Self-guided cleaning robot

• US 20060235585A1
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hiroto
• Application Number:
  US11/405,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20060235585A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/027 comprising intertial navigation means, e.g. azimuth detector inertial navigation G01C21/16; inertial navigation combined with non-inertial navigation instruments G01C21/165
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0203 Cleaning or polishing vehicle

Abstract

First, a self-guided cleaning robot performs map cleaning in which the self-guided cleaning robot refers to cleaning region information (map) and travels. Then, upon performing the map cleaning, it is determined whether or not a traveling state based on results of detection by rotary encoders and a gyro sensor falls within predetermined a permissible range. If it is determined that the traveling state deviates from the permissible range, the map cleaning is finished, and is switched to random cleaning.

Claims

1. A self-guided cleaning robot comprising:

a suction unit for performing a sucking operation for cleaning;

a time measurement unit for measuring a time;

a storage unit for storing cleaning region information;

a travel unit for allowing a main body to move;

a traveling drive unit for driving said travel unit to allow said main body to travel;

a distance detection unit for detecting a traveling distance of said main body;

an angle detection unit for detecting an angle indicative of a moving direction of said main body;

a first traveling control unit for referring to said cleaning region information to control said traveling drive unit;

a mapping unit for mapping a cleaned partial region on the basis of information from said distance detection unit and said angle distance unit, while map traveling is performed by said first traveling control unit;

a second traveling control unit for controlling said traveling drive unit at random;

a first determination unit for determining whether or not a traveling distance per unit of a predetermined time is less than a first predetermined value, on the basis of a result of detection by said distance detection unit, while said map traveling is performed;

a second determination unit for determining whether or not an angular velocity exceeds a second predetermined value, on the basis of a result of detection by said angle detection unit, while said map traveling is performed; and

a switch unit for switching said map traveling to random traveling by said second traveling control unit, in the case where said first determination unit determines that said traveling distance per unit of the predetermined time is less than said first predetermined value and said second determination unit determines that said angular velocity exceeds said second predetermined value.

2. A self-guided cleaning robot comprising:

a suction unit for performing a sucking operation for cleaning;

a storage unit for storing cleaning region information;

a travel unit for allowing a main body to move;

a traveling drive unit for driving said travel unit to allow said main body to travel;

a detection unit for detecting a traveling state of said main body;

a first traveling control unit for referring to said cleaning region information to control said traveling drive unit;

a second traveling control unit for controlling said traveling drive unit at random;

a traveling state determination unit for determining whether or not the traveling state based on a result of detection by said detection unit falls within a preset permissible range, while map traveling is performed by said first traveling control unit; and

a switch unit for switching said map traveling to random traveling by said second traveling control unit, in the case where said traveling state determination unit determines that said traveling state deviates from said permissible range.

3. The self-guided cleaning robot according to claim 2, wherein said detection unit includes a distance detection unit for detecting a traveling distance of said main body,

said traveling state includes a traveling distance per unit of a predetermined time based on a result of detection by said distance detection unit,

said traveling state determination unit determines whether or not said traveling distance per unit of the predetermined time is less than a predetermined value, and

said switch unit switches said map traveling to said random traveling, in the case where said traveling state determination unit determines that said traveling distance per unit of the predetermined time is less than said predetermined value.

4. The self-guided cleaning robot according to claim 2, wherein said detection unit includes an angle detection unit for detecting an angle indicative of a moving direction of said main body,

said traveling state includes an angular velocity based on a result of detection by said angle detection unit,

said traveling state determination unit determines whether or not said angular velocity exceeds a predetermined value, and

said switch unit switches said map traveling to said random traveling, in the case where said traveling state determination unit determines that said angular velocity exceeds said predetermined value.

5. The self-guided cleaning robot according to claim 2, wherein said detection unit includes a distance detection unit for detecting a traveling distance of said main body, and an angle detection unit for detecting an angle indicative of a moving direction of said main body,

said traveling state includes a traveling distance per unit of a predetermined time based on a result of detection by said distance detection unit, and an angular velocity based on a result of detection by said angle detection unit, and

said traveling state determination unit includes a first determination unit for determining whether or not said traveling distance per unit of the predetermined time is less than a first predetermined value, and a second determination unit for determining whether or not said angular velocity exceeds a second predetermined value.

6. The self-guided cleaning robot according to claim 5, wherein said switch unit switches said map traveling to said random traveling in the case where said first determination unit determines that said traveling distance per unit of the predetermined time is less than said first predetermined value or said second determination unit determines that said angular velocity exceeds said second predetermined value.

7. The self-guided cleaning robot according to claim 5, wherein said switch unit switches said map traveling to said random traveling in the case where said first determination unit determines that said traveling distance per unit of the predetermined time is less than said first predetermined value and said second determination unit determines that said angular velocity exceeds said second predetermined value.

8. The self-guided cleaning robot according to claim 2, further comprising:

a mapping unit for mapping a cleaned partial region on the basis of a result of detection by said detection unit, while said map traveling is performed.

9. The self-guided cleaning robot according to claim 2, further comprising:

a time measurement unit for measuring a time; and

a time determination unit for determining whether or not an elapsed time since said switch unit switches said map traveling to said random traveling exceeds a preset time, wherein

said second traveling control unit terminates said random traveling, in the case where said time determination unit determines that said elapsed time exceeds said preset time.

10. The self-guided cleaning robot according to claim 2, further comprising:

a time measurement unit for measuring a time;

a calculation unit for referring to said cleaning region information stored in said storage unit to calculate a traveling time of said random traveling, in the case where said traveling state determination unit determines that said traveling state deviates from said permissible range; and

a time determination unit for determining whether or not an elapsed time since said switch unit switches said map traveling to said random traveling exceeds said calculated traveling time, wherein

said second traveling control unit terminates said random traveling, in the case where said time determination unit determines that said elapsed time exceeds said calculated traveling time.

11. The self-guided cleaning robot according to claim 10, further comprising:

a correspondence table in which ratios of an uncleaned region are respectively corresponded to predetermined times, wherein

said calculation unit calculates a ratio of said uncleaned region on the basis of said cleaning region information, and calculates said traveling time on the basis of said calculated ratio and said correspondence table.

12. The self-guided cleaning robot according to claim 10, further comprising:

a correspondence table in which areas of an uncleaned region are respectively corresponded to predetermined times, wherein

said calculation unit calculates an area of said uncleaned region on the basis of said cleaning region information, and calculates said traveling time on the basis of said calculated area and said correspondence table.