Localized data mapping for indoor and outdoor applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11712008-B2
Application number	US-201916583621-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2019
Priority date	Oct 11, 2018
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

Abstract

A method for generating a localized data map, the method including (a) traversing an area with a machine, the machine including at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to receive data; (b) collecting data of the area utilizing the sensor; and (c) communicating the data to generate a localized data map. A system and method for generating a localized turf grass data map, the method including (a) traversing an area of turf grass with an outdoor power equipment machine, the outdoor power equipment machine including at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to receive data; (b) collecting turf grass data utilizing the sensor; and (c) communicating the turf grass data to generate a localized turf grass data map.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for generating a localized turf grass data map and for placement of a moveable lighting apparatus, the method comprising:
(a) traversing an area of turf grass with an outdoor power equipment machine, the outdoor power equipment machine including at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to receive data;
(b) collecting turf grass data utilizing the sensor;
(c) communicating the turf grass data to generate a localized turf grass data map, wherein the step of traversing an area and the step of collecting turf grass data are simultaneous;
(d) creating a light exposure map based on the turf grass data:
(e) identifying a desired placement area for the moveable lighting apparatus based on the light exposure map; and
(f) advancing the moveable lighting apparatus to the desired placement area.

2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the turf grass data is obtained by the at least one sensor operatively connected to (i) a mower blade associated with the outdoor power equipment machine, (ii) an axle of the outdoor power equipment machine, or (iii) a motor associated with the outdoor power equipment machine.

3. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the step of communicating turf grass data is concurrent with or subsequent to the step of collecting turf grass data.

4. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the turf grass data is associated with a measurement of at least one of (i) resistance, (ii) load, (iii) axle torque, or a combination thereof.

5. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the turf grass data is associated with a measurement of at least one of (i) light, (ii) moisture content, (iii) temperature, (iv) weed presence, (v) grain, or (vi) soil compaction.

6. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the turf grass data map characterizes areas of high turf grass density and low turf grass density.

7. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the turf grass data map is used to determine at least one turf grass demand, and wherein the turf grass demand comprises irrigation, fertilization, aeration, light, weed control, weed removal, grooming, brushing, or a combination thereof.

8. A method, comprising:
receiving, at a computing system from an outdoor power equipment machine, turf grass sensor data indicative of localized turf grass characteristics in a work area;
storing the turf grass sensor data in a memory associated with the computing system;
receiving, at the computing system from the outdoor power equipment machine, sensor data indicative of a history of geographic locations of the outdoor power equipment machine within the work area;
storing the historical geographic location sensor data in a memory associated with the computing system;
accessing, from the memory, the turf grass sensor data and the historical geographic location sensor data;
correlating the turf grass sensor data and the historical geographic location sensor data to form aligned sensor data;
generating a localized turf grass data map based on the aligned sensor data;
creating a light exposure map based on the turf grass data;
identifying a desired placement area for a moveable lighting apparatus based on the light exposure map; and
advancing the moveable lighting apparatus to the desired placement area.

9. The method as in claim 8 , wherein correlating the turf grass sensor data and the historical geographic location sensor data comprises aligning at least one timestamp associated with the turf grass sensor data with at least one timestamp associated with the historical geographic location sensor data.

10. The method as in claim 8 , comprising:
identifying areas of turf grass requiring treatment within the work area based on the localized turf grass data map; and
applying a treatment to the areas of turf grass in the work area.

11. The method as in claim 10 , wherein the treatment comprises providing an artificial light source, irrigation, fertilization, aeration, insect control, weed control, weed removal, grass seed, grooming, brushing, or a combination thereof.

12. The method as in claim 8 , comprising:
identifying areas of high turf grass density within the work area based on the localized turf grass data map; and
scheduling a mowing operation directed to the areas of high turf grass density in the work area.

Assignees

• Mtd Products Inc

Inventors

• Coleman John
• Hoffman Peter

Classifications

• A01G7/045

  with electric lighting · CPC title

• A01G25/16

  Control of watering · CPC title

• A01G20/30 Primary

  Apparatus for treating the lawn or grass surface (machines for aerating lawns A01B45/02) · CPC title

• A01G20/00

  Cultivation of turf, lawn or the like; Apparatus or methods therefor (hand-held edge trimmers or shears for lawn A01G3/06; edging for lawn A01G9/28; lawn-mowers A01D34/00) · CPC title

• A01C21/007

  Determining fertilization requirements · CPC title