US 12,239,055 B2
Autonomous ground surface treatment systems, vehicles, and methods
Joshua Craig Friell, Minneapolis, MN (US); Jackie R. Gust, Northfield, MN (US); and Alexander Steven Frick, Farmington, MN (US)
Assigned to THE TORO COMPANY, Bloomington, MN (US)
Filed by THE TORO COMPANY, Bloomington, MN (US)
Filed on May 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/200,857.
Application 18/200,857 is a continuation of application No. 17/290,907, granted, now 11,696,535, previously published as PCT/US2019/061962, filed on Nov. 18, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/876,086, filed on Jul. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/772,231, filed on Nov. 28, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0292680 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E01C 23/06 (2006.01); A01B 69/04 (2006.01); A01C 21/00 (2006.01); A01G 20/18 (2018.01); A01G 20/30 (2018.01); B60P 3/06 (2006.01); E01C 11/00 (2006.01); E01C 19/16 (2006.01); E01C 19/20 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 20/30 (2018.02) [A01B 69/008 (2013.01); A01C 21/00 (2013.01); A01G 20/18 (2018.02); B60P 3/064 (2013.01); E01C 11/005 (2013.01); E01C 19/16 (2013.01); E01C 19/20 (2013.01); E01C 23/06 (2013.01); G05D 1/028 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An autonomous natural turf 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, wherein the target area comprises at least one of divots and ruts;
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 in communication with the sensor and the gate, wherein 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.