Robotic cleaning device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A robotic cleaning device comprising:
- a body,a single obstacle detecting device configured to obtain 3-dimensional (3D) data from a vicinity of the robotic cleaning device;
a propulsion system configured to drive the robotic cleaning device across a surface to be cleaned;
a cleaning member; and
a processing unit arranged to;
create or update a 3D map of surroundings of the robotic cleaning device by;
determining, from the 3D data, a 3D shape of an object, and extracting and attaining at least one feature from the 3D shape obtained by the obstacle detection device at a first location of the robotic cleaning device, andstoring, in a database, the at least one feature from the 3D shape with other stored features of the 3D data obtained by the obstacle detection device at other locations of the robotic cleaning device as part of the 3D map,deduce a position of the robotic cleaning device within the 3D map by;
comparing the at least one attained feature with one or more predetermined features from the database, andwhen the at least one attained feature matches one of the one or more predetermined features, deduce the position of the robotic cleaning device in the 3D map and controlling the robotic cleaning device to navigate using the 3D map based on the deduced position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A robotic cleaning device having a body, and an obstacle detecting device configured to obtain data from a vicinity of the robotic cleaning device. The robotic cleaning device further has a propulsion system configured to drive the robotic cleaning device across a surface to be cleaned, and a cleaning member. The device also has a processing unit arranged to extract at least one feature from data obtained by the obstacle detecting device, compare the attained feature with stored features and when the attained feature matches one of the stored features, deduce a position of the robotic cleaning device.
965 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A robotic cleaning device comprising:
-
a body, a single obstacle detecting device configured to obtain 3-dimensional (3D) data from a vicinity of the robotic cleaning device; a propulsion system configured to drive the robotic cleaning device across a surface to be cleaned; a cleaning member; and a processing unit arranged to; create or update a 3D map of surroundings of the robotic cleaning device by; determining, from the 3D data, a 3D shape of an object, and extracting and attaining at least one feature from the 3D shape obtained by the obstacle detection device at a first location of the robotic cleaning device, and storing, in a database, the at least one feature from the 3D shape with other stored features of the 3D data obtained by the obstacle detection device at other locations of the robotic cleaning device as part of the 3D map, deduce a position of the robotic cleaning device within the 3D map by; comparing the at least one attained feature with one or more predetermined features from the database, and when the at least one attained feature matches one of the one or more predetermined features, deduce the position of the robotic cleaning device in the 3D map and controlling the robotic cleaning device to navigate using the 3D map based on the deduced position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17)
-
-
11. A method of teaching a robotic cleaning device comprising the steps of:
-
instructing, via an interface, the robotic cleaning device to enter a learning mode; capturing, by a camera of the robotic cleaning device, during the learning mode, three dimensional (3D) images of artificial markers; analyzing, by a processor of the robotic cleaning device, the 3D images, determining a 3D shape of each of the artificial markers, and deriving a feature from the 3D shape of each of the artificial markers; storing, by the processor of the robotic cleaning device, the feature from each of the artificial markers in a database; assigning, via the interface, the stored feature from each of the artificial markers to a respective area where the robotic cleaning device navigates; positioning the artificial markers in the respective areas to which they are assigned; programming, via the interface, the robotic cleaning device with navigation instructions assigned to each of the artificial markers; and instructing, via the interface, the robotic cleaning device to enter a cleaning mode, where navigation of the robotic cleaning device is performed by recognizing the 3D shape of the artificial markers, comparing the 3D shape of the recognized artificial markers with the features stored in the database, and executing the respective navigation instructions.
-
-
12. A method of operating a robotic cleaning device comprising the steps of:
-
obtaining 3-dimensional data (3D) data from a vicinity of the robotic cleaning device by an obstacle detecting device; creating or updating, by a processing unit, a 3D map of surroundings of the robotic cleaning device by; determining, from the 3D data, a 3D shape of an object, extracting at least one feature from the 3D shape obtained by the obstacle detection device at a first location of the robotic cleaning device, and storing, in a database, the at least one feature from the 3D shape with other stored features of the 3D data obtained by the obstacle detection device at other locations of the robotic cleaning device as part of the 3D map, controlling, by the processing unit, the operation of the robotic cleaning device by; comparing the at least one attained feature with predetermined features from the database; and when the at least one attained feature matches one of the predetermined features, deducing the position of the robotic cleaning device in the 3D map, and controlling the robotic cleaning device to navigate using the 3D map based on the deduced position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification