Patents by Inventor Justin A. Kraft

Justin A. Kraft has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Robotic mower launch point system
    Patent number: 8549826
    Abstract: A robotic mower launch point system includes a user interface for an operator to enter a plurality of launch point locations, durations and frequencies, and a vehicle control unit that stores the locations, durations and frequencies, determines a sequence of launches based on the launch point frequencies, and commands the robotic mower to exit a charging station and follow a boundary wire to each launch point in the sequence where the robotic mower mows for that launch point's duration before returning to the charging station. The vehicle control determines the sequence based on the frequency of each launch point relative to a total of the launch point frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Justin A. Kraft, Roger Kane, Jeffrey S. Thompson, Francisco O. da Rocha, Monte A. Dickson, Mark W. Waldvogel
  • ROBOTIC MOWER LAUNCH POINT SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20130025248
    Abstract: A robotic mower launch point system includes a user interface for an operator to enter a plurality of launch point locations, durations and frequencies, and a vehicle control unit that stores the locations, durations and frequencies, determines a sequence of launches based on the launch point frequencies, and commands the robotic mower to exit a charging station and follow a boundary wire to each launch point in the sequence where the robotic mower mows for that launch point's duration before returning to the charging station. The vehicle control determines the sequence based on the frequency of each launch point relative to a total of the launch point frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Justin A. Kraft, Roger Kane, Jeffrey S. Thompson, Francisco O. da Rocha, Monte A. Dickinson, Mark W. Waldvogel
  • Robotic Mower Stuck Detection System
    Publication number: 20120029752
    Abstract: A robotic mower stuck detection system includes a boundary sensor on the robotic mower that can detect when the robotic mower reaches a boundary wire, an accelerometer on the robotic mower that can detect when the robotic mower encounters an obstacle; and a vehicle control unit on the robotic mower having a timer that is reset each time the robotic mower reaches a boundary wire or encounters an obstacle; and executes a stuck vehicle task if the timer exceeds a specified maximum time without being reset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: David A. Johnson, Jeffrey S. Thompson, Thomas M. Messina, Justin A. Kraft, Russell J. Thacher