Semi-autonomous operation of a robotic device

A system for operating a robotic device in a semi-autonomous manner, said system comprising:

• a robotic device comprising:
• a steering and propelling mechanism;
• a guidance sensor;
• a device memory configured to store one or more algorithms to operate the steering and propelling mechanism;
• and
• a device controller interfaced with the device memory and configured to control the steering and propelling mechanism and the guidance sensor, wherein said device controller is configured to set one or more goal points, calculate the distances between the location of the robotic device and the one or more goal points, select one of the one or more goal points, control the steering and propelling mechanism to maneuver the robotic device to a first one of the one or more goal points, and perform one or more functions at the first one of the one or more goal points.

A system for operating a robotic device in a semi-autonomous manner, said system comprising:

• means for steering and propelling the robotic device;
• means for guiding the robotic device;
• means for storing information in the robotic device;
• and
• means for controlling the steering and propelling means, the guiding means, and the storing means, wherein said controlling means is configured to set one or more goal points, calculate the distances between the location of the robotic device and the one or more goal paints, select one of the one or more goal points, control the steering and propelling mechanism to maneuver the robotic device to a first one of the one or more goal points, and perform one or more functions at the first one of the one or more goal points.

A computer readable storage medium on which is embedded one or more computer programs, said one or more computer programs implementing a method for semi-autonomous operation of a robotic device in a room, said one or more computer programs comprising a set of instructions for:

• determining one or more environmental conditions in the room;
• categorizing the one or more environmental conditions based upon the one or more environmental conditions exceeding a first predetermined value;
• identifying the locations of the one or more environmental conditions that exceed the first predetermined value;
• setting one or more goal points;
• calculating the distances between the robotic device and the one or more goal points;
• selecting a first one of the one or more goal points;
• maneuvering the robotic device to travel to the first one of the one or more goal points;
• and
• performing one or more functions at the first one of the one or more goal points with the robotic device.