US 9,114,440 B1Granted

Outdoor home cleaning robot—system and method

OwnerMichael A. Colucci, Eusebio G. Hernandezinventors

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Abstract

A hardware and software method, system and apparatus comprising an autonomous all weather outdoor cleaning robot designed to identify, and clean various outdoor household objects including but not limited to personal automobiles and other vehicles. The robot autonomously navigates to a designated area and scans the vehicle or object to determine the optimum cleaning routine. The robot learns its working environment by comparing scanned vehicles and outdoor objects with its existing database for future reference. The robot also compares and stores navigation data, which correlate to areas previously visited to increase efficiency for future work by reducing travel and scanning times. The Present Invention focuses on autonomous outdoor cleaning multi-purpose robots. The robots utilize microprocessors to control cleaning, navigation and perception. More specifically, the robots use multi-segmented arms to perform needful chores. Even more specifically, a robot can adapt and learn from its environment while performing useful tasks.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method of autonomously cleaning and maintaining a pre-determined variety of objects located in a prescribed area either indoors or outdoors using a robot comprising computer software or firmware,

wherein the robot utilizes batteries to generate electricity, dispensers containing fluids to clean the variety of objects, sensors to recognize and identify the variety of objects to be cleaned or maintained, and driver motors to move a multi-segmented arm and to allow the robot to move through a prescribed area, and
wherein the robot performs the following steps without human interaction:
a) after receiving a sufficient charge, automatically leaving an external docking station with which the robot is docked;
b) automatically navigating to the prescribed area;
c) automatically scanning the prescribed area to find the variety of objects to be cleaned or maintained;
d) automatically recognizing and identifying each object of the variety of objects to be cleaned or maintained;
e) automatically cleaning or maintaining each object of the variety of objects to be cleaned or maintained with a movable segmented arm assembly having spray nozzles that spray liquid, and using a set of pre-programmed instructions;
and
f) automatically returning to and mating with the docking station for recharging and replenishment of soap, water, and solvents when all of the variety of objects have been cleaned or maintained;
and
wherein, prior to leaving the external docking station, the robot software or firmware:
g) automatically determines the electric charge level of the batteries;
h) automatically determines the level of fluids in the dispensers;
i) automatically determines whether the sensors are operating properly;
and
j) automatically determines whether the driver motors are operating properly,
and wherein,
i) if the electric charge level of all the batteries are below preset desired levels in a database;
or
ii) if the levels of all fluids in the dispensers are below preset desired levels in the database;
or
iii) if all the sensors are not operating properly;
or
iv) if all the driver motors are not operating properly, then the robot's software or firmware will not instruct the robot to leave the external docking station, and an error message will be displayed.

21 more elements

A system for autonomously cleaning and maintaining a pre-determined variety of objects located in a prescribed area either indoors or outdoors using a robot comprising computer software or firmware, a movable multi-segmented robotic arm assembly, batteries, fluid dispensers, drive motors, and sensors, wherein said system further comprises:

a) a storage device that stores an electronic database containing entries capable of being represented by numeric descriptors;
b) a display device;
c) a device that permits user input;
and
d) a processor programmed to:
i) determine the charge level in the batteries;
ii) determine to levels of fluids in the dispensers;
iii) determine whether the sensors are operating properly;
iv) cause the drive motors to move the robot in a prescribed path;
v) cause the robot to move away from an external docking station;
vi) cause the robot to move to the prescribed area;
vii) cause the robot to utilize the sensors to scan the prescribed area to find the variety of objects to be cleaned or maintained;
viii) recognize and identify each object of the variety of objects to be cleaned or maintained;
ix) cause each object of the variety of objects to be cleaned or maintained with the movable multi-segmented arm assembly having spray nozzles that spray liquid, and using a set of pre-programmed instructions;
and
x) cause the robot to return to and mate with the docking station for recharging and replenishment of soap, water, and solvents when all of the variety of objects have been cleaned or maintained.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.