TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a management system and a method for mowing a plurality of lawns by the use of two or more robotic lawn mowers. The invention also includes a carrier for transporting and/or storing lawn mowers which can be used by the system in carrying out the method.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Robotic lawn mowers have been available for about 20 years. They are typically electric and powered by a rechargeable battery. A typical set up comprises a lawn mower, a fence sensed by the lawn mower and delineating the area to be mowed (=lawn), and a base station also called docking station which is connected to the fence. The fence may be virtual or physical. It shall hinder the lawn mower from escaping the delineated area. Virtual fences are illustrated by GPS based systems which with today's technology should be based on local senders at selected spots in close association with a lawn to be mowed. The most popular form of physical fences is an electrical wire or cable. A fence may, in addition to hinder the lawn mower from escaping, also function as guiding means for the lawn mower to find different positions from which it can start working. For electric fences there may be additional electric cables functioning as additional guiding means. The base station typically provides power connections for recharging the battery of the lawn mower and/or power to the fence if its delineation ability is based on electro-magnetic fields. The typical robotic lawn mower has a control unit including e.g. various sensors and soft-ware that enable the lawn mower to evenly mow a delineated area, retain itself within the area, alarm when leaving the area etc.

“Electric” and “battery powered” will be used synonymously in the context of the invention if not otherwise indicated.

There are robotic lawn mowers which utilize wireless communication which allows nearby and/or remote control and check of the work and well-being of a mower. Advantages with distance control of robotic lawn mowers have been indicated for caretakers who handle a plurality of different properties or lawns by the use of two or more robotic lawn mowers, e.g. with one lawn mower per property or lawn. See publication (f) below.

There are several published patents and patent applications which concerns electric robotic lawn mowers. See for instancea) EP 2870852 (Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH, Lawn mower with network communication),b) EP 2870853 (Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH, Lawn mower with remote control),c) EP 2913732 (LG Electronics Inc, Lawn mower robot and method for controlling the same),d) U.S. Pat. No. 9,137,943 (Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH, Trainable autonomous lawn mower),e) WO 9423351 (Cat Systems Ltd, Localizing system),f) WO 2010077198 (Husqvarna AB, An autonomous robotic lawn mower and a method for establishing a wire-less communication link between the lawn mower and the user).

Robotic lawn mowers have primarily been intended for single lawns or single properties (home lawn/home property), i.e. once being installed on its home lawn the robotic lawn mower will mainly be used there. The areas of the lawns have typically been relatively small. The software that controls charging and available mow time has aimed at securing a long life time of the batteries (typically several years). Relatively long resting times and long charging times have normally been a common feature and not of a big concern. The cutting capacity in m2/day has been relatively low. This kind of robotic lawn mowers has not been particularly well-adapted to larger areas. One of the main objects has been to increase the owner's spare time for doing other things.

All patent applications and issued patents cited in this specification are in their entirety incorporated by reference.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention focuses on professional care takers who are responsible for cutting the lawns of several properties and/or real estates, i.e. responsible for a plurality of lawns. Commercially available robotic lawn mowers have not been suitable for multi lawn care takers. In addition these lawns are often publicly available and are at a high risk for thefts and damages by by-passers. The first choice has been riding mowers because of their high capacity in m2/day in spite of considerably higher costs for investment, fuel, labour and a negative environmental impact from noise and exhaust gases.

There is a need for providing robotic lawn mowers which permit increased effective operational times (hours/day) and/or increased cutting capacity in m2/hour. The lawn mowers should be arranged in a system that minimizes risks for thefts and damages.

A system for professional care takers responsible for several estates/properties should be designed to facilitate easy transportation of the robotic lawn mowers between different lawns/properties/real estates and a storing facility in order to accomplish a time-efficient and economic use of the lawn mowers.

Thus care takers responsible for a plurality of lawns using robotic lawn mowers will encounter other problems and have other demands than single lawn care takers.

The objects of the invention aim at providing solutions to the problems and demands mentioned above.

