stored in a memory element, for navigating the working device at locations of a terrain where a task is to be performed, task-specific tools allocated to a working module that is allocated to the working device, so as to be replaceable with another working module with other tools, wherein the working device is designed to exchange data with a planning aid, which interacts with a database of an external computing device that stores care information for plant data having plants, from which task data are generated and transmitted to the working device, and/or wherein the working device is configured to interact with a sensor module, which uses a sensor array to acquire structure data for plants to be cared for, wherein the sensor module is an external sensor module designed separately from the working device.

2. The working device according to claim 1, wherein the working device has a module carrier for receiving the working module.

3. The working device according to claim 1, wherein the working module has a watering tool, a cutting tool, a mowing tool, a sweeping tool, a fertilizer distributing tool or a soil treating tool.

4. The working device according to claim 1, wherein the working device is configured to interact with a base station, on which one or several working modules are kept on standby.

5. The working device according to claim 1, further comprising a communication interface that is configured to communicate with the external computing device.

6. A module configured for use on a working device according to claim 1, and a module carrier, wherein the module has a mechanical retainer and an electrical plug, which together with a mechanical counter-retainer and a mechanical counter-plug of the module carrier form a detachable mechanical interface and/or a detachable electrical interface, wherein the mechanical interface detachably binds the module to the module carrier, and data and/or electrical energy are transmitted via the electrical interface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The invention will be explained below based on the attached drawings. Shown on:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a terrain with plants 8, 8, a working device 1 for plant care, a sensor module 9 for acquiring plant data, and an external computing device 15 for communicating 14 with a plurality of working devices 1 and/or data communication devices 17.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a working device 1, a base station 13 and the communication paths used to communicate with an external computing device 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The invention relates to devices and methods, as well as to a system for garden care. The essential system components include at least one working device 1, one or several working modules 10, 11, and an external computing device 15, which can communicate with the working device 1 via a data transmission device 14, which can be a home network or the internet.

[0011] The working device 1 has a housing, and inside of the housing a chassis 3, which can have wheels, chain drives, or even one or several propellers, with which the working device 1 can be moved in the outdoor area, outside of buildings, in a garden, and possibly even in the air. It has a control device 12, which can be a microcontroller or some other program-controlled computing device with peripheral storage.

[0012] Sensors 5 are provided, which the control device 12 can use to acquire structure data for the environment, e.g., the shape and size of objects, plants, but also humans and animals. These data initially serve to navigate the working device 1 on the terrain. The storage elements of the control device 12 can additionally store a cartography for the terrain, which contains lawn areas, crop and ornamental plant beds, trees, paths or other permanent structure data for the environment, based on which the working device 1 can automatically navigate the terrain. The sensors 5 further also comprise sensors for acquiring condition data for the environment that change over time, in particular for the plants. For example, a camera can be used to obtain an image of the plants. A moisture sensor can be used to determine the humidity or soil moisture. A UV sensor can be used to determine the current UV radiation. A thermometer can be used to measure the soil temperature and/or air temperature. A brightness sensor can be used to determine the current brightness. In particular, it is provided that a three-dimensional cartography be prepared, wherein this cartography contains the location and height of individual plants, individual plant groups, buildings or other objects. In particular, the three-dimensional cartography also contains the type of plants and zones that must not be traversed by the ground vehicle. The cartography can further contain storage locations for working tools, such as vehicles and working modules or sensor modules. The three-dimensional cartography can be generated based on a two-dimensional cartography, wherein the two-dimensional cartography was generated by a user with measuring equipment or with images. The environment can be acquired by the sensors 5, so as to enhance the 2D cartography.

[0013] A transmitting/receiving device 19 is provided, which enables wireless communication in particular via the data transmission device 14. The transmitting/receiving device 19 can communicate directly with a base station 13, which is fixedly arranged on the terrain, and whose position in the cartography of the working device 1 is recorded. However, the data transmission device 14 can also be set up in such a way that the working device 1 can communicate directly with a home network of the internet.

[0014] In addition, the working device 1 has an accumulator 25, which when the working device 1 is on the base station 13 can be changed, and which otherwise supplies the working device 1 with electrical energy.

[0015] The working device 1 has a mechanism for receiving working modules 10, 11, which carry module-specific tools 10, 11. This mechanism is referred to as a module carrier 2 below, and is designed in such a way that the working device 1 can automatically change out one working module 10 for another working module 11. This preferably takes place on the base station 13 or in the area of a storage feature, for example a shed 23, in which the working modules 10, 11 are stored, protected against the weather. Means not shown in the drawings can there be provided, e.g., grippers or the like, with which the working modules 10, 11 can be fixed onto the module carrier 2. The module carrier 2 can have a module interface 18, with which a signal connection and power connection with the working module 10 can be established.

[0016] The module carrier 2 has a mechanical interface (not shown) and an electrical interface (not shown). The working modules 10, 11 or potentially present sensor modules also have a mechanical interface and an electrical interface. The two mechanical interfaces interact in such a way that they mechanically bind the working module 10 or sensor module to the module carrier 2. These can here be hooks, screw connections or other types of latching connections, which can be moved from a bound position into a released position. The electrical interface can be used to transmit electrical energy from the working device 1 to the working module 10, 11. However, it is also possible to transmit electrical energy from the working module 10, 11 to the working device 1. It is further provided that data be exchanged between the working device 1 and working module 10, 11 via the electrical interface. The electrical interface can be a plug connection. To this end, the plug and mating plug engage into each other, so as to establish electrical contact with each other.

[0017] The drawings only exemplarily show a working module 10 in the form of a watering module, which has a watering tool 10. The watering module 10 can have a tank for storing water, which can be filled at the base station 13. However, it is also possible for the watering module 10 to be connected with a hose to get water from a tap.

