Building an Autonomous Lawn Mover with cmprecision without GPS RTK
Mechanical characteristics and wiring
Onboard Control system
Onboard embedded SW
Usonic
LIDAR
MPU6050
Navigation idea and the Movement of the Mower
Navigation idea
Mowing the Area
Turning the mower into the right direction

Published July 27, 2022 © GPL3+

Autonomous Lawn Mower without GPS RTK

Building a few cm precision without GPS RTK.

ExpertWork in progress12,892

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino Due

Arduino Nano R3

SparkFun Arduino Pro Mini 328 - 3.3V/8MHz

Ultrasonic Sensor - HC-SR04 (Generic)

Seeed Studio CANBed - Arduino CAN-BUS Development Kit (ATmega32U4 with MCP2515 and MCP2551)

STMicroelectronics VL53L0X

Qualcomm DWM1000

Story

Building an Autonomous Lawn Mover with cmprecision without GPS RTK.

What do you do, if you have a garden to mow, some spare Arduino devices and enthusiasm forembedded and control systems :) You build an Autonomous Lawn mower.

If you are not fond of any of these and just want to get the garden mowed, then buy acommercial product, it is much more faster and easier, than building, codingand testing a system like this.

Mechanical characteristics and wiring

I built the mechanical parts of the mower from an old control cabinet. The PLC had to be removed and the cabinet itself could be used. To hold the motors an aluminum profile is fixed onto the bottom of the cabinet. For protecting the motors from external mechanical injuries, I bended a shield over them from a metallic house of an old PC.

The cabinet holds the batteries, the Due with the Ethernet shield, the relay for starting the mower motors and the current measurement PCB. It is a little overcrowded, maybe next time I will use a bigger cabinet :)

Atop thecontrol cabinet there are some small connection boxes. One is holding theDMW100, the GPS and the LIDAR sensor. The smallest one only holds an HCS04, while the another one holds an HCS04 and an Arduino Nano and MCP2515.

The cablings(power supply, Serial, CAN and I2C) are protected from external effects or injuries by putting them into plastic tubes.

Onboard Control system

The main controller, or as I call it, the movement controller is an Arduino Due. It is communicating over CAN, Serial and I2C. I like using them, because I think buses gives the advantage of a reduced amount of cablings.

Onboard controllers:

The onboardpower supply system:

Onboard embedded SW.

For the Nanos and the Pro Mini I simply use the loop function, but on the Due, because it has to solve a really complex control algorithm and communication, I use FreeRTOS with several tasks.

https://github.com/bdmihai/DueFreeRTOS

Usonic

The ultrasonic sensors are used to detect if anything is ahead of the mower. It just sends the actual distance to the movement controller over CAN.

LIDAR

If the ultrasonic sensor has detected anything ahead, the movement controller shall activate the LIDAR sensor. It sends the actual measured distance and the angle of the servos to the movement controller. Form this data the movement controller can alter the actual movement for avoiding the object ahead.

MPU6050

The Movement controller is reading the values of the MPU6050, to stop the movement and the mowing too, in case of overturning.

Few cm navigation is reached by the usage of DMW1000s. The TAG, which is on the mower measures its distance to the Anchors. From the distance, x and y coordinate is counted.

The Anchors are using Arduino Pro Minis, which are communicating with the DWM1000s over SPI.

The powersupply of the Anchors:

I put the Anchors into small boxes:

The usedlibrary for the DWM100s:https://github.com/thotro/arduino-dw1000

The Tag is measuring the distance to the different Anchors.

Now, this shall be put into a coordinate system, the only trick is, the Anchor A shall be at the 0.0 coordinate. Additionally the mower shall know the distance between the A and B, B and C, A and C anchor’s.

If this isdone, it gives the following triangle:

From the triangle, using the cosine’s thesis the Alpha angle can be counted, and from the alpha angle the x and y coordinate can be counted:

Now, we have a coordinate system in which the mower can identified.

Identifying the perimeter.

