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US 12,239,055 B2Granted
Autonomous ground surface treatment systems, vehicles, and methods
AssigneeThe Toro Company
InventorsJoshua Craig Friell, Jackie R. Gust, Alexander Steven Frick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ground surface treatment vehicle and systems and methods using the same. In some embodiments, the vehicle may be adapted to autonomously or semi-autonomously identify and optionally treat target areas such as divots on turf surfaces. The vehicle may identify the target area via onboard or remote sensors and autonomously treat the target area by providing a treating material such as infill, seed, particulate matter, and liquids.
Claims20
An autonomous natural turf maintenance system comprising:
- a vehicle comprising a chassis supported upon a ground surface by ground support members;
- a container supported by the chassis, the container defining a discharge outlet operable to disperse treating material held within the container to a target area of the ground surface, wherein the target area comprises at least one of divots and ruts;
- a gate adapted to selectively open and close the discharge outlet;
- a sensor adapted to identify the target area;
- and
- an electronic controller supported by the chassis, the controller in communication with the sensor and the gate, wherein the controller is adapted to:
- position the chassis at a location proximate the target area such that the discharge outlet is capable of delivering the treating material to the target area;
- and energize the gate to open the discharge outlet.
5 more elements
A method of operating an autonomous turf maintenance vehicle, the method comprising:
- establishing a work region in which the vehicle will operate, the work region comprising a turf surface;
- transporting the vehicle to the work region, the vehicle comprising:
- a chassis supported upon the turf surface by ground support members, wherein one or more of the ground support members comprises a drive member adapted to propel and steer the vehicle over the turf surface;
- one or more motors adapted to power the drive member;
- a container supported by the chassis, the container comprising a discharge outlet operable to transfer treating material held within the container to a target area of the turf surface, wherein the target area comprises at least one of divots and ruts;
- a sensor adapted to identify the target area;
- and
- an electronic controller supported by the chassis, the controller in communication with the sensor and the one or more motors;
- autonomously propelling the vehicle across the work region;
- and
- autonomously identifying, with the sensor, the target area.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.