Mobile robot area cleaning
DC CAFCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A cleaning robot comprising:
- a drive system configured to drive the cleaning robot;
a sensor configured to produce a sensor output indicative of a characteristic of a surface on which the cleaning robot is traveling; and
a controller in communication with the drive system and the sensor, the controller configured to control the drive system to drive the cleaning robot within a first area having a first surface type, and alter a drive direction of the cleaning robot in response to a determination indicating an edge of the first area having the first surface type has been reached, in which the edge represents a traversable border between the first area and a second area having a second surface type that is different from the first surface type, the determination being based on a change in a surface characteristic determined from a change in the sensor output, the drive direction altered so as to keep at least a portion of the cleaning robot from crossing the edge of the first area,wherein the edge of the first area is an edge of at least one of a rug, a carpet, a hardwood surface, or a tile surface on which the cleaning robot is moving, and the sensor output is produced in response to sensing a signal reflected from another surface adjacent the edge of the at least one of the rug, the carpet, the hardwood surface, or the tile surface.
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Abstract
A cleaning robot includes a chassis, a drive system connected to the chassis and configured to drive the robot, a signal generator and sensor carried by the chassis, and a controller in communication with the drive system and the sensor. The signal generator directs a signal toward the floor surface. The sensor is responsive to reflected signals from the floor surface. The controller controls the drive system to alter direction of the robot responsive to a reflected signal indicating an edge of the floor surface.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A cleaning robot comprising:
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a drive system configured to drive the cleaning robot; a sensor configured to produce a sensor output indicative of a characteristic of a surface on which the cleaning robot is traveling; and a controller in communication with the drive system and the sensor, the controller configured to control the drive system to drive the cleaning robot within a first area having a first surface type, and alter a drive direction of the cleaning robot in response to a determination indicating an edge of the first area having the first surface type has been reached, in which the edge represents a traversable border between the first area and a second area having a second surface type that is different from the first surface type, the determination being based on a change in a surface characteristic determined from a change in the sensor output, the drive direction altered so as to keep at least a portion of the cleaning robot from crossing the edge of the first area, wherein the edge of the first area is an edge of at least one of a rug, a carpet, a hardwood surface, or a tile surface on which the cleaning robot is moving, and the sensor output is produced in response to sensing a signal reflected from another surface adjacent the edge of the at least one of the rug, the carpet, the hardwood surface, or the tile surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of maneuvering an autonomous robot across a surface within a bounded area having at least one open edge, the method comprising:
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driving the autonomous robot across a surface while sensing a sensor output from a sensor of the autonomous robot, the sensor output indicative of a characteristic of the surface on which the autonomous robot is traveling; while continuing to drive the autonomous robot, evaluating the sensor output against a baseline signal characteristic to determine whether the sensor output is indicative of the autonomous robot being adjacent the at least one open edge of the bounded area, in which the open edge represents a traversable border between the bounded area having a first surface type and a second area having a second surface type that is different from the first surface type; and
,in response to determining from the sensor output that the autonomous robot is adjacent the at least one open edge of the bounded area, altering a direction of motion of the autonomous robot such that the autonomous robot is directed away from the at least one open edge, wherein the open edge is an edge of at least one of a rug, a carpet, a hardwood surface, or a tile surface on which the cleaning robot is moving, and the sensor output is produced in response to sensing a signal reflected from another surface adjacent the edge of the at least one of the rug, the carpet, the hardwood surface, or the tile surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification