Abstract: A ground surface treatment vehicle and systems and methods using the same. In some embodiments, the vehicle may be adapted to autonomously or semi-autonomously identify and optionally treat target areas such as divots on turf surfaces. The vehicle may identify the target area via onboard or remote sensors and autonomously treat the target area by providing a treating material such as infill, seed, particulate matter, and liquids.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an autonomous machine system having a scheduling controller configured to determine one or more windows of availability over a time period when the autonomous machine is allowed to operate to perform one or more operational tasks; determine a total operation time over the time period; and determine an operating schedule for a work region that assigns one or more operational tasks to the one or more windows of availability based on the total operation time. The autonomous machine may be commanded to operate in the work region according to the operating schedule.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.

Abstract: A system for use with an autonomous working machine such as a robotic lawn mower. The system may allow communication (directly or indirectly) between the machine and a gate or other barrier opening to allow unattended or remotely-controlled passage of the machine through the gate. In some embodiments, the mower may include a vision system operable to detect unknown objects within an area adjacent to the gate.

Abstract: A handle assembly for an autonomous vehicle such as a lawn mower is provided and may include a cradle adapted to receive a mobile computer. The handle assembly may be configured in both an autonomous mode position and a manual mode position. The vehicle may operate autonomously when the handle assembly is in the autonomous mode position, and be adapted to move under manual operator control, e.g., for perimeter training, when the handle assembly is in the manual mode position.

Abstract: An autonomous work vehicle generates a localization image of a part of a scene surrounding the autonomous work vehicle and generates a check image of a different part of the scene. A controller of the vehicle performs a localization process that involves generating the localization image and the check image. The localization image is used to determine an estimated pose of the autonomous work vehicle within the work region via a stored 3D point cloud (3DPC). The estimated pose and the 3DPC are used to determine predicted features within the check image. A comparison between the predicted features and corresponding features in the check image validates the estimated pose based on the comparison satisfying a threshold.

Abstract: A system for use with an autonomous working machine such as a robotic lawn mower. The system may allow communication (directly or indirectly) between the machine and a gate or other barrier opening to allow unattended or remotely-controlled passage of the machine through the gate. In some embodiments, the mower may include a vision system operable to detect unknown objects within an area adjacent to the gate.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for operating an autonomous vehicle. In some embodiments, the vehicle can include a mower having a cutting deck. The deck can include an upper wall and downwardly extending sidewalls forming a cutting chamber. The vehicle may include a cutting blade assembly contained within the cutting chamber. A distance between the cutting blade assembly and a trim edge of the mower deck can be changed.

Abstract: A hub for an overmolded basket base assembly of a laundry appliance is provided. The hub includes a central core defining an opening along an axis configured to receive a drive shaft. The hub further includes a disc, extending radially outwardly from the core about the axis, the disc configured to be overmolded in polymeric material that forms an overmolded plastic base, the disc including a plurality of posts arranged around the core and extending upward from a top surface of the disc to form a circumferentially-extending array to align the hub when applying torque to the hub.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for directing an autonomous robotic vehicle such as a lawn mower relative to a work region. In some embodiments, the vehicle travels in a random pattern within a travelling containment zone of a lesser size than the work region. The travelling containment zone may move or travel across the work region such that, over time, the travelling containment zone travels over most all of a working surface of the work region.

Abstract: A ground surface treatment vehicle and systems and methods using the same. In some embodiments, the vehicle may be adapted to autonomously or semi-autonomously identify and optionally treat target areas such as divots on turf surfaces. The vehicle may identify the target area via onboard or remote sensors and autonomously treat the target area by providing a treating material such as infill, seed, particulate matter, and liquids.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for operating an autonomous vehicle. In some embodiments, the vehicle is embodied as a mower having a downwardly extending sidewall and a cutting blade assembly. The cutting blade assembly is adapted to cut grass along a path defining a proximal cut edge located at a first distance from the sidewall when the mower is configured in a first operating mode, and at a second distance from the sidewall when the mower is configured in a second operating mode. The mower is adapted to automatically switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode when an electronic controller associated with the mower determines a local area of operation of the mower is free of unknown objects.

Abstract: A maintenance system operates to coordinate site maintenance activities among a human maintenance crew and a fleet of autonomous vehicles. A maintenance plan is developed for a region of the site, which includes a sequence of at least some of the tasks. Maintenance tasks are then assigned to the maintenance crew and autonomous vehicles. The system monitors the performance of the tasks, and upon completion of the tasks, assigns other incomplete tasks until all tasks have been completed.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for directing an autonomous robotic vehicle such as a lawn mower relative to a work region. In some embodiments, the vehicle travels in a random pattern within a travelling containment zone of a lesser size than the work region. The travelling containment zone may move or travel across the work region such that, over time, the travelling containment zone travels over most all of a working surface of the work region.

Abstract: Autonomous machine navigation involves determining a current pose of an autonomous machine based on non-vision-based pose data captured by one or more non-vision-based sensors of the autonomous machine. The pose represents one or both of a position and an orientation of the autonomous machine in a work region defined by one or more boundaries. Pose data is determined based on a return signal received in response to a wireless signal transmitted to a surface or subsurface object that passively provides the return signal. The return signal is identifiable with the object. The current pose is updated based on the pose data to correct or localize the current pose and to provide an updated pose of the autonomous machine in the work region.

Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treating appliance, such as a washing machine, having a cabinet defining an interior and defining an access opening. A lid can be movably mounted relative to the cabinet to selectively open or close the access opening. A tub can be located within the interior and the tub can contain a rotatably mounted drum, such as a horizontally rotatable drum, including a flexible fabric material.

Abstract: Vision systems for autonomous machines and methods of using same during machine localization are provided. Exemplary systems and methods may reduce computing resources needed to perform vision-based localization by selecting the most appropriate camera from two or more cameras, and optionally selecting only a portion of the selected camera's field of view, from which to perform vision-based location correction. Other embodiments may provide camera lens coverings that maintain optical clarity while operating within debris-filled environments.

Abstract: An autonomous ground maintenance system comprising a vehicle comprising a chassis supported upon a ground surface by ground support members, a container supported by the chassis, the container defining a discharge outlet operable to disperse treating material held within the container to a target area of the ground surface, a gate adapted to selectively open and close the discharge outlet, a sensor adapted to identify the target area, and an electronic controller supported by the chassis, the controller being in communication with the sensor and the gate. The controller is adapted to position the chassis at a location proximate the target area such that the discharge outlet is capable of delivering the treating material to the target area and energize the gate to open the discharge outlet.

Abstract: Training an autonomous machine in a work region for navigation in various lighting conditions includes determining a feature detection range based on an environmental lighting parameter, determining a feature detection score for each of one or more positions in the containment zone based on the feature detection range, determining one or more localizable positions in the containment zone based on the corresponding feature detection scores, and updating the navigation map to include a localization region within the containment zone based on the one or more localizable positions. Navigation may use one or more of an uncertainty area, the localization region, and one or more buffer zones to navigate based on lighting conditions.