Systems and methods for training a robot to autonomously travel a route. In one embodiment, a robot can detect an initial placement in an initialization location. Beginning from the initialization location, the robot can create a map of a navigable route and surrounding environment during a user-controlled demonstration of the navigable route. After the demonstration, the robot can later detect a second placement in the initialization location, and then autonomously navigate the navigable route. The robot can then subsequently detect errors associated with the created map. Methods and systems associated with the robot are also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling a robot cleaner comprising a pair of rotary plates having lower sides to which mops facing a floor surface are coupled, the robot cleaner being configured to move by rotating the pair of rotary plates, the method including: a first movement step of allowing the robot cleaner to start from a predetermined starting point on the floor surface and move by a predetermined distance; a second movement step of moving the robot cleaner to the starting point after the first movement step; and a direction change step of rotating the robot cleaner by a predetermined direction change angle, such that the robot cleaner may precisely clean the circular cleaning region while repeatedly moving in the circular cleaning region.

A floor cleaner including a base movable over a surface to be cleaned, a suction nozzle provided on the base having a suction inlet, a body portion having a fluid dispensing member selectively removable from the body portion, the body portion being pivotally mounted to the base movable between an upright storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position, a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, and a reservoir configured to provide solution. The fluid dispensing member includes a grip, a dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir, and an actuator. The fluid dispensing member is configured to deliver solution from the reservoir through the dispensing nozzle upon user actuation of the actuator, independent of function of the base and body of the floor cleaner.

A floor cleaning machine having an intelligent system including a recovery tank sub-assembly, a vacuum fan sub-assembly, a solution tank sub-assembly, wherein the solution tank sub-assembly preferably includes a secondary electrochemical cell, a solution flow sub-assembly, a control console sub-assembly, a frame and wheel sub-assembly and/or a frame and transaxle sub-assembly, a scrub head sub-assembly, a scrub head lift sub-assembly, a squeegee sub-assembly, a solution flow sub-assembly, and an intelligent system associated with at least one of the above-identified sub-assemblies, wherein the intelligent system at least one of selectively gathers, obtains, monitors, stores, records, and analyzes data associated with components of the floor cleaning machine assembly, and at least one of controllably communicates and disseminates such data with at least one of another system and user.

A self-propelled, self-steering floor cleaning appliance is provided with at least one cleaning element for cleaning a floor surface, including a drive device having an undercarriage, a sensing part for sensing obstacles, at least one displaceable holding part for holding the sensing part on the floor cleaning appliance and at least one detection element for detecting a displacement of the at least one holding part and for providing a signal relating thereto. The floor cleaning appliance includes at least one accommodating part on which the at least one holding part is held so as to be displaceable in a first and a second direction of displacement, which is aligned at an angle to the first direction of displacement, and the at least one detection element is actuatable by the at least one holding part upon displacement of the holding part in the first and in the second directions of displacement.

A mobile robot configured to travel across a residential floor or other surface while cleaning the surface with a cleaning pad and cleaning solvent is disclosed. The robot includes a controller for managing the movement of the robot as well as the treatment of the surface with a cleaning solvent. The movement of the robot can be characterized by a class of trajectories that achieve effective cleaning. The trajectories include sequences of steps that are repeated, the sequences including forward and backward motion and optional left and right motion along arcuate paths.

A cleaning robot includes a chassis, a drive system connected to the chassis and configured to drive the robot, a signal generator and sensor carried by the chassis, and a controller in communication with the drive system and the sensor. The signal generator directs a signal toward the floor surface. The sensor is responsive to reflected signals from the floor surface. The controller controls the drive system to alter direction of the robot responsive to a reflected signal indicating an edge of the floor surface.

A robot cleaner comprising: a cleaner body including a wheel unit and a controller controlling driving of the wheel unit a suction unit disposed in the cleaner body, the suction unit sucking air containing dust and a sensing unit disposed at the front of the cleaner body in which the suction unit is disposed, wherein the sensing unit includes a first sensing part disposed respectively inclined with respect to side and top surfaces at an upper corner portion of the cleaner body to simultaneously photograph front and upper parts of the cleaner body.

A robot cleaner comprising: a cleaner body including a dust container accommodation part formed to be recessed toward the front from the rear thereof; a suction unit mounted in the cleaner body to suck air containing dust; a dust container accommodated in the dust container accommodation part, the dust container collecting dust filtered from sucked air; and an exhaust port formed at an end portion of one rear side of the cleaner body, which surrounds the dust container accommodation part, to discharge filtered air to the outside, the exhaust port disposed along the height direction of the cleaner body.

A robot cleaner comprising: a cleaner body including a controller, the cleaner body having a dust container accommodation part formed therein; a wheel unit mounted in the cleaner body, the wheel unit of which driving is controlled by the controller; a suction unit mounted in the cleaner body to suck air containing dust; a dust container detachably coupled to the dust container accommodation part, the dust container filtering and collecting dust from sucked air; and a dust container cover including a hinge part rotatably coupled to the cleaner body, the dust container cover detachably coupled to the dust container to cover a top surface of the dust container.