Mtd Products Inc

Edward John Blanchard

Christopher J Churavy

A method for autonomous mower navigation includes receiving a return-to-zero encoded signal including a pseudo-random sequence, transforming the received signal to a non-return-to-zero representation, digitally sampling the non-return-to-zero signal representation in a time domain, filtering the sampled signal utilizing a reference data array based on the return-to-zero encoded signal to produce a filter output, and determining a location of the autonomous mower relative to a defined work area based on an evaluation of the filter output.

Autonomous mower navigation system and method

An illumination mechanism includes a plurality of LEDs for illuminating a surface and is configured to determine whether one of the plurality of LEDs has faulted. A pair of LED sets is provided with the sets electrically connected in parallel via terminal connections of each set of LEDs. Regardless of at least one of environmental temperature or minor differences in minimum forward voltages of individual LEDs, the mechanism is configured to discern whether at least a single LED of one set of LEDs of the pair has faulted. In instances where the sets of LEDs are separated from a controller or voltage measurement circuitry, the cost, circuit board real estate consumption, and manufacturing complexity associated with additional wiring and connections are minimized.

Method for LED fault detection and mechanism having LED fault detection

The present disclosure describes systems and methods for maintaining gyroscopic sensor accuracy over time and across changing environmental conditions. In certain aspects, the present disclosure provides arrangements and methods for calibrating a gyroscope while it is positioned on a robotic platform. In particular, the gyroscope may positioned on a sensor platform that is moved through a series of known or measured rotations and then the gyroscope signals are compared to reference data and the sensor's gain and offset calculated. In other aspects, the present disclosure provides arrangements and methods for utilizing measurements from multiple gyroscopes that measure the same axis of rotation.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Edward John Blanchard