Abstract: An autonomous electric mower for mowing a lawn comprises a frame, drive wheels, cutting deck, computer, a Lidar sensor, at least one color and depth sensing camera. The computer is programmed and operable to: determine the location of the mower; detect obstacles; and to instruct the mower to avoid the obstacles. Advantageously, the system is operable to analyze the data from the multiple sensors and to instruct the mower to continue to safely operate and cut the lawn despite one or more of the sensors being obstructed. Novel route planning methods are also described.

Abstract: A finial assembly affixed to a flagpole is described. The assembly includes a mounting component configured to receive the flagpole therein, a base component having transparent sections, a body component having solar panels, and a top component having transparent portions. The body component includes a hollow interior having an upper cavity that houses a first support structure and receives the top component and a lower cavity that houses a second support structure. Each of the first and second support structure are associated with a light-emitting diode (LED) operatively connected to the solar panels. A first LED of the first support structure illuminates light towards the transparent portions of the top component and a second LED of the second support structure illuminates light towards the transparent sections of the base component to illuminate a flag affixed to the flagpole.

Abstract: A finial assembly affixed to a flagpole is described. The assembly includes a mounting component configured to receive the flagpole therein, a base component having transparent sections, a body component having solar panels, and a top component having transparent portions. The body component includes a hollow interior having an upper cavity that houses a first support structure and receives the top component and a lower cavity that houses a second support structure. Each of the first and second support structure are associated with a light-emitting diode (LED) operatively connected to the solar panels. A first LED of the first support structure illuminates light towards the transparent portions of the top component and a second LED of the second support structure illuminates light towards the transparent sections of the base component to illuminate a flag affixed to the flagpole.