Hydro-gear Limited Partnership

David H Dunten

Alyn G Brown

Eric S Phanco

Damon J Hoyda

John Tyler Hibbard

A lawn vehicle network includes a charging station having a visual identifier, a lawn vehicle having a battery, a blade system, a drive system whose output effects lawn vehicle forward movement, a processor board connected to both systems, the processor board capable of processing image data and sending commands to both systems, and a vision assembly connected to the processor board and able to transmit image data to the processor board, and the processor board, having received the image data, able to, if the image data represent a first object, maintain the drive system's output at the time of that determination, if the image data represent a second object, change the drive system's output at the time of that determination, and if the image data represent the visual identifier, maintain the drive system's output or send a shutoff command to the vision assembly at the time of that determination.

Visual identifiers for docking and zoning an autonomous mower

A system for mapping a plot of land includes a utility vehicle and a remote computer. The utility vehicle includes a GPS unit configured to collect location data of the utility vehicle during operation on the plot of land. The utility vehicle includes an accelerometer configured to collect roll data and pitch data of the utility vehicle during operation on the plot of land. The utility vehicle includes a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit the location data, the roll data, and the pitch data. The remote computer is configured to wirelessly receive the location data, the roll data, and the pitch data. The remote computer is configured to generate a three-dimensional contour map of the plot of land based on the location data, the roll data, and the pitch data.

Method of generating a three-dimensional map of a lawn and its use to improve mowing efficiency

A system provided for use with a lawn mower includes a processor in communication with the lawn mower. The processor is configured to acquire geographic location data of the lawn mower and mapping data for the lawn mower as the lawn mower operates on the plot of land. The processor is configured to acquire performance data of the lawn mower as the lawn mower operates on the plot of land according to a first path and generate a map of the plot of land at least partially based on the geographic location data and the mapping data. The processor is configured to determine an operational efficiency of the lawn mower according to the first path and determine a second path for the lawn mower that increases the operational efficiency of the lawn mower for operating on the plot of land.

A system for remotely controlling mower operations includes a mower and a remote server. The mower includes a plurality of wheels and a plurality of blades. The mower also includes an onboard processor configured to control operation of the mower and a transceiver configured to communicate with the mobile device via a wireless area network. The remote server is configured to communicate with the mobile device via a cellular network to receive real-time streaming of a GPS location collected from a GPS unit of the mobile device. The remote server also is configured to determine, in real-time, a command signal for the mower based on the GPS location and transmit, in real-time, the command signal to the onboard processor via the mobile device to instruct the onboard processor to modify one or more mower operational parameters.

Interactive sensor, communications, and control system for a utility vehicle

A method is provided for generating a three-dimensional geographical map of a lawn using a mower equipped with sensors for monitoring geographic location, pitch and roll, comprising the steps of: periodically acquiring position, pitch and roll data as the lawn is mowed; transmitting the geographic location, pitch and roll data to a computer processor; and processing the geographic location, pitch and roll data to generate the map. The method is useful for enhancing mowing efficiency and managing the activities of a fleet of mower units.

A monitoring system is provided for a utility vehicle, and particularly, a zero turn radius type utility vehicle such as a lawnmower. The monitoring system includes an onboard processor and one or more sensors that are in communication with the onboard processor, to report various sensed parameters of the utility vehicle to the processor. The processor includes a transmitter for transmitting information that is processed by the processor to a near range electronic communication device. The near range electronic device includes a processor for further processing information received from the onboard processor. The near range electronic device also includes a transmitter that is capable of transmitting information to a far range electronic device, such as a remote computer, for providing the sensed information to a remote monitor.

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Whitestown, IN, United States of America

David H Dunten