The mower shall know, which area shall be cut. To do that, the perimeter shall be teached. If the perimeter teaching is activated the, the mower can be controlled manually from any smart phone, via the Bluetooth Arduino application. Based on the encoder signal provided by the motor, the perimeter’scoordinates are saved onto the SD card.

Mowing the Area

Since the mower uses a small battery, it shall mow a given point only once. To enreach that the when the automatic function is activated, the following happens:

1.Designing the route

To make it as simple as possible, the mower will cover the area parallelto the y axis. Fort he designing the area it takes the length and the width ofmower in consideration.

Here is how the output will look like:

After the planning of the route, movement starts immediately.

2.Cutting the perimeter

First the mower will cut the perimeter. It is done by following/reaching the saved perimeter points from the SD card.

3.Cutting the planned routes

After the last perimeter point has been reached the mower will start the execution of the planned routes. When a line is done, it searches the closest one and starts executing it.

When all the planned routes are executed, then the automatic function becomes deactivated.

Turning the mower into the right direction

The mower can be anywhere, okay within the range of the DWM1000, before activating the automatic function. After activation, the mower moves in a straight line for 5s, to get the previous and actual position. It is necessary to count the right SP for the motors for the proper turn.

Actually it is solved with a simple coordinate math and vectors.

Based onthe Alpha and Beta angle, and their position in the quarters in the coordinate system, the SP can be counted.

After some testing I am still struggling withthe DWM1000.

#include <SPI.h>
#include "DW1000Ranging.h"

// connection pins
const uint8_t PIN_RST = 9; // reset pin
const uint8_t PIN_IRQ = 2; // irq pin
const uint8_t PIN_SS = 7; // spi select pin

int array_lenght = 40;
bool a_active = false, b_active = false, c_active = false;
float a_distance = 1.0, b_distance = 1.0, c_distance = 1.0;
String a_string = "1.0",b_string = "1.0", c_string = "1.0", final_string = "1.0,1.0,1.0,";
unsigned int current_time = 0, last_time = 0;
float a_arr[40], b_arr[40], c_arr[40];
float a_avg = 1.0, b_avg = 1.0, c_avg = 1.0;


void setup() {
  
  for(int i = 0; i < array_lenght; i++){
    a_arr[i] = 1.0;
    b_arr[i] = 1.0;
    c_arr[i] = 1.0;
  }
  
  Serial.begin(115200);
  delay(1000);
  //init the configuration
  DW1000Ranging.initCommunication(PIN_RST, PIN_SS, PIN_IRQ); //Reset, CS, IRQ pin
  //define the sketch as anchor. It will be great to dynamically change the type of module
  DW1000Ranging.attachNewRange(newRange);
  DW1000Ranging.attachNewDevice(newDevice);
  DW1000Ranging.attachInactiveDevice(inactiveDevice);
  //Enable the filter to smooth the distance
  //DW1000Ranging.useRangeFilter(true);
  //Serial.println("started");
  
  //we start the module as a tag
  DW1000Ranging.startAsTag("0T:00:22:EA:82:60:3B:9C", DW1000.MODE_LONGDATA_RANGE_LOWPOWER, false);
}

void loop(){
  DW1000Ranging.loop();
  //Serial.println("loop");
  current_time = millis();
  if(current_time - last_time > 500)
  {
    a_avg = 0; b_avg = 0; c_avg = 0;
    
    for(int j = 0; j < array_lenght; j++)
    {
      a_avg+= a_arr[j];
      b_avg+= b_arr[j];
      c_avg+= c_arr[j];
    }
    
    a_avg = a_avg / array_lenght;
    b_avg = b_avg / array_lenght;
    c_avg = c_avg / array_lenght;
    
  if(a_active){
    a_string = String(a_avg);
  } else {
    a_string = "Err";
  }
  
  if(b_active){
    b_string = String(b_avg);
  } else {
    b_string = "Err";
  } 
    
  if(c_active){
    c_string = String(c_avg);
  } else {
    c_string = "Err";
  }
    
    
    
    final_string = a_string + "," + b_string + "," + c_string + "\n";
    Serial.print(final_string);
    last_time = current_time;
  }
}

void newRange() {
  uint16_t id = DW1000Ranging.getDistantDevice()->getShortAddress();
  float current_distance = DW1000Ranging.getDistantDevice()->getRange();
  if (id == 10){update_a();   a_arr[array_lenght - 1] = current_distance; }
  if (id == 11){update_b();   b_arr[array_lenght - 1] = current_distance; }
  if (id == 12){update_c();   c_arr[array_lenght - 1] = current_distance; }
  
