If the GPS connection is lost when mowing grass under solar panels on a solar park with an autonomous mowing machine, the LIDAR is normally not able to immediately take over control. This is because GPS is the primary method for determining the location and position of the autonomous mower, while LIDAR is mainly used to scan the environment and detect obstacles.
However, the modern Vector autonomous mowers use multiple sensors and technologies to determine position and detect obstacles. If the GPS connection is lost, these systems can take over from GPS and continue to determine the position of the mower.
In addition, the Vector autonomous mowers are equipped with an inertial navigation system (INS) that can track the movement of the mower and determine its position based on accelerometers and gyroscopes. This ensures that the position is maintained if the GPS connection is lost. Because our Vector learns from the previous mowing routes, the mower will be able to determine where it is located on the basis of, among other things, the LIDAR, without the intervention of the GPS. In this way, the Vector will continue to mow excellently under the solar panels and as soon as the Vector receives GPS signals again, it will accurately determine its location and immediately correct any deviations (in centimeters).
If all sensors and technologies fail, the autonomous mower may be able to go into a safe mode, where it will stop working until the GPS connection is restored. In some cases, it may be necessary for an operator to manually control the mower to return it to an area with better GPS reception.
In short, while LIDAR cannot replace the GPS connection when it comes to determining the location and position of the autonomous mower, when combined with other sensors and technologies it can help maintain the safety and precision of the mower if the GPS connection is lost.