The Toro Company

Alexander Steven Frick

Jason Thomas Kraft

Ryan Douglas Ingvalson

Aaron Y Curtis

Jackie Ray Gust

Jesse Richard Gamble

Khari S Clarke

Peter M Arendt

Joshua Craig Friell

David LaRose

Kevin D Docken

Adam Richard Williams

Michael Jason Ramsay

Christopher Charles Osterwood

Stephen Paul Elizondo Landers

Zachary Irvin Parker

Kyle C Bjorkman

David Arthur Larose

David Ian Robinson

Timothy Bertram Cleveland

Trevor M Porter

Brian Daniel Beyer

Gregory S Janey

Kevin Dale Docken

Khari Sekou Clarke

Aaron Yarrow Curtis

Trevor Myron Porter

Apparatus, systems, and methods for directing an autonomous robotic vehicle such as a lawn mower relative to a work region. In some embodiments, the vehicle travels in a random pattern within a travelling containment zone of a lesser size than the work region. The travelling containment zone may move or travel across the work region such that, over time, the travelling containment zone travels over most all of a working surface of the work region.

System and method for operating an autonomous robotic working machine within a travelling containment zone

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.

Autonomous ground surface treatment systems, vehicles, and methods

Autonomous machine navigation techniques may determine vision-based pose data based on feature data and object recognition data extracted from images. The vision-based pose data may be used to generate a three-dimensional point cloud that represents at least a work region. The vision-based pose data may be used to determine an operational vision-based pose relative to the three-dimensional point cloud.

Autonomous machine navigation with object detection and 3D point cloud

This disclosure provides an autonomous machine system having a scheduling controller configured to determine one or more windows of availability over a time period when the autonomous machine is allowed to operate to perform one or more operational tasks; determine a total operation time over the time period; and determine an operating schedule for a work region that assigns one or more operational tasks to the one or more windows of availability based on the total operation time. The autonomous machine may be commanded to operate in the work region according to the operating schedule.

Smart scheduling for autonomous machine operation

A handle assembly for an autonomous vehicle such as a lawn mower is provided and may include a cradle adapted to receive a mobile computer. The handle assembly may be configured in both an autonomous mode position and a manual mode position. The vehicle may operate autonomously when the handle assembly is in the autonomous mode position, and be adapted to move under manual operator control, e.g., for perimeter training, when the handle assembly is in the manual mode position.

Handle assembly for autonomous vehicle

A system for use with an autonomous working machine such as a robotic lawn mower. The system may allow communication (directly or indirectly) between the machine and a gate or other barrier opening to allow unattended or remotely-controlled passage of the machine through the gate. In some embodiments, the mower may include a vision system operable to detect unknown objects within an area adjacent to the gate.

Barrier passage system for autonomous working machine

Apparatus, systems, and methods for operating an autonomous vehicle. In some embodiments, the vehicle can include a mower having a cutting deck. The deck can include an upper wall and downwardly extending sidewalls forming a cutting chamber. The vehicle may include a cutting blade assembly contained within the cutting chamber. A distance between the cutting blade assembly and a trim edge of the mower deck can be changed.

Systems and methods for operating a robotic machine in an autonomous mode and a manual mode

An autonomous ground 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, 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 being in communication with the sensor and the gate. 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.

Autonomous ground surface treatment system and method of operation of such a system

Autonomous machine navigation techniques may generate a three-dimensional point cloud that represents at least a work region based on feature data and matching data. Pose data associated with points of the three-dimensional point cloud may be generated that represents poses of an autonomous machine. A boundary may be determined using the pose data for subsequent navigation of the autonomous machine in the work region. Non-vision-based sensor data may be used to determine a pose. The pose may be updated based on the vision-based pose data. The autonomous machine may be navigated within the boundary of the work region based on the updated pose. The three-dimensional point cloud may be generated based on data captured during a touring phase. Boundaries may be generated based on data captured during a mapping phase.

Autonomous machine navigation and training using vision system

An outdoor unit has a frame that carries a ground grooming or working implement, a traction drive, and a cooling fan, all of which comprises loads on a prime mover. A power management controller automatically reduces an operational speed of the traction drive when prime mover droop is present. The cooling fan cools two cooling fluids. The controller stores data representing variable fan speeds for cooling each cooling fluid in both normal and above normal temperature ranges and for use when prime mover droop is present. The controller uses the highest fan speed required for cooling the cooling fluids in the normal range unless the droop fan speed is lower in which case the lower droop fan speed is used but only to the extent that the lower droop fan speed is not lower than the highest fan speed required for cooling the cooling fluids in the above normal temperature range.

Control system and method using multiple inputs for controlling cooling fan speed of outdoor power equipment unit

An outdoor power equipment unit comprises a self-propelled mower having a hydraulic traction drive system. When engine load exceeds a predetermined percentage of full load, a controller automatically reduces the stroke of a variable displacement pump in the traction drive system to reduce the ground speed of the mower without the operator having to change the position of the traction pedal. This reduces engine load to enhance continued good cutting performance. At any time, the controller can take the same actions to reduce ground speed if an excessively high temperature in a fluid used in a cooling system on the mower is detected, or if excessive loads on the mower decks of the mower are detected, or both.

Growing community of inventors

Farmington, MN, United States of America

Alexander Steven Frick