DE102018131732A1 - System consisting of at least one tillage device and at least one signal transmission device and operating method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system comprising at least one soil cultivation device (1) that moves automatically within an environment, at least one signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) assigned to a defined environmental subarea (2, 3, 4) for transmitting a soil cultivation requirement in the defined one Subarea (2, 3, 4) signal (8) and a control device (9) for controlling a tillage by the tillage device (1) in the defined subarea (2, 3, 4). In order to be able to carry out a tillage efficiently, it is proposed that the control device (9) is set up to control a tillage program planned in advance with one or more program steps at a point in time specified by the tillage program, and to change the tillage program planned in advance, when the control device (9) receives a signal (8) containing a tillage requirement from the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7), a program step corresponding to the tillage requirement being added to or removed from the tillage program.

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a system comprising at least one soil cultivation device that moves automatically within an environment, at least one signal transmission device for transmitting a signal that signals a soil cultivation requirement in the defined environment subsection and a control device for controlling soil cultivation by the soil cultivation device in the defined environment subsection .

In addition, the invention relates to a method for operating such a system, wherein at least one tillage device moves automatically within an environment, at least one signal transmission device assigned to a defined area of the surrounding area sends a signal that signals a tillage requirement in the defined area of the surrounding area, and wherein a control device performs a tillage controlled by the tillage implement in the defined sub-area.

State of the art

Systems from tillage equipment and signal transmission devices are known in the prior art. Such a system can have, for example, a home communication network, so-called “smart home” network, in which the networked devices and devices communicate with one another via a central access point or are controlled by the latter. Via the home communication network, a tillage requirement can be communicated by a signal transmission device, whereupon a tillage device integrated in the home communication network is then controlled to carry out tillage work at a defined location in the environment, which is assigned to the calling signal transmission device. Instead of via a home communication network, however, the tillage device and the signal transmission device can also communicate directly with one another.

The publication WO 2017/140726 A1 For example, discloses a system comprising an autonomous mobile robot and an external device, which has a switch and a transmitter unit and is designed to emit a coded signal when the switch is actuated, the robot being designed to contain one in the coded signal Receive code. The code defines a specific task to be performed in a specific local area of the robot application area. The robot can furthermore have an electronic map of the robot application area, the specific area being stored together with a specific task.

Summary of the invention

Starting from the aforementioned prior art, it is an object of the invention to control the operation of a tillage implement more efficiently, in particular to the effect that the tillage implement reacts more intelligently to the signal from the signal transmission device and does not simply travel to a sub-area of the environment directly or only with a time delay.

To achieve this object, it is proposed that the control device be set up to control a soil cultivation program planned in advance with one or more program steps at a point in time specified by the soil cultivation program, and to change the soil cultivation program planned in advance if the control facility has a soil cultivation requirement receives signal received from the signal transmission device, a program step corresponding to the tillage requirement being included in or removed from the tillage program.

According to this embodiment, the system or its control device now works, for example, in such a way that the tillage device is not immediately called to the subarea corresponding to the signal transmission device, but the tillage requirement is initially only reported and noted, after which a tillage program planned for a specific point in time is then optionally indicated is coordinated so that the sub-area relating to soil cultivation is later processed in the course of executing the already planned soil cultivation program by adding, changing and / or exchanging a program step of the soil cultivation program. The addition, change or exchange takes place in such a way that the previously planned tillage program then has a program step which includes tillage in the sub-area for which the signal transmission device has reported a tillage requirement.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the requested tillage activity is carried out immediately after receiving the signal from the signal transmission device and a program step corresponding to the tillage requirement is removed from the planned tillage program so that it does not result in a duplicate Processing of the same sub-area comes in a defined period.

A planned tillage program of the system may include one or more program steps that affect one or more tillage devices of the system. A soil cultivation device can be, for example, a cleaning device, in particular a suction cleaning device and / or a wiping cleaning device, a polishing device, grinding device, mowing device or other. A signal transmission device is a transmission device assigned to a defined sub-area. This can be, for example, a transmission device in the form of a so-called “dash button” or a similar device that is assigned to a defined sub-area. The signal transmission device can be designed as such on its own or integrated into a base station, for example. It is not absolutely necessary that the signal transmission device itself is stationed in the defined sub-area. In the sense of the invention, it is sufficient that the signal transmission device is linked to a defined sub-area in such a way that a signal output by the signal transmission device is automatically assigned to the respective sub-area, namely in such a way that soil cultivation is to take place in this sub-area. A tillage program can be structured in the manner of a table and / or a calendar, whereby tillage activities are planned for one or more tillage devices depending on a date and / or day of the week and / or a time. For example, the tillage program in the form of program steps can provide that at a first point in time a first tillage device vacuum cleaning in all rooms of an apartment, i. H. executes all known sub-areas, with a second soil cultivation device then performing wipe cleaning in only certain sub-areas. Such a cleaning cycle can also be provided for certain days of the week, for example every Monday and Thursday, with the first program step of the tillage program starting, for example, in the morning at a defined time. If a signal transmission device now sends a tillage requirement to the control device of the system, for example on a Thursday morning, the control device determines which tillage step is planned next as part of a tillage program. For example, the control device then recognizes that the next tillage for the surrounding partial area defined by the signal transmission device is suction cleaning, which is carried out on Thursday mornings in each surrounding partial area of the apartment. In this case, the control device recognizes that it is not necessary to change the tillage program, since the surrounding partial area to be cleaned is included in the planned tillage program anyway. However, if the signal sent by the signal transmission device has, for example, a requirement that wiping cleaning is required or the surrounding partial area is one that is to be processed by both suction cleaning and wiping cleaning (although the soil cultivation program does not use this surrounding partial area for wiping cleaning) provides), the control device changes the wiping cleaning program step such that not only the surrounding partial area previously provided for wiping cleaning in the soil cultivation program is wiped, but also the surrounding partial area that was defined by the signal transmission device. The soil cultivation program, which was already planned before the soil cultivation requirement was reported, is thus modified in relation to the wipe cleaning program step. This enables a particularly efficient use of one or more tillage devices of the system, since tillage activities are coordinated by the control device in such a way that first one or more tillage requests are received and flagged by one or more signal transmission devices and then it is determined whether a resulting tillage activity results advantageous in an existing, d. H. allows you to integrate a pre-planned tillage program. This advantageously prevents a soil cultivation activity, which will soon be carried out in the context of the planned soil cultivation program, not being carried out additionally, and therefore repeated in a short time, because the signal transmission device requests such a soil cultivation activity. In this sense, the control device can also be designed in such a way that, following the tillage requirement reported by the signal transmission device, soil cultivation is carried out immediately in the sub-area defined thereby, but then a corresponding tillage step of the tillage program, which provides for the same soil-working activity in this sub-area the previously planned tillage program is removed.

The system preferably has a home communication network, particularly preferably a wireless communication network, in particular a WLAN, in which the at least one tillage device and at least one signal transmission device, which have corresponding communication modules, are networked. The control device of the system can be part of a tillage implement or also part of a Signal transmission device or another participant of the home communication network. For example, it is also possible for the control device to be assigned to a server of the home communication network or even an external server which is connected to the home communication network via a router. The control device is preferably assigned a data memory in which one or more tillage programs for one or more tillage devices are stored. Preferably, a user of the system can manually access the stored files and create, delete or change tillage programs. For this purpose, the user can access the stored files using a human-machine interface, preferably using a laptop, a tablet or a mobile phone.

It is proposed that the signal transmission device have a button that can be actuated by pressing it. The signal transmission device can be designed, for example, as a so-called “dash button”, which provides a touch area that the user can press down in order to cause an output of a signal from the signal transmission device. If the user desires a tillage in a certain sub-area of an apartment or a room, he presses, for example, on the button located in the respective sub-area and can report a need for tillage in the assigned sub-area. However, it is not necessary for the button itself to be arranged in the surrounding partial area. For example, it is also possible for a plurality of buttons to be arranged next to one another in a room, for example on a room wall, which are assigned to different sub-areas, for example a living room, bedroom and dining room. If the user now wants to clean the dining room, for example, he goes to the buttons and presses the corresponding button for the dining room. As a result, the tillage requirement is reported to the control device of the system. The signal transmission device consists, for example, of a physical button or button, a housing, possibly with a fastening element, and a communication module based on, for example, WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee or others, and a power supply, such as an accumulator.

It is proposed that the system have an area map memory with at least one area map in which the signal transmission devices are assigned to the area sub-areas. The area map memory can preferably be assigned to the same device in the system as the control device. According to a preferred embodiment, it is also possible for the area map memory to be a local memory of a tillage device. According to this embodiment, the soil cultivation device has a preferably self-created environment map, which was obtained by detecting obstacles in the environment, for example by means of a so-called SLAM method. The area map is also used for navigation and self-localization of the soil tillage implement and is updated while the soil tillage implement is moving through the surroundings. The area map usually contains the positions of obstacles, such as walls, furniture and other objects, which are standing on a floor surface of a room for a long time. This area map can now also contain the locations of the signal transmission devices as well as defined locations and spatial expansions of sub-areas around the area. The entry of the sub-areas into the area map can, for example, be carried out manually by a user, for example by making an entry via a human-machine interface, preferably via a mobile device. He can subdivide the environment, for example rooms or room parts of an apartment, into sub-areas that enable a meaningful tillage context for a tillage device. The detection of the signal transmission devices and entry in the area map can be carried out, for example, in such a way that a user distributes the signal transmission devices in his home and activates them to send out a registration signal. The soil cultivation device can then move around in the apartment, for example as part of an exploratory trip or also a soil cultivation activity, and recognize the positions of the signal transmission devices and store them in the area map or report the positions to a separate storage device. The registration signal of the signal transmission device preferably has a short range or transmission power, so that the signal is only available in the corresponding room in the apartment. The registration signal is preferably transmitted over a certain period of time so that the tillage device can detect it during a normal duration of an exploration or tillage trip. This can ensure that the soil tillage implement becomes aware of the registration signal of the signal transmission device when driving around. The soil tillage device preferably travels from all rooms in the apartment and searches for defined registration signals of the signal transmission devices. When the tillage device has detected a signal transmission device, it enters the position of the signal transmission device in the area map. If the user has the appropriate If he wants to work on the room or part of the room later, he then presses the corresponding signal transmission device, whereupon the latter sends out a signal which indicates a need for tillage. The user preferably has an external terminal with an application with which the user can adapt the positions of the sub-areas around. For example, the user can adapt, in particular move, a sub-area around the area so that it has a preferred position, shape and / or area size. The resulting corrected position of the sub-area does not have to correspond to the sub-area in which the signal transmission device is positioned. Furthermore, the user can also define if-then rules for certain soil cultivation activities in the application, certain types of soil cultivation in the respective sub-area, for example exclusively dry cleaning and / or dry cleaning with subsequent wet cleaning, or the like. The soil cultivation device can be programmed in such a way that it carries out regular patrol trips in order to detect signal transmission devices newly installed in the area and to include them in the area map.

It is proposed that the signal of the signal transmission device contains a unique identifier, in particular a device ID of the signal transmission device. This identifier can be used to inform the tillage implement or the control device of the system which signal transmission device is currently transmitting a signal. A unique identifier for a specific device is, for example, a Mac address, an identification number, a characteristic signal frequency or the like. The identifier can preferably already be assigned to the tillage implement by the manufacturer. The identifier is used by the signal transmission device in each transmitted signal, namely both in a registration signal if the signal transmission device is not yet known to the control device of the system and in a signal which indicates a need for tillage. As a result, it is always clearly recognizable from which signal transmission device a signal comes. In relation to the registration signal, it is also possible for the signal transmission device to have a different type of identifier, for example in the form of a QR code, NFC code, RFID code or the like. The soil tillage implement can also identify such a code with the aid of a suitable detection device and assign it to an environment map. For example, the tillage device can register the identifier while driving with the aid of a camera. Alternatively, a communication connection can be established via NFC or an RFID tag can be read out for unique identification.

It is further proposed that the identifier of the signal transmission device is assigned to a sub-area stored in the area map. Each signal transmission device of the home communication network thus has a unique ID with which it can be assigned to a specific location in the environment and, if appropriate, also to a specific function. The control device of the system, which receives a signal from a signal transmission device, analyzes the signal and compares the identifier contained in the signal with identifiers of various environmental subareas stored in a file, whereupon a specific environmental subarea of the environment can be identified in which soil cultivation is desired. A control command can then be transmitted to a soil tillage implement of the system which is responsible for the respective sub-area of the area and which causes soil tillage through the respective tillage implement. If the system has several soil cultivation devices, the control device can only transmit a control command to the soil cultivation device that is assigned to the stored sub-area and that is suitable for carrying out a soil-working task defined for the sub-area, for example a defined hard floor cleaning or carpet cleaning.

