Energy Efficient Lawn Care Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022174868-A1
Application number	US-201917600279-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 31, 2019
Priority date	Aug 29, 2019
Publication date	Jun 9, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A lawn care vehicle including a mobility assembly configured to provide mobility for the lawn care vehicle, and a working assembly configured to perform a working function on a first working path and a second working path on a parcel. The lawn care vehicle further including processing circuitry configured to execute a repositioning path to cause the lawn care vehicle to move from the first working path to the second working path and initiate an energy reduction action for the lawn care vehicle while the lawn care vehicle transits the repositioning path.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1 . A lawn care vehicle comprising:
a mobility assembly configured to provide mobility for the lawn care vehicle; a working assembly configured to perform a working function on a first working path and a second working path on a parcel; and processing circuitry configured to: execute a repositioning path to cause the lawn care vehicle to move from the first working path to the second working path; and initiate an energy reduction action for the lawn care vehicle while the lawn care vehicle transits the repositioning path.

2 . The lawn care vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the energy reduction action is initiated in response to the repositioning path being a surface already worked by the lawn care vehicle.

3 . The lawn care vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the energy reduction action comprises adjusting a speed of the working assembly of the lawn care vehicle.

4 . The lawn care vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the adjustment of the speed of the working assembly comprises reducing the speed of the working assembly.

5 . The lawn care vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the energy reduction action is initiated in response to the repositioning path being an unworkable surface by the lawn care vehicle.

6 . The lawn care vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the energy reduction action comprises stopping or reducing rotation of the working assembly of the lawn care vehicle.

7 . The lawn care vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the energy reduction action is initiated in response to the repositioning path being a surface already worked by the lawn care vehicle within a predefined time criterion.

8 . The lawn care vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the predefined time criterion is a different battery charge of the lawn care vehicle.

9 . The lawn care vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the predefined time criterion is a different working operation of the lawn care vehicle.

10 . The lawn care vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the predefined time criterion is more than a predefined time period.

11 . The lawn care vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the energy reduction action is initiated in response to the repositioning path being a greater distance than a predetermined distance threshold.

12 . The lawn care vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the energy reduction action comprises either adjusting a speed of the working assembly of the lawn care vehicle or adjusting a speed of the lawn care vehicle.

13 . A method of reducing energy expended by a lawn care vehicle while working a parcel, the method comprising:
causing, via processing circuitry of the lawn care vehicle, the lawn care vehicle to perform a working function on a first working path; detecting a repositioning path, via the processing circuitry, to cause the lawn care vehicle to move from the first working path to a second working path; initiating, via the processing circuitry, an energy reduction action while the lawn care vehicle transits the repositioning path; and causing, via the processing circuitry, the lawn care vehicle to perform a working function on the second working path.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the energy reduction action is initiated in response to the repositioning path being a surface already worked by the lawn care vehicle.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the energy reduction action comprises adjusting a speed of the working assembly of the lawn care vehicle.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment of the speed of the working assembly comprises reducing the speed of the working assembly.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the energy reduction action is initiated in response to the repositioning path being an unworkable surface by the lawn care vehicle.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the energy reduction action is initiated in response to the repositioning path being a surface already worked by the lawn care vehicle within a predefined time criterion.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the energy reduction action is initiated in response to the repositioning path being a greater distance than a predetermined distance threshold.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the energy reduction action comprises either adjusting a speed of the working assembly of the lawn care vehicle or adjusting a speed of the lawn care vehicle.

Assignees

• Husqvarna Ab

Inventors

• Flygare Anders

Classifications

• G05D1/6482

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

• G05D2105/15

  for harvesting, sowing or mowing in agriculture or forestry · CPC title

• G05D2107/23

  Gardens or lawns · CPC title

• G05D2109/10

  Land vehicles · CPC title

• A01D34/78

  electric · CPC title