Keywords
Citation
(2003), "Robot farmer", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2003.04930ead.012
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
Robot farmer
Robot farmer
Keywords: Patents, Farming, Robots
Applicant: James K. Rocks, USAPatent number: US5,974,348Publication date: 26 October 1999Title: System and Method for Performing Mobile Robotic Work Operations
In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic gardening system and method for performing automated tasks in a garden is provided. The robot is instructed by means of a table of data elements, called the scenario, which specifies, as a series of linked arcs, the directions, distances and speeds it is to move from its original location and heading. The robot follows these instructions by dead reckoning. Periodically, the robot executes a navigation "fix" to determine its exact location and direction and uses this information to correct its course toward the desired course. Seven or more navigation beacons are positioned around the perimeter of a work area which may be a garden. Each beacon emits or reflects electromagnetic radiation across the garden for detection by the self-propelled robot.
A panoramic image collector gathers and focuses electromagnetic radiation from each navigation beacon on an electronic camera to form at least seven beam spots. The relative position of the detected beam spots in the focal plane, vary depending upon the six degrees of freedom for robot movement in a garden. A navigation module determines the position and orientation of the robot within the garden based on the output of the imaging camera.
The robot can perform farming tasks from tillage, to planting, to harvesting by controlling the point of impact of a implement carried by the robot. Tasks can be carried out to within an inch on average for any given position coordinate.
Jon Rigelsford