Robotic vacuum with removable portable vacuum and semi-automated environment mapping
First Claim
1. An autonomous robotic vacuum (10), including:
- a self-propelled controller (12), including;
a vacuum source (36, 38);
a dirt receptacle (32) in fluidic communication with the vacuum source;
a controller processor (74) providing mapping, localization, planning, and master control functions; and
a power source (56, 268) for distributing power;
a self-propelled cleaning head (14) in communication with the controller, the cleaning head including;
a suction inlet (24) in fluidic communication with the dirt receptacle; and
a cleaning processor (90) providing slave control functions; and
an interconnecting hose (16) connecting the cleaning head to the controller and providing a suction airflow path from the suction inlet to the dirt receptacle;
wherein the controller and cleaning head cooperatively traverse a surface area in tandem when the interconnecting hose is connected between the cleaning head and the controller.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A robotic vacuum cleaner (10) with a self-propelled controller (12) with a vacuum source (36, 38) and a dirt receptacle (32), a self-propelled cleaning head (14) with a suction inlet (24), and an interconnecting hose (16) is provided. The controller and cleaning head cooperatively traverse a surface area in tandem when the interconnecting hose is connected between the cleaning head and the controller. In one embodiment, the controller includes a power source (56) making the robotic vacuum autonomous. In another embodiment, the controller includes a power cord dispense/retract assembly (168) to provide access to utility power. In another aspect, the controller includes a portable vacuum (20) that is removed for manual operations. In still another aspect, a method of semi-automated environment mapping for a self-propelled robotic vacuum is provided. With respect to the method, the robotic vacuum also includes a remote control (18).
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. An autonomous robotic vacuum (10), including:
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a self-propelled controller (12), including; a vacuum source (36, 38); a dirt receptacle (32) in fluidic communication with the vacuum source; a controller processor (74) providing mapping, localization, planning, and master control functions; and a power source (56, 268) for distributing power; a self-propelled cleaning head (14) in communication with the controller, the cleaning head including; a suction inlet (24) in fluidic communication with the dirt receptacle; and a cleaning processor (90) providing slave control functions; and an interconnecting hose (16) connecting the cleaning head to the controller and providing a suction airflow path from the suction inlet to the dirt receptacle; wherein the controller and cleaning head cooperatively traverse a surface area in tandem when the interconnecting hose is connected between the cleaning head and the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A self-propelled robotic vacuum (10), including:
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a self-propelled controller (12), including; a vacuum source (36, 38); a dirt receptacle (32) in fluidic communication with the vacuum source; a controller processor (74) providing mapping, localization, planning, and master control functions; a power cord dispense/retract assembly (172) for connection to a standard utility power receptacle; and a power distribution (70) for distributing power from the power cord dispense/retract assembly; a self-propelled cleaning head (14) in communication with the controller, including; a suction inlet (24) in fluidic communication with the dirt receptacle; and a cleaning processor (90) providing slave control functions; and an interconnecting hose (16) connecting the cleaning head to the controller and providing a suction airflow path from the suction inlet to the dirt receptacle; wherein the controller and cleaning head cooperatively traverse a surface area in tandem when the interconnecting hose is connected between the cleaning head and the controller. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of semi-automated environment mapping in a self-propelled robotic vacuum (10), the robotic vacuum including a self-propelled controller (12), a self-propelled cleaning head (14) in communication with the controller, and a hose (16) providing an airflow path from the cleaning head to the controller, a remote control (18) in operative communication with the controller, wherein the controller and cleaning head cooperatively traverse a surface area in tandem when the hose is connected between the cleaning head and the controller, the method including the steps:
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a) driving the robotic vacuum across a surface area of an environment to be mapped using the remote control; b) detecting characteristics of the environment, including existing obstacles, using localization sensors (78); c) mapping the environment from the detected characteristics and storing an environment map in a controller processor (74); and d) determining a route for the robotic vacuum to traverse in order to clean the surface area based on the environment map. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. An autonomous robotic vacuum (10), including:
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a self-propelled controller (12) providing mapping, localization, planning, and master control functions, including; a transport module (22); and a portable vacuum (20) removably secured to the transport module, the portable vacuum; a self-propelled cleaning head (14) in communication with the controller; and an interconnecting hose (16) connecting the cleaning head to the controller and providing a suction airflow path from the cleaning head to the controller; wherein the controller and cleaning head cooperatively traverse a surface area in tandem when the interconnecting hose is connected between the cleaning head and the controller. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification