Abstract:
A robot lawnmower (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) includes a drive system (400) carried by a body (100) and configured to maneuver the robot (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) across a lawn (20, 1020). The robot (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) includes a grass cutter (200, 200A, 200B, 2000A, 2050, 2100, 2200) carried by the body (100) and a swath edge detector (310A, 310B, 310C, 310D, 310E, 310F, 310G, 310H, 310I) carried by the body (100) and configured to detect a swath edge (26) between cut grass (24) and uncut grass (22) while the drive system (400) maneuvers the robot (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) across the lawn (20, 1020) while following a detected swath edge (26). The swath edge detector (310, 310A, 310B, 310C, 310D, 310E, 310F, 310G, 310H, 310I) includes a calibrator (320, 320A, 320B) that monitors uncut grass (22) adjacent the swath edge (26) for calibration of the swath edge detector (310, 310A, 310B, 310C, 310D, 310E, 310F, 310G, 310H, 310I).
Abstract:
An autonomous mobile robot system for adjacent bounded areas (204; 206) including a navigation beacon (150, 202, 203, 304) and an autonomous coverage robot (100, 212, 302). The navigation beacon has a gateway beacon emitter (152) arranged to transmit a gateway marking emission (208, 316) with the navigation beacon disposed within a gateway (210) between the first bounded area (204) and an adjacent second bounded area (206). The autonomous coverage robot includes a beacon emission sensor (104, 106) responsive to the beacon emission, and a drive system (130, 132) configured to maneuver the robot about the first bounded area (204) in a cleaning mode in which the robot is redirected in response to detecting the gateway marking emission (208, 316). The drive system is also configured to maneuver the robot through the gateway (210) into the second bounded area (206) in a migration mode.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for obstacle avoidance. In some embodiments, a robotically controlled vehicle capable of operating in one or more modes may be provided. Examples of such modes include teleoperation, waypoint navigation, follow, and manual mode. The vehicle may include an obstacle detection and avoidance system capable of being implemented with one or more of the vehicle modes. A control system may be provided to operate and control the vehicle in the one or more modes. The control system may include a robotic control unit and a vehicle control unit.
Abstract:
An autonomous coverage robot includes a chassis (102), a drive system (104) to maneuver the robot, an edge cleaning head (106,214,274,316), and a controller (108) configured to monitor motor current associated with the edge cleaning head and to reverse bias the edge cleaning head motor in response to an elevated motor current, while continuing to maneuver the robot across the floor. In another aspect, the autonomous coverage robot includes a bump sensor (132) and a proximity sensor (134). The drive system is configured to reduce a speed setting in response to a signal from the proximity sensor (134) indicating detection of a potential obstacle in a forward direction, while continuing to advance the robot according to a heading setting. Furthermore, the drive system is configured to alter the heading setting in response to a signal received from the bump sensor (132) indicating contact with an obstacle.
Abstract:
A navigational control system (10) for altering movement activity of a robotic device (100) operating in a defined working area, comprising a transmitting subsystem integrated in combination with the robotic device (100), the transmitting subsystem comprising means for emitting a number of directed beams, each directed beam having a predetermined emission pattern, and a receiving subsystem functioning as a base station that includes a navigation control algorithm that defines a predetermined triggering event for the navigational control system (100) and a set of detection units positioned within the defined working area in a known spaced-apart relationship, the set of detection units (112) being configured and operative to detect one or more of the directed beams under the control of the navigational control algorithm to determine whether the predetermined triggering event has occurred, and, if the predetermined triggering event has occurred transmit a control signal to the robotic device, wherein reception of the control signal by the robotic device causes the robotic device (100) to implement a prescribed conduct that alters the movement activity of the robotic device (100).
Abstract:
A control system for a mobile robot (10) is provided to effectively cover a given area by operating in a plurality of modes, including an obstacle following mode (51) and a random bounce mode (48). In other embodiments, spot coverage, such as spiraling (45), or other modes are also used to increase effectiveness. In addition, a behavior based architecture is used to implement the control system, and various escape behaviors are used to ensure full coverage.
Abstract:
The present teachings relate generally to a small unmanned ground vehicle. The present teachings relate more particularly to a small unmanned ground vehicle weighing less than about five pounds, and which is designed to absorb an impact from being dropped or thrown and climb stairs of a conventional size, to perform a variety of behaviors such as stair climbing, self righting, and gap crossing, and to be sealed to prohibit ingress of liquids and debris.
Abstract:
A resilient compressible roller rotatably engaged with an autonomous coverage robot, the resilient compressible roller comprising: a rigid drive shaft; a resilient tubular member having a longitudinal axis and including an outer surface, one or more vanes extending outwardly from the outer surface, a hub disposed along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member within the outer surface, the hub having one or more engagement elements formed therein for engaging securely with the rigid drive shaft, a plurality of resilient curvilinear spokes extending between an inner surface of the flexible tubular member and the hub.
Abstract:
A cleaning system includes a robotic cleaner and an evacuation station. The robotic cleaner can dock with the evacuation station to have debris evacuated by the evacuation station. The robotic cleaner includes a bin to store debris, and the bin includes a port door through which the debris can be evacuated into the evacuation station. The evacuation station includes a vacuum motor to evacuate the bin of the robotic cleaner.
Abstract:
An autonomous cleaning apparatus (100) includes a chassis ( 102 ), a drive system (112) disposed on the chassis and operable to enable movement of the cleaning apparatus, and a controller (114) in communication with the drive system. The controller includes a processor operable to control the drive system to steer movement of the cleaning apparatus. The autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head system (145) disposed on the chassis and a sensor system in communication with the controller. The sensor system includes a debris sensor (125) for generating a debris signal, a bump sensor (120) for generating a bump signal, and an obstacle following sensor (126) disposed on a side of the autonomous cleaning apparatus for generating an obstacle signal. The processor executes a prioritized arbitration scheme to identify and implement one or more dominant behavioral modes based upon at least one signal received from the sensor system.