Autonomous robot auto-docking and energy management systems and methods
AssigneeiRobot Corporation
InventorsDavid A. Cohen, Daniel N. Ozick, Clara Vu, James Lynch, Philip R. Mass
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for energy management robotic device includes providing a base station for mating with the robotic device, determining a quantity of energy stored in an energy storage unit of the robotic device, and performing a predetermined task based at least in part on the quantity of energy stored. Also disclosed are systems for emitting avoidance signals to prevent inadvertent contact between the robot and the base station, and systems for emitting homing signals to allow the robotic device to accurately dock with the base station.
Claims21
1-30. (canceled)
A method comprising:
- directing a cleaning robot about a room to clean the room and determining an amount of the room remaining to be cleaned;
- and
- charging an energy storage unit of the cleaning robot such that the energy storage unit is charged to an amount that is a function of the amount of the room remaining to be cleaned, the energy storage unit being charged by a base station.
An autonomous cleaning robot comprising:
- a motive system to support the autonomous cleaning robot on a floor surface in a room, the motive system configured to move the autonomous cleaning robot about the room;
- and
- an energy storage unit configured to be charged while the autonomous cleaning robot is positioned at a base station,
- wherein the autonomous cleaning robot is configured to operate the motive system to:
- move the autonomous cleaning robot about the room to clean a first portion of the room,
- based on an energy level of the energy storage unit, move the autonomous cleaning robot to the base station to initiate charging of the energy storage unit to an amount that is a function of a second portion of the room remaining to be cleaned, and then
- move the autonomous cleaning robot about the room to clean the second portion of the room.
A method comprising:
- determining an energy level of a cleaning robot positioned at a base station, the cleaning robot and the base station being positioned within a room;
- charging the cleaning robot such that the cleaning robot is charged to an amount that is a function of an amount of an uncleaned portion of the room, the cleaning robot being charged by the base station;
- and
- transmitting a signal to the cleaning robot to cause the cleaning robot to move to the uncleaned portion of the room and clean the uncleaned portion of the room.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.