A TRIZ-Intergrated Design of Smart Lawnmower

Abstract

Background - Existing smart lawnmowers, while convenient to use, have significant limitations, such as a lack of manoeuvrability on uneven agricultural grassland (constraint 1), high charging frequency (constraint 2) and low local market penetration (constraint 3). Although the effectiveness of the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) has been demonstrated in several design studies, there also seems to be a lack of research addressing the design difficulties of smart lawnmowers using this method. Purpose – With the use of the TRIZ method, this study seeks to conceptually design an improved smart lawnmower. Tools from TRIZ were used, including cause-effect-chain analysis, technical contradictions, physical contradictions, and substance-field-modelling. The constraints were solved by inventive principles, separation strategies and standard inventive solutions. This study further carries out conceptualisation and design analysis to complete the whole design process of a smart lawnmower. Design/methodology/approach – In this study, TRIZ analysis (Step 1) is applied to each of the constraints. Step 2 to 5 is the step-by-step conceptual design process to develop a smart lawnmower with high potential to solve the identified constraints. In step 2, the proposed solutions are assessed for a few criteria. Only the selected key features are then combined with the base model of the smart lawnmower in step 3. The base model is created by benchmarking existing product with proper material selection. Once the smart lawnmower design is completed, it is illustrated by hand sketches in step 4. In the last step, the hand sketches are converted into a computer-aided drawing for FEA. Findings – The major limitation of the smart lawnmower has been addressed by increasing the motor power or torque, increasing the wheel diameter and combining it with a central pivot. The first fundamental constraint of the smart lawnmower has been addressed by a solar charging system and keeping the weight of the lawnmower as low as possible. The second fundamental constraint was solved by minimising development and maintenance costs through a modular design. Research limitations– To improve this study, further research can be conducted on relevant products, journals and patents to propose more relevant inventive solutions according to each invention principle for each of the product limitations. The methodology of this study will be further refined, especially in material selection, load simulation and structural analysis. Originality/value – It is hardly to find any related study and research about the application of TRIZfor engineering project especially for service robots. And smart lawnmower is not as famous as others sevice robots such as robot vaccum. Hence, it is worth to have this research to be carried out