Robot lawn mawers have been with us for some time, and while the original models depended on the boundary wires, to ensure that they did not wander in the boundaries, the new lawnbots are using more sophisticated navigation methods – which do not require wires.
Modern robot lawn mawers use satellite positioning data jointly with RTK (real -time Keymetic) position to find their way around their yard. Since this method of navigation depends on a decent satellite connection, most of the lawnbats will also come with some types of secondary sensors that are designed to continue cutting grass in the areas of bad signals. It can be radar or lidar (which is used in most of today’s best robot vacuum), or perhaps a camera.
For a simple explanation, read how lawnbots navigate without a border wire. Or, for a more general observation, how the robot lawn mawers work for the head of our guide.
How do lawnbots use satellite positioning?
dictionary
Base Station: RTK receiver
Charge Station: Where Dock Docks to Charge
GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite System
GPS: Global Positioning System, one of the four GNS systems
RTK: Real-Time Kinematic (Positioning)-GNSS makes data more accurate
Lonbots that do not use border wires use satellites for navigation. You are probably more use to see the word GPS, but it is one of the four global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that can help your lawnbot to stay on the syllabus. The GPS is owned by the US, and other systems are Galileo from the European Union, Glonas from Russia and Bidou from China.
Satellite signal experience is delayed experience because they make their way on the surface of the Earth, which means that GNSS positioning is not all accurate. It can detect a lawnbot within a few meters, but it is not enough for some task to cut grass-it may be a difference between cutting grass to a lawn and boundaries in the borders.
To improve accuracy, GNSS data works with RTK positioning. This helps correct data, accounting for those signals delays, and this means that the lawnbot may be located within a few centimeters. Adding RTK means that the robot grass cutting machine can cross the lawn in a logical, similar fashion, rather than driving randomly within an assigned area (as it will, if it is, if there is a boundary wire in place).
The RTK system uses a certain base station with an antenna. It combines both robot lawn grass cutting machine and satellites to the sky (for clarity, it is different from a dock / charge station, where the lawnbot juice returns to up to up to). Read our How does RTK work in Robot Lawn MawersThe one who covers it is more detail.
What affects how a lawnbott can navigate?
The GNSS Plus RTK system depends on the straight line of satellites in the sky. What is more, both lawnbott and base stations need to be able to join the same satellites.
While some satellite signals can complete thin obstacles – think about light tree coverage or thin wood – in general, any wall, hedges, and structures will block the signal and affect how well the robot lawn grass cutting machine can find how well.
This means that RTK is the placement of the base station Very Important And because the robot should be able to join satellites when it is in its charge station, its position is also important.
Where should I keep my RTK base station?
To work, the RTK base station requires a straight line of vision for more and more satellites. For example, it should be deployed, so it has the most broad view of the sky in as many directions as possible. It makes your home or on the roof of your shade, and above most trees – ideal – ideal. Once installed, until you need to reproduce it as it is not working properly, the RTK station wants to live in the same position.
The RTK station also transmits a signal to the Lonbot. It is usually a radio signal, which means that there No There is a need to have a straight line of vision between Lonbot and RTK station. Radio signal can pass through walls, trees and so on. When you can keep that RTK station can be next to the base station, it does not need to be.
If you are unfamiliar with lawnbots, then the video above mammal provides an idea of what a RTK station (and charge station) looks. It is based on mammal luba 2, but most setups will be the same.
Where should I keep my charging station?
The robot requires a decent GNSS signal, not only when it is covering your lawn, but also when it is docked. This means that the charging station should also have a direct line to see satellites in the sky. It may not be under a cover – or more, it may be thin plastic or under wood.
There should also be a clear place on the left and right side of the charge station. Most brands recommend leaving around 2 meters.
Ideally, the charge station should be out in the open; But, wisely, most people are unlikely to sit in the middle of their lawn the charge station of their grass cutting machine. Generally, it is okay to have a charge station against a wall, provided that it is still a straight line of vision for satellites in all three other directions.
What else can satellite connection affect?
Note that the satellites do not live in one place in the sky. Four GNS systems work on different circumambulation periods, and no one will accurately align on Earth Day. This means that navigation may be better in some time of the day than others, on the basis of how many satellites are accessible to lawnbott and RTK receiver at that time.
Different countries will also have separate satellite coverage, and some will be more wider than others.
