Control Of Cleaning Robots

• US 20170112345A1
• Filed: 10/26/2016
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Frey, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 10,492,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/06 Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2852 Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45098 Vacuum cleaning robot
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 using a RF signal

Abstract

A method and corresponding arrangement are provided for controlling a mobile cleaning robot for cleaning of a building. A cleaning program with cleaning tasks is loaded into a control unit of the cleaning robot, the current position of the cleaning robot in the building is determined, the respective cleaning tasks are carried out taking into account the current position of the cleaning robot, and based on the current position of the cleaning robot and the cleaning task to be performed at the respective position, at the request of the control unit a building management system activates facilities located at the respective position, so that a corresponding cleaning task is able to be carried out for the cleaning robot.

Claims

1. A method for control of a mobile cleaning robot for cleaning of a building, the method comprising:

loading a cleaning program with cleaning tasks into a control unit of the cleaning robot;

monitoring a current position of the cleaning robot in the building;

performing the cleaning tasks based at least on the current position of the cleaning robot;

wherein, based on the current position of the cleaning robot and a respective cleaning task to be performed at the respective position, at the request of the control unit a building management system activates facilities located at the respective position enabling the cleaning robot to perform the respective cleaning task.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the current position of the cleaning robot in the building is determined by a positioning system installed in the building.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the facilities located at the respective position of the cleaning robot are activated based on a building plan in the building management system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit of the cleaning robot receives weather information via a communication link, and adapts the cleaning intensity of the cleaning robot based on the received weather information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit of the cleaning robot receives information about at least one of previous usage, current usage, or future usage of specific areas in the building via a communication link, and adapts the cleaning intensity of the cleaning robot based on the received usage information.

6. A control unit for controlling a mobile cleaning robot for cleaning of a building, the control unit comprising:

a processor; and

a cleaning program stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the cleaning program including cleaning tasks and the cleaning program executable by the processor to;

monitor a current position of the cleaning robot in the building;

perform the cleaning tasks based at least on the current position of the cleaning robot;

wherein, based on the current position of the cleaning robot and a respective cleaning task to be performed at the respective position, the cleaning program requests a building management system to activate facilities located at the respective position enabling the cleaning robot to perform the respective cleaning task.

7. A cleaning robot for cleaning of a building, the cleaning robot comprising:

a first communication unit for communication with a system positioned in one or more buildings for receiving current position data of the cleaning robot;

a second communication unit for communication with a building management system of the building to be cleaned, wherein the current position of the cleaning robot is transmitted cyclically to the building management system;

a robot controller including a processor for executing a cleaning program loaded into the robot controller, the cleaning program including cleaning tasks,

wherein the respective cleaning tasks are processed based on the current position of the cleaning robot and

wherein, based on the current position of the cleaning robot and the cleaning task to be performed at the respective position, at the request of the robot controller the building management system activates facilities located at the respective position to enable the cleaning robot to perform the corresponding cleaning task.

8. An arrangement for control of a cleaning robot in a building, said arrangement comprising:

a building management system for monitoring and control of facilities in the building, wherein the building management system manages a building plan for the building;

a positioning system for determining a position of mobile objects located in the building;

a cleaning robot for cleaning the building, wherein the cleaning robot comprises;

a first communication unit for communication with the positioning system for receiving current position data of the cleaning robot;

a second communication unit for communication with the building management system of the building to be cleaned, wherein the current position of the cleaning robot is transmitted cyclically to the building management system;

a robot controller including a processor for executing a cleaning program loaded into the robot controller, the cleaning program including cleaning tasks,

wherein the respective cleaning tasks are processed based on the current position of the cleaning robot and

wherein, based on the current position of the cleaning robot and the cleaning task to be performed at the respective position, at the request of the robot controller the building management system activates facilities located at the respective position to enable the cleaning robot to perform the corresponding cleaning task.