US 11,719,005 B2
Autonomous power trowel
Merlie Schwartz, Brinkhaven, OH (US)
Filed by Merlie Schwartz, Brinkhaven, OH (US)
Filed on Nov. 13, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/683,195.
Prior Publication US 2021/0140181 A1, May 13, 2021
Int. Cl. E04F 21/24 (2006.01); G05D 1/02 (2020.01)
CPC E04F 21/247 (2013.01) [E04F 21/245 (2013.01); G05D 1/0227 (2013.01); G05D 1/0285 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power trowel for finishing a concrete slab or floor, comprising:
a frame supported by at least one rotor having a plurality of troweling blades for engaging a concrete slab or floor;
at least one power source onboard the frame for selectively rotating the at least one rotor to finish the concrete;
at least one actuator onboard the frame for selectively tilting the at least one rotor;
a communication system onboard the frame for communicating with at least one remote communication device;
a plurality of sensors onboard the frame for sensing external boundaries of the concrete;
a sensor stand mounted on the frame and positioned above the frame;
first and second stereoscopic camera arrays adapted to cooperate with one or more colored retroreflective visual targets to form an internal boundary of the concrete;
wherein the first and second stereoscopic cameras are laterally spaced-apart and above the frame on the sensor stand extending above the frame;
wherein the colored retroreflective vision targets are cylindrically shaped and vertically oriented;
a controller onboard the frame configured to selectively operate the at least one power source to rotate the at least one rotor to finish the concrete and to shut off the power trowel when the finish is complete, to selectively operate the at least one actuator to tilt the at least one rotor to steer the frame and to move the frame in a desired direction, to receive communications from the at least one remote communication device via the communications system, to receive signals from the plurality of sensors to stay within the external boundaries, and to receive signals from the first and second stereoscopic camera arrays to stay within the internal boundary;
a corner trowel for finishing one or more spaces of the concrete slab or floor where the at least one rotor cannot reach; and
an extendable telescopic arm onboard the frame for selectively positioning the corner trowel.