Autonomous robot apparatus and method for controlling the same
First Claim
1. An autonomous robot apparatus comprising:
- a chassis;
a plurality of wheels mounted to the chassis;
a drive system mounted to the chassis and operably coupled to the plurality of wheels;
a control module operably coupled to the drive system;
a precipitation sensing module comprising an accumulation cavity, wherein a floor of the accumulation cavity comprises at least one drainage aperture, an accumulation level sensor configured to generate and transmit, to the control module, a first signal upon a predetermined initial accumulation level of precipitation being detected, and wherein the predetermined initial accumulation level is an adjustable parameter that can be modified by an end user, wherein the accumulation level sensor comprises a plurality of sensors mounted on a wall of the accumulation cavity;
the control module configured to activate the autonomous robot apparatus to perform a first instance of a work routine upon receipt of the first signal;
the precipitation sensing module further configured to generate and transmit, to the control module, a second signal upon a predetermined secondary accumulation level of the precipitation being detected, the predetermined secondary accumulation level of the precipitation being a greater accumulation of the precipitation than the predetermined initial accumulation level of the precipitation;
the control module further configured to cause the autonomous robot apparatus to perform a second instance of the work routine, after completion of the first instance of the work routine, upon receipt of the second signal.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous robot apparatus that is activated to perform a work routine upon detecting the accumulation of precipitation. In one aspect, the invention can be an autonomous robot apparatus comprising: a chassis; a plurality of wheels mounted to the chassis; a drive system mounted to the chassis and operably coupled to the plurality of wheels; a control module operably coupled to the drive system; a precipitation sensing module comprising an accumulation level sensor configured to generate and transmit, to the control module, a first signal upon a predetermined initial accumulation level being detected; and the control module configured to activate the autonomous robot apparatus to perform a first instance of a work routine upon receipt of the first signal.
16 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An autonomous robot apparatus comprising:
-
a chassis; a plurality of wheels mounted to the chassis; a drive system mounted to the chassis and operably coupled to the plurality of wheels; a control module operably coupled to the drive system; a precipitation sensing module comprising an accumulation cavity, wherein a floor of the accumulation cavity comprises at least one drainage aperture, an accumulation level sensor configured to generate and transmit, to the control module, a first signal upon a predetermined initial accumulation level of precipitation being detected, and wherein the predetermined initial accumulation level is an adjustable parameter that can be modified by an end user, wherein the accumulation level sensor comprises a plurality of sensors mounted on a wall of the accumulation cavity; the control module configured to activate the autonomous robot apparatus to perform a first instance of a work routine upon receipt of the first signal; the precipitation sensing module further configured to generate and transmit, to the control module, a second signal upon a predetermined secondary accumulation level of the precipitation being detected, the predetermined secondary accumulation level of the precipitation being a greater accumulation of the precipitation than the predetermined initial accumulation level of the precipitation; the control module further configured to cause the autonomous robot apparatus to perform a second instance of the work routine, after completion of the first instance of the work routine, upon receipt of the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of controlling an autonomous robot comprising a chassis, a plurality of wheels mounted to the chassis, a drive system mounted to the chassis and operably coupled to the plurality of wheels, a control module operably coupled to the drive system, and a precipitation sensing module comprising an accumulation cavity, wherein a floor of the accumulation cavity comprises at least one drainage aperture, an accumulation level sensor configured to generate and transmit, to the control module, a first signal upon a predetermined initial accumulation level of precipitation being detected, and wherein the predetermined initial accumulation level is an adjustable parameter that can be modified by an end user, wherein the accumulation level sensor comprises a plurality of sensors mounted on a wall of the accumulation cavity, the method comprising:
-
a) detecting, with the accumulation level sensor, precipitation accumulation levels; b) upon the predetermined initial accumulation level being detected by the accumulation level sensor, generating and transmitting to the control module the first signal; c) upon the control module receiving the first signal, activating the autonomous robot to perform a first instance of a work routine; d) continuing to detect precipitation accumulation levels while the autonomous robot is performing the first instance of the work routine; e) upon a predetermined secondary accumulation level that is a greater level of precipitation than the predetermined initial accumulation level being detected by the accumulation level sensor, generating and transmitting to the control module a second signal; and f) upon the control module receiving the second signal, activating the autonomous robot to perform a second instance of the work routine. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification