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From: bridon@auto-trol.com (Brian Donahue)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: CALM (computer-aided lawn mowing)
Keywords: feasibility, beer
Message-ID: <1991Jun20.192334.24623@auto-trol.com>
Date: 20 Jun 91 19:23:34 GMT
Sender: news@auto-trol.com
Distribution: na
Organization: Auto-trol Technology Corporation
Lines: 22
Originator: bridon@
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yo.

i have this (maybe ridiculous) idea for a 'automatic' lawn mower.
The idea would be to mount a mulching lawn mower on a 'computer-guided'
platform of sorts.  You could then do a(n accurate) drafting/CAD 
layout of your lawn (including trees, flower gardens (ie. places 
you dont want mowed)), figure out a start point, use an NC-type 
algorithm to guide your mower and then sit back
with a beer while your PC does all the work.

Being a robotics neophyte, i have no idea how to approach this problem
or what complications may make the problem harder than it sounds.  
For example, would i need some sort of tracking system?  or can i assume
that for every turn of the wheel the lawn mower goes a certain distance?
(how accurate can i get w/ no tracking system?)
Are there suppliers of rs232-driven 'wheels'??

or is this totally ridiculous & not worth pursuing?

thanks for any advice,
bd				bridon@auto-trol.com