In this context, it can be provided that information about a type of tillage activity to be carried out is also assigned to the surrounding partial area and / or that the signal of the signal transmission device contains information about a type of tillage activity to be performed. As part of the first-mentioned alternative, the control device of the system receives information about which specific tillage activity is requested within the scope of the tillage requirement, that the identifier of the transmitting signal transmission device is assigned to a defined sub-area, which in turn is assigned to a specific tillage activity. The control device accesses a file which, for example also in the form of a map of the area, contains information about which areas of the area in the area are treated with which soil cultivation activities. In the area map, each area of the area is assigned the identifier of the assigned signal transmission device, so that the control device, when receiving a specific identifier, identifies the associated area of the area and the tillage activity to be carried out from a memory or reads the map of the area. Alternatively, in addition to the identifier, the signal emitted by the signal transmission device can also simultaneously and directly contain the type of soil cultivation activity requested, for example the information about the need for a wet mopping of the assigned sub-area. The control device of the system receives the signal from the signal transmission device and assigns the identifier contained in the signal to a specific area of the surrounding area, the information about the tillage activity transmitted at the same time indicating a desired wiping cleaning in the surrounding area. The required information about which tillage activity is to be carried out where in the environment is thus brought together by the information contained in the signal of the signal transmission device and the memory, which the control device accesses. The further planning of the time of tillage or the request of a specific tillage device for performing the tillage activity then takes place via the control device of the system, which transmits corresponding control commands as part of the stored tillage program to one or more tillage devices.

According to a particular embodiment, it is proposed that the signal transmission device has a communication module which is set up to provide a temporary access point with which a communication module of the tillage implement can connect. The temporary access point of the signal transmission device is used for a direct communication connection between a tillage device and the signal transmission device. These then no longer communicate via the access point of the home communication network, but directly with each other.

According to this embodiment, the communication module of the tillage implement is then advantageously set up to automatically recognize the temporary access point of the signal transmission device, to connect to it and to transmit network access data to the signal transmission device for connection to a home communication network. In this context, provision can preferably be made for the temporary access point of the signal transmission device to be activated by a user pressing a corresponding key on the signal transmission device, whereupon the signal transmission device transmits access data for connecting the tillage implement to the temporary access point. The tillage device receives the access data and uses this to log on to the temporary access point of the signal transmission device. The access data of the signal transmission device can preferably be transmitted to the tillage device by means of NFC communication, so that a spatial range is limited and only tillage devices located in the vicinity of the signal transmission device can receive the signal. The soil tillage implement can then transmit network access data for the home communication network to the signal transmission device, so that the latter can then log on to the home communication network. The temporary network of the signal transmission device is preferably only available in a corresponding area of the environment and only for a defined period of time, within which it is usually ensured that a tillage device located in the respective area of the surrounding area can register. The soil tillage implement scans the area and searches for available temporary access points of one or more signal transmission devices. After connecting the tillage device to an access point, the tillage device then sends the signal transmission device access data for the home communication network. The temporary access point is then switched off, in particular in a time-controlled manner or also when the network access data has been received, whereupon the signal transmission device is then available with its function of transmitting a tillage requirement.

In addition to the system described above, the invention also provides a method for operating a previously proposed system, with at least one soil cultivation device automatically moving within an environment, with at least one signal transmission device associated with a defined environmental subsection requiring soil cultivation in the defined environmental subsection sends signal and signaling and a control device controls a tillage by the tillage device in the defined sub-area, the control device controls a pre-planned tillage program with one or more program steps at a time specified by the tillage program, and changes the pre-planned tillage program, when the control device receives a signal containing a tillage requirement from the signal transmission device, a de In the tillage program, the appropriate program step is added to or removed from the tillage program. The method according to the invention functions as previously proposed with regard to the system according to the invention, with a signal transmission device reporting a need for soil cultivation in a specific sub-area to the control device of the system - the message Indirectly by assigning the sub-area to the identifier of the signal transmission device - and the control device then changes a previously defined tillage program so that one or more tillage devices of the system carry out tillage activities particularly optimally and efficiently, without, for example, unnecessarily performing multiple tillage activities, in particular redundant ones, in a short time Tillage activities. The system can thus be used in a particularly energy-efficient and time-optimized manner. Otherwise, the advantages and features of the method according to the invention result as previously described with regard to the system according to the invention. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the preceding description in this regard.

