A self-driving cleaner includes a main body and a driving unit for driving in a cleaning area. The cleaner suctions foreign material on the floor in the cleaning area. The cleaner includes a first pattern irradiation unit and a second pattern irradiation unit on the front surface of the main body, the first and second pattern irradiation units radiating light in a preset pattern towards the front lower side and the front upper side of the main body, respectively. The cleaner includes a camera on the front surface of the main body, for capturing, at a preset interval, an image including a first light pattern and a second light pattern formed by the first and the second pattern irradiation units, respectively. The cleaner includes a control unit for determining whether a first obstacle exists at a location upwardly spaced apart from the floor, using the image captured by the camera.

A contact-type detection electrode for detecting dispersible dirt and a movable electric device are provided. The contact-type detection electrode includes a support, and electrical conductors arranged on the support and being flexible.

A cleaning system comprising a vacuum source, a current sensor, a recovery tank having a shutoff float configured to float on a surface of fluid within the recovery tank, and a controller. The vacuum source is in fluid communication with a suction inlet via first and second air paths within the recovery tank. The shutoff float is further configured to block the first air path upon the fluid within the recovery tank reaching a desired level. The controller is configured to receive, from the current sensor, a signal indicative of the current drawn by the vacuum source. The controller is further configured to determine, based on the current drawn by the vacuum source crossing a threshold, the fluid within the recovery tank has reached the desired level and control an operating element of the cleaning system upon determining the fluid within the recovery tank has reached the desired level.

The present invention discloses an intelligent sweeping robot which is used for detecting whether a foreground object is an obstacle or not according to the extracted foreground object features; marking an area, located by the foreground object, as an obstacle point if a detection result is that the foreground object is the obstacle, and resetting a second sweeping path for avoiding the obstacle point; and further determining a first conditional probability of the foreground object being the obstacle according to the extracted scene features and foreground object features if the detection result is that whether the foreground object is the obstacle or not cannot be determined, determining the foreground object to be the obstacle if the first conditional probability is larger than a preset threshold value, marking the area, located by the foreground object, as the obstacle point, and resetting the second sweeping path for avoiding the obstacle point.

A method for controlling a robot cleaner includes receiving map information and an image transmitted from a further cleaner. The method also includes identifying position information of the further cleaner by comparing the image received from the further cleaner with an image captured by the robot cleaner and performing cleaning while traveling along with the further cleaner.

A cleaning robot include a main body and a cleaning module. The cleaning module includes a box body, at least one driving mechanism, and at least one rotating plate assembly. The box body includes a first connector. The at least one driving mechanism is positioned on a bottom surface of the box body, electrically connected to the first connector, and includes at least one drive shaft. Each rotating plate assembly is connected to a corresponding drive shaft and includes a cleaning surface. The cleaning surface is configured to rotate under the drive of the corresponding drive shaft to clean a to-be cleaned surface. The main body includes a second connector. The box body is detachably positioned on the main body, such that the first connector is connected to or disconnected to the second connector.

A vertical surface cleaning device comprising a main body, a cleaning arm, a cleaning head, and leg mechanisms with grippers. The cleaning head applies a cleaning fluid on a surface to carry out a cleaning operation. A waste collector is provided to collect a waste material arising from the cleaning operation. The grippers may remain in a grip or in a release state. The segments of the leg mechanisms are articulatable to configure a first group of the leg mechanisms to stably hold the main body at a first place with the grippers remaining in the grip state. A second group of the leg mechanisms move in a desired direction with their grippers in release state while the first group stably holds the main body. The first group of the leg mechanisms then moves in the same direction while the second group holds the main body at a second place.

A cleaning robot including a main body; a motion driver configured to move the main body; a pad motor configured to rotate a pad below a bottom surface of the main body; a light source configured to irradiate light to the pad; and at least one processor configured to, based on an amount of reflection of the light from the pad, control rotation speed of the pad motor and/or control the motion driver to return the cleaning robot to a docking station.

A portable surface cleaning apparatus for a floor surface includes a main housing assembly adapted to be hand carried by a user, the main housing assembly carrying a fluid delivery system adapted for storing cleaning fluid and delivering the cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned, and a fluid recovery system adapted for removing the cleaning fluid and debris from the surface to be cleaned and storing the cleaning fluid and debris that was recovered, the main housing assembly comprising a base housing, a supply tank received on the main housing assembly, a recovery tank received on the main housing assembly separately from the supply tank.

A tool that is either hand-guided, or machine-guided, for performing surface treatments, such as mopping, of overhead surfaces includes a head for carrying an agitator having a generally planar face that is applied against the overhead surface being treated in uses. A transmission transmits power from a drive motor to the agitator, and an interface on the head is provided for connection to a mounting device by which the head is oriented and guided.