Autonomous coverage robot sensing
AssigneeiRobot Corporation
InventorsDuane L. Gilbert, Jr., Marcus R. Williams, Andrea M. Okerholm, Elaine H. Kristant, Sheila A. Longo, Daniel E. Kee, Marc D. Strauss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An autonomous coverage robot detection system includes an emitter configured to emit a directed beam, a detector configured to detect the directed beam and a controller configured to direct the robot in response to a signal detected by the detector. In some examples, the detection system detects a stasis condition of the robot. In some examples, the detection system detects a wall and can follow the wall in response to the detected signal.
Claims20
An autonomous cleaning robot comprising:
- a body;
- a drive system configured to move the body over a cleaning surface;
- an extension element configured to contact the cleaning surface,
- wherein the extension element comprises a flexible compliant member comprising a cleaning edge,
- wherein the flexible compliant member is a monolithic component extending from the body and outwardly beyond a perimeter of the autonomous cleaning robot excepting the extension element, and
- wherein the extension element is configured to flex from a position directly in response to contacting an obstacle and to return to the position directly in response to disengagement of the extension element from the obstacle;
- and
- a vacuum module in fluid communication with the extension element, the vacuum module configured to suction debris toward the body when the extension element encounters the debris.
An autonomous cleaning robot comprising:
- a drive system configured to move the autonomous cleaning robot over a cleaning surface;
- a vacuum inlet on a bottom portion of the autonomous cleaning robot;
- a vacuum module comprising a fan and an intake conduit in fluid communication with the vacuum inlet, the fan configured to draw air through the intake conduit to draw debris on the cleaning surface into an interior of the autonomous cleaning robot;
- and
- an extension element in fluid communication with the vacuum module,
- wherein the extension element comprises a flexible compliant member comprising a cleaning edge,
- wherein the flexible compliant member is a monolithic component extending from a body of the autonomous cleaning robot and outwardly beyond a perimeter of the autonomous cleaning robot excepting the extension element,
- wherein the extension element is configured to flex from a position directly in response to contacting an obstacle and to return to the position directly in response to disengagement of the extension element from the obstacle, and
- wherein the vacuum module is configured to suction the debris toward the body when the extension element encounters the debris.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.