US 12,269,528 B2
Real time kinematics power equipment device with auto-steering
Zachary A. Lyzen, Valley City, OH (US); and Adam J. Woodrum, Valley City, OH (US)
Assigned to MTD PRODUCTS INC, Valley City, OH (US)
Filed by MTD PRODUCTS INC, Valley City, OH (US)
Filed on Apr. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/132,809.
Application 18/132,809 is a continuation of application No. 17/016,022, filed on Sep. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,623,689.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/966,139, filed on Jan. 27, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/897,684, filed on Sep. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0242179 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
Int. Cl. B62D 15/02 (2006.01); B60W 30/18 (2012.01); G01C 21/34 (2006.01); G01S 13/931 (2020.01); H04W 4/40 (2018.01)
CPC B62D 15/021 (2013.01) [B60W 30/18172 (2013.01); G01C 21/3461 (2013.01); G01C 21/3469 (2013.01); G01S 13/931 (2013.01); H04W 4/40 (2018.02); G01S 2013/9316 (2020.01); G01S 2013/932 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a lawn maintenance apparatus, comprising:
determine a heading of the lawn maintenance apparatus concurrent with operation of a prime mover of the lawn maintenance apparatus;
receive an operator turn command entry identifying a direction orthogonal to or substantially orthogonal to the heading;
in response to the operator turn command entry, engage an auto-steering apparatus and steer the lawn maintenance apparatus independent of an operator steering mechanism into the direction, wherein steering the lawn maintenance apparatus further comprises:
steer the lawn maintenance apparatus along a curve away from the heading and toward the direction;
monitor a change in a current heading of the lawn maintenance apparatus while traversing the curve and compare the current heading to a threshold heading value utilized by the auto-steering apparatus for defining an end to the curve;
detect a value of the current heading matching or exceeding the threshold heading value;
end steering along the curve and initiate a low-radius turn for the lawn maintenance apparatus, in response to detecting the value of the current heading matching or exceeding the threshold heading value, and continue the low-radius turn for the lawn maintenance apparatus until the current heading matches or exceeds a second threshold heading value; and
direct the lawn maintenance apparatus substantially in the direction of the second threshold heading value.