}


void update_a()
{
  for (int i = 1; i < array_lenght; i++)
  {
    a_arr[i-1] = a_arr[i];
  }  
}

void update_b()
{
  for (int i = 1; i < array_lenght; i++)
  {
    b_arr[i-1] = b_arr[i];
  }  
}

void update_c()
{
  for (int i = 1; i < array_lenght; i++)
  {
    c_arr[i-1] = c_arr[i];
  }  
}




void newDevice(DW1000Device* device){
  int address = device->getShortAddress();
  if(address == 10){
    a_active = true;
  } else if(address == 11){
    b_active = true;
  } else if(address == 12){
    c_active = true;
  }
}

void inactiveDevice(DW1000Device* device){
  int address = device->getShortAddress();
  if(address == 10){
    a_active = false;
  } else if(address == 11){
    b_active = false;
  } else if(address == 12){
    c_active = false;
  }
  
}

#include <SPI.h>
#include "DW1000Ranging.h"

// connection pins
const uint8_t PIN_RST = 9; // reset pin
const uint8_t PIN_IRQ = 2; // irq pin
const uint8_t PIN_SS = 7; // spi select pin

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  delay(1000);
  //init the configuration
  DW1000Ranging.initCommunication(PIN_RST, PIN_SS, PIN_IRQ); //Reset, CS, IRQ pin
  //define the sketch as anchor. It will be great to dynamically change the type of module
  DW1000Ranging.attachNewRange(newRange);
  DW1000Ranging.attachBlinkDevice(newBlink);
  DW1000Ranging.attachInactiveDevice(inactiveDevice);
  //Enable the filter to smooth the distance
  //DW1000Ranging.useRangeFilter(true);
  
  //we start the module as an anchor
  DW1000Ranging.startAsAnchor("0A:00:5B:D5:A9:9A:E2:9C", DW1000.MODE_LONGDATA_RANGE_LOWPOWER,false);
}

void loop() {
  DW1000Ranging.loop();
}

void newRange() {
  Serial.print("from: "); Serial.print(DW1000Ranging.getDistantDevice()->getShortAddress(), HEX);
  Serial.print("\t Range: "); Serial.print(DW1000Ranging.getDistantDevice()->getRange()); Serial.print(" m");
  Serial.print("\t RX power: "); Serial.print(DW1000Ranging.getDistantDevice()->getRXPower()); Serial.println(" dBm");
}

void newBlink(DW1000Device* device) {
  Serial.print("blink; 1 device added ! -> ");
  Serial.print(" short:");
  Serial.println(device->getShortAddress(), HEX);
}

void inactiveDevice(DW1000Device* device) {
  Serial.print("delete inactive device: ");
  Serial.println(device->getShortAddress(), HEX);
}

#include <SPI.h>
#include "DW1000Ranging.h"

// connection pins
const uint8_t PIN_RST = 9; // reset pin
const uint8_t PIN_IRQ = 2; // irq pin
const uint8_t PIN_SS = 7; // spi select pin

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  delay(1000);
  //init the configuration
  DW1000Ranging.initCommunication(PIN_RST, PIN_SS, PIN_IRQ); //Reset, CS, IRQ pin
  //define the sketch as anchor. It will be great to dynamically change the type of module
  DW1000Ranging.attachNewRange(newRange);
  DW1000Ranging.attachBlinkDevice(newBlink);
  DW1000Ranging.attachInactiveDevice(inactiveDevice);
  //Enable the filter to smooth the distance
  //DW1000Ranging.useRangeFilter(true);
  
