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US 12,429,875 B2Granted
Providing autonomous mower control via geofencing
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorBrian David Wanta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques are directed to controlling a mower. Such techniques involve initiating an automated mowing task that directs the mower to operate in a geographic area defined by a virtual boundary. Such techniques further involve electronically detecting presence of a device within the geographic area defined by the virtual boundary. Such techniques further involve suspending the automated mowing task in response to detecting the presence of the device within the geographic area defined by the virtual boundary.
Claims19
A method of controlling a mower, the method comprising:
- initiating an automated mowing task that directs the mower to operate in a geographic area defined by a virtual boundary;
- electronically detecting presence of a device within the geographic area defined by the virtual boundary;
- and
- suspending the automated mowing task in response to detecting the presence of the device within the geographic area defined by the virtual boundary,
- wherein suspending the automated mowing task includes, while the mower is operating in the geographic area, directing the mower to a predefined location and parking the mower at the predefined location,
- wherein a first designated parking location is a first distance from the device and a second designated parking location is a second distance from the device, the second distance being greater than the first distance;
- and
- wherein driving the mower to the predefined location includes:
- (1) selecting, as the predefined location, the second designated parking location over the first designated parking location based on the second distance being greater than the first distance, and (2) moving the mower to the second designated parking location.
6 more elements
Electronic circuitry to control a mower, the electronic circuitry comprising:
- an interface;
- a controller coupled with the interface, the controller being constructed and arranged to perform a method of:
- initiating, through the interface, an automated mowing task that directs the mower to operate in a geographic area defined by a virtual boundary,
- electronically, through the interface, detecting presence of a device within the geographic area defined by the virtual boundary, and
- suspending, through the interface, the automated mowing task in response to detecting the presence of the device within the geographic area defined by the virtual boundary,
- wherein suspending the automated mowing task includes, while the mower is operating in the geographic area, directing the mower to a predefined location and parking the mower at the predefined location,
- wherein a first designated parking location is a first distance from the device and a second designated parking location is a second distance from the device, the second distance being greater than the first distance;
- and
- wherein driving the mower to the predefined location includes:
- (1) selecting, as the predefined location, the second designated parking location over the first designated parking location based on the second distance being greater than the first distance, and (2) moving the mower to the second designated parking location.
7 more elements
A computer program product having a non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a set of instructions to control a mower;
- the set of instructions, when carried out by computerized circuitry, causing the computerized circuitry to perform a method of:
- initiating an automated mowing task that directs the mower to operate in a geographic area defined by a virtual boundary;
- electronically detecting presence of a device within the geographic area defined by the virtual boundary;
- and
- suspending the automated mowing task in response to detecting the presence of the device within the geographic area defined by the virtual boundary,
- wherein suspending the automated mowing task includes, while the mower is operating in the geographic area, directing the mower to a predefined location and parking the mower at the predefined location,
- wherein a first designated parking location is a first distance from the device and a second designated parking location is a second distance from the device, the second distance being greater than the first distance;
- and
- wherein driving the mower to the predefined location includes:
- (1) selecting, as the predefined location, the second designated parking location over the first designated parking location based on the second distance being greater than the first distance, and (2) moving the mower to the second designated parking location.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.