In particular, it is also proposed in relation to the method according to the invention that the transmission of a signal that signals a tillage requirement is triggered manually by a user by actuating a button on the signal transmission device. Alternatively, the method can also provide that the transmission of the signal is triggered automatically by a control unit of the signal transmission device when a detection device of the signal transmission device detects a need for tillage in the assigned sub-area. This embodiment describes a fully automatic mode of operation of the system, in which a signal transmission device automatically recognizes a need for tillage within the environment and reports it to the control device of the system. In this case, the signal transmission device is expanded by a sensor system, namely one or more detection devices, in order to recognize a need for soil cultivation fully automatically. Possible scenarios include monitoring a pet area within the area. A detection device could have a motion sensor, a light barrier, a scale, a microphone or the like, and could detect the presence of a pet in the defined surrounding area. After it is detected that the pet is leaving the sub-area again, for example after a certain period of time, a tillage activity can be requested fully automatically by the signal transmission device transmitting a signal to the control device of the system. The detection device can furthermore have, for example, a camera, which is pointed, for example, in the dining area of an apartment on the floor. The control device of the system can access an already stored tillage program in order to supplement a program step which relates to a tillage activity in the reported partial area. Furthermore, it is also possible that the tillage activity is controlled by the control device immediately after receipt of the signal and then a corresponding program step is removed from a tillage program to be processed shortly, so that two similar types do not occur within a certain period of time, for example on the same day Soil cultivation takes place in the defined area.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the following method steps be carried out to integrate a signal transmission device into the home communication network: activation of a temporary access point of a communication module of the signal transmission device, recognition of the temporary access point by a tillage device, connection of a communication module of the tillage device to the temporary access point, transmission of Access data for logging on to the home communication network from the tillage device to the signal transmission device, transmission of the access data from the signal transmission device to an access point of the home communication network. This embodiment describes the method steps that are proposed to integrate a signal transmission device into the home communication network. For this purpose, a signal transmission device to be integrated into the home communication network opens up a temporary access point, a so-called hotspot, which the tillage device can detect and use to transmit access data to the signal transmission device for the home communication network. With these access data, the signal transmission device can then log on to the home communication network and communicate with the control device of the home communication network or with other participants in the home communication network.

Finally, it is proposed that the tillage device for detection of signal transmission devices automatically moves around in the environment and, upon detection of a temporary access point of a signal transmission device, stores the location of the signal transmission device as a defined sub-area in a surroundings map or to another device that has a surroundings map, in particular the one Control device that reports the home communication network. The soil tillage device travels, for example, all rooms in an environment and searches for registration signals from one or more signal transmission devices that want to connect to the home communication network. When the tillage device receives a corresponding registration signal from a signal transmission device, the tillage device connects to the temporary access point of the signal transmission device and sends this the access data for the Home communication network, for example a household WLAN. At the same time, the soil cultivation device enters the location of the signal transmission device in an environment map or transmits information about the location to another device that has an environment map. This location can then be varied, for example, by a user of the soil tillage implement, in particular if the location of the signal transmission device is not arranged in the surrounding partial area of the surroundings to be worked.

Figure list

• 1 eine beispielhafte Umgebung mit verschiedenen Umgebungsteilbereichen,
• 2 ein geplantes Bodenbearbeitungsprogramm,
• 3 einen Umgebungsteilbereich mit einem Bodenbearbeitungsgerät, einer Signalsendeeinrichtung und einer Steuereinrichtung.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

• 1 an exemplary environment with different sub-areas,
• 2nd a planned tillage program,
• 3rd a sub-area with a soil tillage implement, a signal transmission device and a control device.

Description of the embodiments

1 shows an example of a floor plan of an apartment with several rooms, the sub-areas 2nd , 3rd , 4th represent. The floor plan corresponds here, for example, to at least a partial area of a map of the surroundings 13 that contains a variety of features of an environment.

In the surrounding areas 2nd , 3rd , 4th here are two tillage machines, for example 1 available, each of which has a drive unit and navigation device to automatically within the sub-areas 2nd , 3rd , 4th to be able to move and localize. For this purpose, the tillage equipment 1 each via a detection device, not shown, for example an all-round laser scanner with which distances to objects, for example furniture 18th , can be measured within the environment. The area map can then be made from the measured distance values 13 the positions of the detected furniture are created 18th contains. Furthermore, the tillage equipment 1 trained to locate their own position and in the area map 13 to be entered. The tillage equipment 1 are, for example, an automatically moving vacuum robot ( A ) in the sub-area 3rd and a self-propelled wiping robot ( B ) in the sub-area 4th . The tillage equipment 1 are in a home communication network 10th integrated, which is a WLAN example here. The home communication network 10th has a central control device 9 , which can be part of a server device, for example. The control device 9 also provides an access point for the participants in the home communication network 10th to disposal. The participants in the home communication network 10th on the one hand are the tillage tools 1 , and on the other hand signal transmission devices 5 , 6 , 7 , each in one of the sub-areas 2nd , 3rd , 4th are arranged. By means of the signal transmission devices 5 , 6 , 7 can be manually by a user and / or automatically a cleaning requirement to the central control device 9 be reported. For this purpose, the signal transmission device emits 5 , 6 , 7 a signal which is a unique, the respective signal transmission device 5 , 6 , 7 significant identification, here device ID. The signal transmission device 5 , 6 , 7 transmits the signal 8th to the control device 9 of the home communication network 10th and thus reports the need for cleaning in the respective signal transmission device 5 , 6 , 7 assigned sub-area 2nd , 3rd , 4th . The control device 9 has a file with assignments between the respective signal transmission devices 5 , 6 , 7 and the surrounding sub-areas 2nd , 3rd , 4th so the control device 9 through those in the signal 8th contained device ID can determine for which sub-area 2nd , 3rd , 4th cleaning is requested. The control device also intervenes 9 , as in 2nd shown in more detail, to a memory in which a previously planned tillage program for the two tillage devices 1 of the home communication network 10th is saved.

This in 2nd The tillage program shown contains a schedule in tabular form, which is divided into days of the week (columns) and times (rows). For example, program steps are planned on Mondays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., which activities of the two tillage machines 1 affect. The regular tillage program can be manually created, changed and deleted by a user. For this purpose, the user can use, for example, an external terminal (not shown), which is also in the home communication network 10th is involved. The external terminal can be, for example, a PC, a laptop, a tablet computer, a mobile phone or the like. The soil cultivation programs created by the user relate to cleaning steps to be carried out regularly in the surrounding partial areas 2nd , 3rd , 4th , whereby on the relevant days Monday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. a hard floor cleaning by the in the surrounding area 3rd located tillage implement 1 is provided and then a wipe cleaning by the soil tillage implement 1 takes place, which is in accordance with the presentation 1 in the surrounding area 4th located.

In the in 1 situation shown is the soil tillage implement 1 within the sub-area 4th at a base station 19th which, among other things, for charging an accumulator of the tillage implement 1 serves. Furthermore, the base station 19th also take over for example dirty liquid or the like. The base station 19th also has a detection device 17th , here for example in the form of a camera, for monitoring the area around it 4th for dirt on the floor area. The base station also points 19th a signal transmission device 7 on which to output a signal 8th serves a cleaning need within the assigned sub-area 4th displays. Your own control unit 16 the base station 19th is also designed to be used by the detection device 17th evaluate detected images and a cleaning requirement of the surrounding area 4th to investigate. If it is determined that contamination of the floor area exceeds a defined threshold value, the control unit controls 16 the base station 19th the signal transmission device 7 for outputting a corresponding signal indicating a tillage requirement 8th to the control device 9 of the home communication network 10th .

3rd shows the subarea in a detailed representation 3rd with the tillage implement 1 , the signal transmission device 6 and the control device 9 . According to this embodiment, the signal transmission device 6 with a button to be operated manually by a user 11 equipped, via which the user needs cleaning within the signal transmission device 6 assigned sub-area 3rd to the control device 9 can report. The signal transmission device 6 has the form of a so-called “dash button”, which the user presses in the event of a cleaning need and thus immediately issues a corresponding cleaning request. The output of the signal 8th takes place with the help of a communication module 14 the signal transmission device 6 , namely here a WLAN module. The signal 8th is from a corresponding communication module (not shown) of the control device 9 received and in relation to one in the signal 8th included device ID of the signal transmission device 6 evaluated. Based on the device ID and a saved assignment (for example in the area map 13 ) recognizes the control device 9 which sub-area 3rd the sending signal transmission device 6 assigned. Furthermore, the file to which the control device 9 accesses, contain an indication of what form of cleaning when the button is pressed 11 the signal transmission device 6 is desired. It can be stored here, for example, that the user presses the button 11 requests a suction cleaning.

After receiving a signal 8th determines the control device 9 whether a saved tillage program (see for example 2nd ) already a cleaning step in the relevant sub-area 3rd includes. If the control device 9 here, for example, notes that on Mondays and Thursdays, cleaning in all areas of the area anyway 2nd , 3rd , 4th takes place, namely suction cleaning with subsequent wiping cleaning, the control device checks 9 the time interval between the current time and the next cleaning scheduled in advance. If the request of the signal transmission device 6 For example, on a Monday morning at 8:00 a.m., the control device can 9 determine that the time interval until the program step “Vacuuming by robot A “Falls below a defined time interval and the cleaning request is to be ignored. Alternatively, however, it is also possible for the control device 9 immediate cleaning of the surrounding area 3rd through the tillage implement 1 controls and changes the program step that starts at 10:00 a.m. so that the soil tillage implement 1 with the vacuum cleaning that starts at 10:00 a.m. 3rd except because it has already been vacuumed. According to a further embodiment, it is also possible that when a button is pressed 11 a signal transmission device 5 , 6 , 7 a program step is integrated into a planned tillage program that was not previously included. For example, it can be provided that between the program steps planned on Monday “robots A "And" robot B “Another program step is introduced, which involves special cleaning with a specific cleaning element or cleaning additive from a soil cultivation device 1 includes. The control device 9 can take appropriate parameters from the saved file, whereby the signals 8th of the signal transmission devices 5 , 6 , 7 , or the contained device IDs, corresponding cleaning parameters and sub-areas 3rd , 4th , 5 assigned. Furthermore, it is also possible that the signal already 8th the signal transmission device 5 , 6 , 7 information to the control device 9 communicates which sub-area 2nd , 3rd , 4th the signal 8th concerns and what kind of cleaning activity is requested.

The integration of the signal transmission devices 5 , 6 , 7 into the home communication network 10th is further exemplified with respect to 3rd explained. The trained as a "Dash Button" Signal transmission device 6 or has no human-machine interface with which a user can access network data to register the signal transmission device 6 on the home communication network 10th can transmit. It is therefore necessary to send the network access data to the signal transmission device in a different manner 6 to transmit. For this purpose, it is proposed that an already in the home communication network 10th networked device, namely the soil tillage implement 1 , the network access data to the signal transmission device 6 transmitted. For this purpose, the opens in the home communication network 10th Signal transmission device to be integrated 6 , or their communication module 14 , a temporary access point and sends its own access point access data into the environment, so that a soil tillage implement that is within radio range 1 the temporary access point of the signal transmission device 6 can detect and log on. The tillage implement then transmits 1 the network access data stored in it to the signal transmission device 6 . The signal transmission device 6 saves this network access data and logs on to the home communication network using it 10th on. Then the signal transmission device 6 as previously explained with the control device 9 communicate or with other participants in the home communication network 10th , for example with the tillage equipment 1 . The detection of the signal transmission devices 5 , 6 , 7 through a tillage implement 1 can, moreover, take place during an exploration trip or also during a normal cleaning trip, the surroundings being scanned, for example also by new signal transmission devices 5 , 6 , 7 into the home communication network 10th to involve. When a signal transmission device is detected 5 , 6 , 7 determines the soil tillage implement 1 furthermore the location of the signal transmission device 5 , 6 , 7 , namely a sub-area 2nd , 3rd , 4th the environment in which the signal transmission device in question 5 , 6 , 7 is arranged. The tillage implement 1 then takes over, for example, a location of the signal transmission device 5 , 6 , 7 into a created environment map 13 so that in the area map 13 of the tillage implement 1 an assignment between the signal transmission devices 5 , 6 , 7 and the surrounding sub-areas 2nd , 3rd , 4th he follows. The area map 13 can from the tillage implement 1 also to another device in the home communication network 10th are transmitted, for example to the control device 9 .

Reference symbol list

1

Soil cultivation device

2nd

Sub-area

3rd

Sub-area

4th

Sub-area

5

Signal transmission device

6

Signal transmission device

7

Signal transmission device

8th

signal

9

Control device

10th

Home communication network

11

Button

12

Area map storage

13

Area map

14

Communication module

15

Communication module

16

Control unit

17th

Detection device

18th

Furniture

19th

Base station

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• WO 2017/140726 A1 [0004]

Claims (11)

System comprising at least one soil cultivation device (1) that moves automatically within an environment, at least one signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) assigned to a defined environmental subarea (2, 3, 4) for transmitting a soil cultivation requirement in the defined environmental subarea (2, 3, 4) signaling signal (8) and a control device (9) for controlling a tillage by the tillage device (1) in the defined partial area (2, 3, 4), characterized in that the control device (9) is set up to control a soil cultivation program planned in advance with one or more program steps at a point in time specified by the soil cultivation program, and to change the soil cultivation program planned in advance if the control device (9) receives a signal (8) containing a soil cultivation requirement from the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) receiving a tillage appropriate program step is added to or removed from the tillage program. System according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) has a button (11) which can be actuated by pressing it. System according to Claim 1 or 2nd , characterized in that the system has an area map memory (12) with at least one area map (13) in which the signal transmission devices (5, 6, 7) are assigned to the area sub-areas (2, 3, 4). System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal (8) of the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) contains a unique identifier. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surrounding partial area (2, 3, 4) is assigned information about a type of tillage activity to be carried out and / or that the signal (8) of the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) contains information contains a type of tillage activity to be carried out. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) has a communication module (14) which is set up to provide a temporary access point with which a communication module (15) of the tillage implement (1) can connect. System according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the communication module (14) of the tillage device (1) is set up to automatically recognize the temporary access point of the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7), to connect to it and to the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) To transmit network access data for connection to a home communication network (10). Method of operating one of the Claims 1 to 7 System, whereby at least one soil cultivation device (1) automatically moves within an environment, with at least one signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) assigned to a defined environmental subsection (2, 3, 4) having a soil cultivation requirement in the defined environmental subsection (2 , 3, 4) sending signal (8) and wherein a control device (9) controls tillage by the tillage device (1) in the defined sub-area (2, 3, 4), characterized in that the control device (9) controls a time controls the pre-planned tillage program with one or more program steps at a point in time specified by the tillage program, and changes the pre-planned tillage program when the control device (9) receives a signal (8) containing a tillage requirement from the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) receives a soil cultivation need the relevant program step is added to or removed from the tillage program. Procedure according to Claim 8 , characterized in that the transmission of a signal (8) signaling a tillage requirement is triggered manually by a user by actuating a button (11) of the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) and / or that the transmission of the signal (8) is carried out automatically by A control unit (16) of the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) is triggered when a detection device (17) of the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) detects a need for tillage in the assigned sub-area (2, 3, 4). Procedure according to Claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that the following method steps are carried out to integrate a signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) into the home communication network (10): activating a temporary access point of a communication module (14) of the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7), recognizing the temporary one Access points through a tillage device (1), connecting a communication module (15) of the tillage device (1) to the temporary access point, transmitting access data for logging on to the home communication network (10) from the tillage device (1) to the signal transmission device (5, 6 , 7), Submit the Access data from the signal transmission device (5, 6, 7) to an access point of the home communication network (10). Procedure according to Claim 10 , characterized in that the tillage device (1) for the detection of signal transmission devices (5, 6, 7) automatically moves around in the surroundings and, upon detection of a temporary access point of a signal transmission device (5, 6, 7), the location of the signal transmission device (5, 6 , 7) as a defined sub-area (2, 3, 4) in a map (13) or reports to another device with a map (13) of the home communication network (10).

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