Autonomous snow removing machine

Abstract

An autonomous snow removing machine includes: traveling apparatuses; a snow removal work unit; a region setting unit that sets a snow removal work region in which snow removal is performed by the snow removal work unit; and a control unit that controls the traveling apparatuses such that the traveling apparatuses do not deviate from the snow removal work region set by the region setting unit. As a result, the snow removal work can be performed while causing the autonomous snow removing machine to autonomously travel by controlling the traveling apparatuses in the snow removal work region set by the region setting unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An autonomous snow removing machine that autonomously travels in a predetermined snow removal work region, the autonomous snow removing machine comprising:
 a traveling apparatus;   a snow removal work unit;   a region setting unit that sets a snow removal work region in which snow removal is performed by the snow removal work unit; and   a control unit that controls the traveling apparatus such that the traveling apparatus does not deviate from the snow removal work region set by the region setting unit.   
     
     
         2 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a communication unit that communicates with a mobile terminal apparatus of a user. 
     
     
         3 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the region setting unit comprises an image pickup apparatus that photographs a marker formed on a pole, for work, installed on a boundary of the snow removal work region; and   the control unit reads the marker and sets the snow removal work region on basis of an image photographed by the image pickup apparatus.   
     
     
         4 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the control unit sets the snow removal work region on basis of information set by the mobile terminal apparatus and transmitted via the communication unit. 
     
     
         5 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the control unit sets a snow collecting region in which removed snow is collected when the snow removal work region is set; and   the control unit controls the snow removal work unit such that the snow removal work unit collects, in the snow collecting region, snow that has fallen in the snow removal work region.   
     
     
         6 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 a pole, for snow collection, that is different from the pole for work is installed on a boundary of the snow collecting region; and   the control unit sets the snow collecting region on basis of a marker formed on the pole for snow collection.   
     
     
         7 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising a location detecting unit that detects a current location, wherein the control unit acquires the current location obtained by the location detecting unit, and sets a temporary snow collecting region between the current location and the snow collecting region when a distance between the current location and the snow collecting region is a certain distance or more. 
     
     
         8 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the snow removal work unit comprises an auger that collects snow, and a blower that blows the snow collected by the auger, the snow removal work unit collecting snow by blowing snow in the snow removal work region toward the snow collecting region with use of the auger and the blower. 
     
     
         9 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the snow removal work unit comprises a blade for pushing snow and collects snow by pushing snow in the snow removal work region toward the snow collecting region with use of the blade. 
     
     
         10 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is capable of setting a work schedule for snow removal work, and the control unit removes snow by controlling the snow removal work unit on basis of the work schedule. 
     
     
         11 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the control unit acquires a wake-up time of the user and sets the work schedule such that the snow removal work is completed by a predetermined amount or more at the wake-up time. 
     
     
         12 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the control unit acquires the wake-up time from an alarm time set on the mobile terminal apparatus of the user via the communication unit. 
     
     
         13 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the control unit acquires location information of the mobile terminal apparatus of the user via the communication unit and sets the work schedule for the snow removal work on basis of the location information of the mobile terminal apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein on basis of the location information of the mobile terminal apparatus of the user, the control unit estimates a time at which the user reaches the snow removal work region, and sets the work schedule such that the snow removal work is completed by a predetermined amount or more at the estimated reaching time. 
     
     
         15 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the control unit acquires weather forecast information from the mobile terminal apparatus of the user via the communication unit, estimates a snowfall amount in the snow removal work region on basis of the weather forecast information, and sets the work schedule on basis of the estimated snowfall amount. 
     
     
         16 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the control unit transmits a collecting request to a snow removal contractor from the communication unit via the mobile terminal apparatus when an amount of the snow collected in the snow collecting region becomes a certain amount or more. 
     
     
         17 . The autonomous snow removing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein, at time of snow removal work performed by the snow removal work unit, the snow removal work is performed while a snow melting agent is sprinkled.