Suspended robot systems and methods for using same

A garden tending robot system for tending a garden, the garden tending robot system comprising:

• at least one suspension cable;
• an autonomous mobile garden tending robot suspended by the at least one suspension cable in a work space including the garden, wherein the garden tending robot system is operative to selectively move the suspended mobile garden tending robot about the work space, the mobile garden tending robot including:
• a robot body carried by the at least one cable;
• a camera mounted on the robot body and suspended by the at least one suspension cable to acquire image data from the work space;
• an implement movable with the camera;
• and
• an implement actuator operable to selectively move the implement relative to the robot body;
• at least one encoder operative to generate tracking signals corresponding to movement of the mobile garden tending robot relative to the at least one suspension cable;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• move the implement about the work space as a function of the image data acquired by the camera;
• automatically send a text message to a remote user terminal notifying the user when plants in the garden in the work space are ready to harvest;
• use the tracking signals from the at least one encoder to determine a coarse position of the mobile garden tending robot in the work space to place the mobile garden tending robot in the vicinity of a target in the work space;
• and
• use image data from the camera acquired from the work space to assess an actual or absolute position of the mobile garden tending robot relative to the target.

A garden tending robot system for tending a garden, the garden tending robot system comprising:

• at least one suspension cable;
• an autonomous mobile garden tending robot suspended by the at least one suspension cable in a work space including the garden, wherein the garden tending robot system is operative to selectively move the suspended mobile garden tending robot about the work space, the mobile garden tending robot including:
• a robot body carried by the at least one cable;
• a camera mounted on the robot body and suspended by the at least one suspension cable to acquire image data from the work space;
• an implement movable with the camera;
• and
• an implement actuator operable to selectively move the implement relative to the robot body;
• at least one encoder operative to generate tracking signals corresponding to movement of the mobile garden tending robot relative to the at least one suspension cable;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• move the implement about the work space as a function of the image data acquired by the camera;
• automatically send a text message to a remote user terminal notifying the user when pests are present in the garden in the work space;
• use the tracking signals from the at least one encoder to determine a coarse position of the mobile garden tending robot in the work space to place the mobile garden tending robot in the vicinity of a target in the work space;
• and
• use image data from the camera acquired from the work space to assess an actual or absolute position of the mobile garden tending robot relative to the target.

A garden tending robot system comprising:

• at least one suspension cable;
• an autonomous mobile garden tending robot suspended by the at least one suspension cable in a work space, wherein the garden tending robot system is operative to selectively move the suspended mobile garden tending robot about the work space, the mobile garden tending robot including a camera suspended by the at least one suspension cable to acquire image data from the work space;
• a water dispenser;
• a water station the water station including a supply of water;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• use the image data from the camera to automatically determine a position of the mobile garden tending robot within the work space;
• and
• direct the mobile garden tending robot to:
• move to the water station;
• collect water from the water station using the water dispenser;
• move the water dispenser to desired locations in the work space;
• and dispense the collected water onto a growing medium of the garden using the water dispenser;
• wherein:
• the garden tending robot system further includes a moisture probe tool;
• and
• the controller is configured to direct the mobile garden tending robot to:
• detect a moisture content of a growing medium of the garden using the moisture probe tool;
• and
• if a moisture content level of the growing medium detected by the moisture probe tool is too low, to:
• collect water from the water station using the water dispenser;
• and
• dispense the collected water onto the garden using the water dispenser.

A garden tending robot system comprising:

• at least one suspension cable;
• an autonomous mobile garden tending robot suspended by the at least one suspension cable in a work space, wherein the garden tending robot system is operative to selectively move the suspended mobile garden tending robot about the work space, the mobile garden tending robot including a camera suspended by the at least one suspension cable to acquire image data from the work space;
• a water dispenser;
• a water station, the water station including a supply of water;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• use the image data from the camera to automatically determine a position of the mobile garden tending robot within the work space;
• and
• direct the mobile garden tending robot to:
• move to the water station;
• collect water from the water station using the water dispenser;
• move the water dispenser to desired locations in the work space;
• and dispense the collected water onto a growing medium of the garden using the water dispenser;
• wherein:
• the garden tending robot system further includes a tool station holding the water dispenser;
• and
• the mobile garden tending robot is operable to engage the water dispenser, carry the water dispenser and use the water dispenser to dispense water in the work space, and thereafter return the water dispenser to the tool station.