[0018] Reference number 11 denotes a cutting module, which has cutting tools 11, which can be used to cut the plants. The cutting tool 11 can be a pair of scissors or a mower, for example. In particular, it can be a hedge trimmer or pruning shears, which can be used to cut hedges, trees or other growths. Also provided are working modules with special tools for spreading fertilizer, raking leaves, clearing snow or loosening soil.

[0019] In addition, sensor modules 6 can be provided that are set up in a stationary manner on the terrain, or positioned by the working device 1 at a suitable location on the terrain so as to be deployed in completing the respective task. However, the sensor module can also be self-propelled, and automatically navigate to a location. For example, a working device 1 can for this purpose carry a sensor module instead of a working module 10, 11.

[0020] One variant provides that the sensor module 9 be a flying sensor robot. This drone has one or several propellers, and a GPS controller or the like allows it to assume predetermined positions in the airspace above the terrain, so as to acquire condition data at various positions.

[0021] Sensors 5, 7 of the working device 1 or sensor module 6, 9 preferably involve imaging sensors, e.g., a camera, which can be used to record two-dimensional images. The control device 12 or external computing device 15 can calculate three-dimensional structure data for the environment from these two-dimensional images. The sensors 5, 7 also have temperature sensors for determining the soil temperature and/or air temperature, moisture sensors for determining the soil moisture and/or humidity, UV sensors or brightness sensors. It is provided that the working device 1 and/or sensor module 6, 9 have at least one, but preferably a plurality, of these sensors.

[0022] The sensor data obtained by these sensors 5, 7 are optionally transmitted wirelessly to an external computing device 15 using the data transmission device 14.

[0023] In an aspect of the invention, the external computing device 15 is operated at a spatial distance, in particular from an external server. However, it can also consist of a local computer. The external computing device 15 can communicate with a plurality of working devices 1, which are operated at various locations. The external computing device 15 is further able to communicate with one or several data communication devices 17 kept on standby at various locations, wherein the data communication devices 17 can be mobile terminal devices, personal computers or tablet computers and the like. A plurality of users and in particular members of a user group can use these data communication devices 17 to enter empirical values and data about specific areas of the terrain to be cared for. Cartographies can here also be transmitted, wherein the cartographies are recorded during exploratory trips of the working device 1. The data communication devices 17 can further be used to enter data about the positions and type of specific plants on the respective terrain.

[0024] The external computing device 15 has a database 16, which stores plat care information. The care information contains in particular plant-specific care tasks, e.g., information about the optimal seasons for plant pruning, whether the plants are shedding leaves, which soil moistures are optimal for the plants, etc. The care information thus contains in particular watering information, cutting information and cleaning information. The database 16 further stores location-specific data, which are specific to the user, and in particular contain the cartography of the terrain to be cared for. In addition, the location-specific data can consist of the location data for the plants, information about present working modules 10, 11, current weather information and plant heights. Legal requirements can also be stored in the database.

[0025] The current weather information, plant heights, soil moisture and humidity, etc., are currently obtained by the sensors 5, 7 of the working devices 1 or sensor modules 6, 9. These condition data 24 are made available to the external computing device 15 by the data transmission device 14, and there stored.

[0026] The computing device 15 is able to calculate task data 2 from the care data, i.e., from the location-specific data 20 and care information 21, in particular drawing upon the current condition data 24. These task data 22 contain tasks that are currently to be performed on the terrain, so as to care for the plants. For example, the task data 22 can contain information about the location where plants must be watered, or about which plants must be cut at what position. The task data can further contain information as to whether a lawn must be mowed or whether leaves must be removed from an area. To this end, shoot height data are also computed from the height and volume data.

[0027] Just as the condition data 24 are obtained with the sensors of the working device or sensor modules 6, 9, these sensors 5, 7 can be used for self-sufficient task completion on the terrain. To this end, the sensor modules 6, 9 are moved into an optimal position for acquiring the structure data, e.g., so as to generate a 3D image of the plant to be cared for with their cameras. These structure data are then used to control the tools 10, 11 of the working modules 10, 11.

[0028] The external computing device 15 can additionally have a knowledge database, in which users can enter their personal experiences or with which users can ask members of the user groups questions. As a consequence, the external computing device 15 provides a communication platform similar to a social media platform, which can serve as a meeting place for users of such an autonomous outdoor device. This platform and in particular applications connected to this platform can be used to prepare empirical values of individual users for the totality of all users, and make them available to the community, e.g., in the form of tips, application suggestions or aids. For example, the user communicates with this communication platform via a control device, e.g., a control device of the autonomous outdoor device. Communication via a mobile terminal device, a tablet PC and in particular an internet connection is likewise provided. Also provided is that the autonomous working device 1 or one of the sensor modules 6, 9 have a touch-sensitive screen, which can be used to communicate with the external computing device 15.

[0029] The knowledge database can also be used to make recommendations for action based on tips or empirical data stored by the user in the database, with which the growth of individual plants can be optimized.

REFERENCE LIST

[0030] 1 Working device [0031] 2 Module carrier [0032] 3 Chassis [0033] 4 Sweeping device [0034] 5 Sensor [0035] 6 Sensor module [0036] 7 Sensor [0037] 8 Plant [0038] 8 Plant [0039] 9 Drone [0040] 10 Working module [0041] 10 Tool [0042] 11 Working module [0043] 11 Tool [0044] 12 Control device [0045] 13 Base station [0046] 14 Data transmission device [0047] 15 Computing device [0048] 16 Database [0049] 17 Data communication device [0050] 18 Module interface [0051] 19 Transmitting/receiving device [0052] 20 Data [0053] 21 Care information [0054] 22 Task data [0055] 23 Shed [0056] 24 Condition data [0057] 25 Accumulator [0058] 26 Communication interface