Method and means for mowing lawns

Abstract

A system, for cutting a plurality of lawns, including: A) two or more robotic lawn mowers which each has a rechargeable energy storage, and B) a carrier, which includes: a) at least two holders, each of which is capable of retaining one of the two or more robotic lawn mowers and b) a charging system for the rechargeable energy storage. Also provided is the carrier as such and a method in which the system and the carrier can be used. The mowers are typically battery powered.

1 . A method for operating one or more robotic lawn mowers on lawns, the method comprising:
 A 1 ) identifying a first lawn and a second lawn, and storing a first lawn identity and a second lawn identity in a control system;   B 1 ) delineating a first fence area at the first lawn and a second fence area at the second lawn, and storing the first fence area and the second fence area in the control system;   C 1 ) identifying a first robotic lawn mower, and storing a first robotic lawn mower identity in the control system;   D 1 ) transporting the first robotic lawn mower to the first lawn;   E 1 ) pairing the first robotic lawn mower with the first lawn by matching the first robotic lawn mower identity with the first lawn identity;   F 1 ) operating the first robotic lawn mower to mow within the first fence area;   G 1 ) removing the first robotic lawn mower from the first lawn;   H 1 ) transporting the first robotic lawn mower to the second lawn;   I 1 ) pairing the first robotic lawn mower with the second lawn by matching the first robotic lawn mower identity with the second lawn identity;   J 1 ) operating the first robotic lawn mower to mow within the second fence area; and   K 1 ) removing the first robotic lawn mower from the second lawn.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 A 2 ) identifying a third lawn and a fourth lawn, and storing a third lawn identity and a fourth lawn identity in a control system;   B 2 ) delineating a third fence area at the third lawn and a fourth fence area at the fourth lawn, and storing the third fence area and the fourth fence area in the control system;   C 2 ) identifying a second robotic lawn mower, and storing a second robotic lawn mower identity in the control system;   D 2 ) transporting the second robotic lawn mower to the third lawn;   E 2 ) pairing the second robotic lawn mower with the third lawn by matching the second robotic lawn mower identity with the third lawn identity;   F 2 ) operating the second robotic lawn mower to mow within the third fence area;   G 2 ) removing the second robotic lawn mower from the third lawn;   H 2 ) transporting the second robotic lawn mower to the fourth lawn;   I 2 ) pairing the second robotic lawn mower with the fourth lawn by matching the second robotic lawn mower identity with the fourth lawn identity;   J 2 ) operating the second robotic lawn mower to mow within the fourth fence area; and   K 2 ) removing the second robotic lawn mower from the fourth lawn;   wherein at least one of step F 2  or J 2  is performed at least partially simultaneously with at least one of step F 1  or J 1 .   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising repeating steps A 2  through K 2  for at least two or more additional lawns and at least one additional robotic lawn mower. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises software and memory on at least one separate unit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the separate unit comprises a digital unit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the digital unit comprises a PC or a smart phone. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein steps E 1  and I 1  are performed wirelessly. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step B 1  further comprises establishing a first cutting pattern for the first lawn and a second cutting pattern for the second lawn, and storing the first cutting pattern and the second cutting pattern in the control system. 
     
     
         9 . the method of  claim 8 , wherein step E 1  pairing the first cutting pattern to the first robotic lawn mower, and step I 1  comprises pairing the second cutting pattern to the first robotic lawn mower. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of:
 storing a cutting journal for the first mower and a cutting journal for the second mower in the control system;   storing a cutting journal for the first lawn and a cutting journal for the second lawn in the control system;   storing a record of possible errors for the first mower in the control system; and   storing a battery status of the first mower in the control system.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first fence area comprises a first GPS geofence, and the second fence area comprises a second GPS geofence. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 step E 1  and further comprises activating a first geofence alarm configured to indicate when the first robotic lawn mower exits the first GPS geofence; and   step I 1  further comprises activating a second geofence alarm configured to indicate when the first robotic lawn mower exits the second GPS geofence.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more of:
 operating the first geofence alarm to send a first signal to the control system when the first robotic lawn mower exits the first GPS geofence and tracking a position of the first robotic lawn mower after the first robotic lawn mower exits the first GPS geofence; and   operating the second geofence alarm to send a second signal to the control system when the first robotic lawn mower exits the second GPS geofence and tracking a position of the first robotic lawn mower after the first robotic lawn mower exits the second GPS geofence.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 i) identifying a second robotic lawn mower, and storing a second robotic lawn mower identity in the control system;   ii) transporting the second robotic lawn mower to the first lawn; and   iii) pairing the second robotic lawn mower with the first lawn by matching the second robotic lawn mower identity with the first lawn identity;   wherein step F 1  comprises at least partially simultaneously operating the first robotic lawn mower and the second robotic lawn mower to mow within the first fence area.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein operating the first robotic lawn mower and the second robotic lawn mower to mow within the first fence area comprises operating the first robotic lawn mower and the second robotic lawn mower with complementing cutting patterns. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein operating the first robotic lawn mower and the second robotic lawn mower to mow within the first fence area comprises performing GPS based control in real-time of relative positions of the first robotic lawn mower and the second robotic lawn mower. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first robotic lawn mower and the second robotic lawn mower comprises one or more respective sensors configured to hinder contact between the respective robotic lawn mower and obstacles. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more respective sensors comprise one or more non-contact sensors. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more non-contact sensors comprise one or more infrared sensors, ultrasound sensors or cameras. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step B 1  comprises delineating at least one of the first fence area and the second fence area by an electrical wire. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step B 1  comprises delineating at least one of the first fence area and the second fence area by an electrical wire having an associated base station. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first robotic lawn mower is powered by an electric battery, and step H 1  comprises charging the electric battery while transporting the first robotic lawn mower to the second lawn. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first robotic lawn mower is powered by an electric battery, and the method comprises, after one or both of step G 1  and step K 1 :
 L) transporting the first robotic lawn mower via a mobile carrier to a storage facility; and   M) subsequently charging the electric battery via an electrical power supply system separate from the mobile carrier.   
     
     
         24 . A method for operating robotic lawn mowers on lawns, the method comprising:
 A) identifying a plurality of lawns and storing a respective lawn identity of each of the plurality of lawns in a control system;   B) delineating a respective fence area for each of the plurality of lawns and storing the respective fence areas in the control system;   C) identifying a plurality of robotic lawn mowers, and storing a respective robotic lawn mower identity of each robotic lawn mower of the plurality of robotic lawn mowers in the control system;   D) transporting each of the robotic lawn mower to a respective first lawn of the plurality of lawns;   E) pairing each of the robotic lawn mowers with the respective first lawn by matching the respective lawn mower identity of each of the robotic lawn mowers with the respective lawn identity of the respective first lawn;   F) operating each of the robotic lawn mowers to mow within the respective fence area of the respective first lawn;   G) removing each of the robotic lawn mowers from the respective first lawn;   H) transporting each of the robotic lawn mowers to a respective second lawn of the plurality of lawns;   I) pairing each of the robotic lawn mowers with the respective second lawn by matching the respective lawn mower identity of each of the robotic lawn mowers with the respective lawn identity of the respective second lawn;   J) operating each of the robotic lawn mowers to mow within the respective fence area of the respective second lawn; and   K) removing each of the robotic lawn mowers from the respective second lawn.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising charging one or more of the robotic lawn mowers 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein charging one or more of the robotic lawn mowers is performed between step G and step H.