Cleaning apparatus and method for cleaning a surface

2:

• The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device (7) includes at least one rotating brush (9).

3:

• The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus includes a camera (10).

4:

• The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle (2) includes a safety frame (11) to protect the rotors (3, 4, 5, 6).

5:

• The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle (2) has a sensor system (12, 13, 14, 15) for measuring distance and/or detecting contact.

6:

• The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus has a mobile device (16) which is movable on rollers (17, 18).

7:

• The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device (7) is arranged so as to be movable relative to the aerial vehicle (2), and the aerial vehicle (2) is equipped with a distance meter (21, 22) which measures the distance between the cleaning device (7) and the aerial vehicle.

8:

• The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device (7) is arranged so as to be movable relative to the aerial vehicle (2), and the aerial vehicle (2) has a pressure measurement device which measures the pressure exerted on the aerial vehicle (2) by the cleaning device (7).

9:

• The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus is equipped with measuring devices (24) that influence the attitude control of the aerial vehicle (2).

10:

• A method for cleaning surfaces, particularly façades and outdoor glass frontage, comprising applying a cleaning medium for cleaning the surface that is to be cleaned, and cleaning the surface with an aerial vehicle (2).

11:

• The method according to claim 10, wherein the cleaning medium is deionized water.

12:

• The method according to claim 10, wherein the cleaning medium is dry ice.

13:

• The method according to claim 10, wherein the relative attitude of the aerial vehicle (2) is measured with reference to the surface to be cleaned.

14:

• The method according to claim 10, wherein the absolute attitude of the aerial vehicle is measured with reference to the surface to be cleaned.

15:

• The method according to claim 10, wherein the aerial vehicle is flown against the surface to be cleaned in such manner that a cleaning device (7) attached to the aerial vehicle (2) is pressed against the surface to be cleaned and moved along the surface.

16:

• The cleaning system consisting of a cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, a plurality of surfaces to be cleaned and a topology surrounding the surfaces to be cleaned, in which reference points of the topology are stored in a data memory, the attitude of the cleaning apparatus relative to these reference points and the attitude of the cleaning apparatus relative to the surface to be cleaned are determined in order to guide the cleaning device along the surfaces that are to be cleaned automatically.