  //we start the module as an anchor
  DW1000Ranging.startAsAnchor("0B:00:5B:D5:A9:9A:E2:9C", DW1000.MODE_LONGDATA_RANGE_LOWPOWER,false);
}

void loop() {
  DW1000Ranging.loop();
}

void newRange() {
  Serial.print("from: "); Serial.print(DW1000Ranging.getDistantDevice()->getShortAddress(), HEX);
  Serial.print("\t Range: "); Serial.print(DW1000Ranging.getDistantDevice()->getRange()); Serial.print(" m");
  Serial.print("\t RX power: "); Serial.print(DW1000Ranging.getDistantDevice()->getRXPower()); Serial.println(" dBm");
}

void newBlink(DW1000Device* device) {
  Serial.print("blink; 1 device added ! -> ");
  Serial.print(" short:");
  Serial.println(device->getShortAddress(), HEX);
}

void inactiveDevice(DW1000Device* device) {
  Serial.print("delete inactive device: ");
  Serial.println(device->getShortAddress(), HEX);
}

#include <SPI.h>
#include "DW1000Ranging.h"

// connection pins
const uint8_t PIN_RST = 9; // reset pin
const uint8_t PIN_IRQ = 2; // irq pin
const uint8_t PIN_SS = 7; // spi select pin

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  delay(1000);
  //init the configuration
  DW1000Ranging.initCommunication(PIN_RST, PIN_SS, PIN_IRQ); //Reset, CS, IRQ pin
  //define the sketch as anchor. It will be great to dynamically change the type of module
  DW1000Ranging.attachNewRange(newRange);
  DW1000Ranging.attachBlinkDevice(newBlink);
  DW1000Ranging.attachInactiveDevice(inactiveDevice);
  //Enable the filter to smooth the distance
  //DW1000Ranging.useRangeFilter(true);
  
  //we start the module as an anchor
  DW1000Ranging.startAsAnchor("0C:00:5B:D5:A9:9A:E2:9C", DW1000.MODE_LONGDATA_RANGE_LOWPOWER,false);
}

void loop() {
  DW1000Ranging.loop();
}

void newRange() {
  Serial.print("from: "); Serial.print(DW1000Ranging.getDistantDevice()->getShortAddress(), HEX);
  Serial.print("\t Range: "); Serial.print(DW1000Ranging.getDistantDevice()->getRange()); Serial.print(" m");
  Serial.print("\t RX power: "); Serial.print(DW1000Ranging.getDistantDevice()->getRXPower()); Serial.println(" dBm");
}

void newBlink(DW1000Device* device) {
  Serial.print("blink; 1 device added ! -> ");
  Serial.print(" short:");
  Serial.println(device->getShortAddress(), HEX);
}

void inactiveDevice(DW1000Device* device) {
  Serial.print("delete inactive device: ");
  Serial.println(device->getShortAddress(), HEX);
}

// CAN
#include<mcp2515.h>

// Usonic
#include <Usonic.h>

struct can_frame Usonic_data;
MCP2515 mcp2515(10);								// the pin for the CAN shall be defined

int distance_1 = 0, distance_2 = 0;


void setup() {
	
	Timer1.initialize(100000);         // initialize timer1 in microseconds
    Timer1.attachInterrupt(timer_interrupt);  // attaches callback() as a timer overflow interrupt
	
	Usonic_setup();
	Serial.begin(57600);
  
  // initializing the CAN message
    Usonic_data.can_id  = 0x041;    // CAN ID
    Usonic_data.can_dlc = 8;      // CAN DLC
    Usonic_data.data[0] = 0x00;   // Speed value byte 0
    Usonic_data.data[1] = 0x00;   // Speed value byte 1
    Usonic_data.data[2] = 0x00;   // Speed value byte 2
    Usonic_data.data[3] = 0x00;   // Speed value byte 3
    Usonic_data.data[4] = 0x00;   // Empty byte
    Usonic_data.data[5] = 0x00;   // Empty byte
    Usonic_data.data[6] = 0x00;   // Empty byte
    Usonic_data.data[7] = 0x00;   // Life singal.

  
  
	// starting the CAN
	mcp2515.reset();
	mcp2515.setBitrate(CAN_1000KBPS);
	mcp2515.setNormalMode();

  
}

void loop() {
	Usonic_loop();
	
	distance_1 = Usonic_1_distance();
	distance_2 = Usonic_2_distance();	
	
	Serial.print("Usonic 1: ");
	Serial.print(distance_1);
	Serial.print(", Usonic 2: ");
	Serial.print(distance_2);
  
}


void timer_interrupt(){
  // sending the CAN message
  
	Usonic_data.data[0] = ((uint8_t*)&distance_1)[0];    // Speed value byte 0
    Usonic_data.data[1] = ((uint8_t*)&distance_1)[1];    // Speed value byte 1
    Usonic_data.data[2] = ((uint8_t*)&distance_2)[0];    // Speed value byte 2
    Usonic_data.data[3] = ((uint8_t*)&distance_2)[1];    // Speed value byte 3
  
    mcp2515.sendMessage(&Usonic_data);
}

#include <TimerOne.h>
#include<mcp2515.h>
#include <Servo.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <VL53L1X.h>


Servo scanning;  
Servo vertical;

VL53L1X sensor;

struct can_frame Received_data, Sent_data;
MCP2515 mcp2515(10);                // the pin for the CAN shall be defined

float LIDAR_distance = 0.0, LIDAR_angle = 0.0;
byte Life = 0, Scanning = 0, Output_1 = 0, Output_2 = 0, Output_3 = 0;
int act_scan_angle = 0, scanning_step_angle = 10, Scanning_min = 30, Scanning_max = 150, Vertical_Scan_pos = 90, Vertical_banked_pos = 150, act_distance = 0, detection_limit = 430;



void setup(){
    scanning.attach(40);
    vertical.attach(41);

    Wire.begin();
    Wire.setClock(400000); // use 400 kHz I2C

    sensor.setTimeout(500);
    sensor.init();
    delay(200);
    // Use long distance mode and allow up to 50000 us (50 ms) for a measurement.
    // You can change these settings to adjust the performance of the sensor, but
    // the minimum timing budget is 20 ms for short distance mode and 33 ms for
    // medium and long distance modes. See the VL53L1X datasheet for more
    // information on range and timing limits.
    sensor.setDistanceMode(VL53L1X::Long);
    sensor.setMeasurementTimingBudget(50000);
  
    // Start continuous readings at a rate of one measurement every 50 ms (the
    // inter-measurement period). This period should be at least as long as the
    // timing budget.
    sensor.startContinuous(50);
    
    Timer1.initialize(100000);         // initialize timer1 in microseconds
    Timer1.attachInterrupt(timer_interrupt);  // attaches callback() as a timer overflow interrupt

    Serial.begin(115200);
  
  // initializing the CAN message
    Received_data.can_id  = 0x051;    // CAN ID
    Received_data.can_dlc = 8;      // CAN DLC
    Received_data.data[0] = 0x00;   // Speed value byte 0
    Received_data.data[1] = 0x00;   // Speed value byte 1
    Received_data.data[2] = 0x00;   // Speed value byte 2
    Received_data.data[3] = 0x00;   // Speed value byte 3
    Received_data.data[4] = 0x00;   // Empty byte
    Received_data.data[5] = 0x00;   // Empty byte
    Received_data.data[6] = 0x00;   // Empty byte
    Received_data.data[7] = 0x00;   // Life singal.


    Sent_data.can_id  = 0x061;    // CAN ID
    Sent_data.can_dlc = 8;      // CAN DLC
    Sent_data.data[0] = 0x00;   // Speed value byte 0
    Sent_data.data[1] = 0x00;   // Speed value byte 1
    Sent_data.data[2] = 0x00;   // Speed value byte 2
    Sent_data.data[3] = 0x00;   // Speed value byte 3
    Sent_data.data[4] = 0x00;   // Empty byte
    Sent_data.data[5] = 0x00;   // Empty byte
    Sent_data.data[6] = 0x00;   // Empty byte
    Sent_data.data[7] = 0x00;   // Life singal.
  
  
  // starting the CAN
  mcp2515.reset();
  mcp2515.setBitrate(CAN_1000KBPS);
  mcp2515.setNormalMode();

  
}

void loop(){
  if (mcp2515.readMessage(&Received_data) == MCP2515::ERROR_OK){
    if(Received_data.can_id == 0x061){
      Scanning = Received_data.data[0];
      Output_1 = Received_data.data[1];
      Output_2 = Received_data.data[2];
      Output_3 = Received_data.data[3];
          
    }
    
    Serial.print(Received_data.can_id, HEX); // print ID
    Serial.print(" "); 
    Serial.print(Received_data.can_dlc, HEX); // print DLC
    Serial.print(" ");
    
    for (int i = 0; i<Received_data.can_dlc; i++)  {  // print the data
      Serial.print(Received_data.data[i],HEX);
      Serial.print(" ");
    }

    Serial.println();      
  }

  if(Output_1){
    digitalWrite(2, HIGH);
  } else {
    digitalWrite(2, LOW);
  }

  if(Output_2){
    digitalWrite(3, HIGH);
  } else {
    digitalWrite(3, LOW);
  }

  if(Output_3){
    digitalWrite(4, HIGH);
  } else {
    digitalWrite(4, LOW);
  }
}


void timer_interrupt(void){
  if(Scanning){

    if(act_scan_angle >= Scanning_max){
      act_scan_angle = Scanning_min;
    }
    
    scanning.write(act_scan_angle);
    act_scan_angle+=scanning_step_angle;
    vertical.write(Vertical_Scan_pos);

    LIDAR_distance = sensor.read();
    LIDAR_angle = act_scan_angle;
    
  } else {
    scanning.write((Scanning_min + Scanning_max)/2);
    vertical.write(Vertical_Scan_pos);
    act_scan_angle = Scanning_min;
  }

  Sent_data.data[0] = ((uint8_t*)&LIDAR_distance)[0];    // Speed value byte 0
  Sent_data.data[1] = ((uint8_t*)&LIDAR_distance)[1];    // Speed value byte 1
  Sent_data.data[2] = ((uint8_t*)&LIDAR_angle)[0];       // Speed value byte 2
  Sent_data.data[3] = ((uint8_t*)&LIDAR_angle)[1];       // Speed value byte 3
  Sent_data.data[7] = Life++;
    
  mcp2515.sendMessage(&Sent_data);
  Serial.println("CAN msg sent");
}

Credits

Viktor Kurusa

0 projects • 11 followers

Autonomous Lawn Mower without GPS RTK

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Story

Building an Autonomous Lawn Mover with cmprecision without GPS RTK.

Mechanical characteristics and wiring

Onboard Control system

Onboard embedded SW.

Usonic

LIDAR

MPU6050

Navigation idea and the Movement of the Mower

Navigation idea

Mowing the Area

Turning the mower into the right direction

Code

TAG

Anchor A

Anchor B

Anchor C

Usonic

LIDAR

Movement controller

Credits

Viktor Kurusa

Comments

Embed the widget on your own site

Autonomous Lawn Mower without GPS RTK

Autonomous Lawn Mower without GPS RTK

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Story

Building an Autonomous Lawn Mover with cmprecision without GPS RTK.

Mechanical characteristics and wiring

Onboard Control system

Onboard embedded SW.

Usonic

LIDAR

MPU6050

Navigation idea and the Movement of the Mower

Navigation idea

Mowing the Area

Turning the mower into the right direction

Code

TAG

Anchor A

Anchor B

Anchor C

Usonic

LIDAR

Movement controller

Credits

Viktor Kurusa

Comments

Related channels and tags