System and method for processing a ground with a mobile robot unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11109528-B2
Application number	US-201616061752-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2016
Priority date	Dec 16, 2015
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

A system for processing a ground at least partially in an outdoor region, in particular removing dirt or grass cuttings, includes a base station and a mobile robot unit. The system further includes at least one detection device for detecting at least one environmental variable, and a controller which influences the operating mode of the mobile robot unit in accordance with the value of at least one of the environmental variables detected by the at least one detection device. A method for controlling a mobile robot unit for processing a ground at least partially in an outdoor region, in particular removing dirt or grass cuttings, is also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for processing of a ground at least partially in an outdoor area, the system comprising:
a base station; and
a mobile robot unit;
wherein at least one detection means for detecting at least one environmental variable is provided,
wherein a control is provided, which influences the operating mode of the mobile robot unit according to a value of the at least one environmental variable detected by the at least one detection means and transmitted to the control from the at least one detection means,
wherein the at least one detection means are formed as part of a home weather station,
wherein the at least one detection means are formed as a sensor for the at least one environmental variable, and
wherein, when the mobile robot unit is in a covered spatial area and the control, based on the environmental variable, establishes that it is not suitable for the mobile robot unit to be used when a time control of the mobile robot unit initiates a new processing cycle of the mobile robot unit, the control causes an exit barrier of the covered spatial area to be in a closed state preventing the mobile robot unit from exiting the covered spatial area and the control transmits a signal that causes the mobile robot unit to remain in the covered spatial area.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one environmental variable is at least one of: temperature, precipitation, amount of precipitation, humidity, ground moisture, wind strength, and air pressure.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one detection means have a communication interface and are suitable for downloading weather data as the at least one environmental variable via the communication interface.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein part of a home network forms the control.

5. The system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control is designed to generate a terminating signal and
wherein the mobile robot unit is designed to terminate the processing of the ground in response to the terminating signal and to return to the base station.

6. The system according to claim 5 ,
wherein the control has a stored map,
wherein the map contains a virtual boundary between the covered spatial area and a non-covered spatial area, and
wherein the control enables or prevents crossing of the virtual boundary by the mobile robot unit according to the value of the at least one environmental variable detected by the at least one detection means.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing comprises one of removing contamination and cutting grass.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the exit barrier of the covered spatial area is arranged at the base station.

9. A method for controlling a mobile robot unit for processing of a ground at least partially in an outdoor area, the method comprising:
detecting, by a sensor, and evaluating, by a control, at least one environmental variable transmitted to the control from the sensor; and
influencing, by the control, an operating mode of the mobile robot unit according to a value of the at least one environmental variable,
wherein the at least one environmental variable detected by the sensor for the at least one environmental variable which is part of a home weather station, and
wherein, when the mobile robot unit is in a covered spatial area and the control, based on the environmental variable, establishes that it is not suitable for the mobile robot unit to be used when a time control of the mobile robot unit initiates a new processing cycle of the mobile robot unit, the control causes an exit barrier of the covered spatial area to be in a closed state preventing the mobile robot unit from exiting the covered spatial area and the control transmits a signal that causes the mobile robot unit to remain in the covered spatial area.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising preventing the mobile robot unit from exiting the covered spatial area of a base station at a start of a processing of the ground.

11. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising aborting a processing procedure; and
prompting the mobile robot unit to return to the covered spatial area of a base station.

12. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising enabling or preventing a crossing of a virtual boundary between the covered spatial area and a non-covered area by the mobile robot unit according to the value of the at least one detected environmental variable.

13. A method for controlling a mobile robot unit for processing of a ground at least partially in an outdoor area, the method comprising:
detecting, by a sensor, and evaluating, by a control, at least one environmental variable transmitted to the control from the sensor,
influencing, by the control, an operating mode of the mobile robot unit according to a value of the at least one detected environmental variable, and
enabling or preventing a crossing of a virtual boundary between a covered spatial area and a non-covered spatial area by the mobile robot unit according to the value of the at least one detected environmental variable, and
wherein, when the mobile robot unit is in the covered spatial area and the control, based on the environmental variable, establishes that it is not suitable for the mobile robot unit to be used when a time control of the mobile robot unit initiates a new processing cycle of the mobile robot unit, the control causes an exit barrier of the covered spatial area to be in a closed state preventing the mobile robot unit from exiting the covered spatial area and the control transmits a signal that causes the mobile robot unit to remain in the covered spatial area.

14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising preventing the mobile robot unit from exiting the covered spatial area of a base station at a start of a processing of the ground.

15. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
aborting a processing procedure; and
prompting the mobile robot unit to return to the covered spatial area of a base station.

Assignees

• Vorwerk Co Interholding

Inventors

• Strang Benjamin

Classifications

• G05D1/6486

  by taking into account surface condition, e.g. soiled · CPC title

• G05D1/6482

  by dividing the whole area or space in sectors to be processed separately · CPC title

• G05D1/249

  from positioning sensors located off-board the vehicle, e.g. from cameras · CPC title

• G05D2111/56

  for sensing properties of the surrounding medium of the vehicle, e.g. using airspeed sensors · CPC title

• G05D2105/10

  for cleaning, vacuuming or polishing · CPC title