Provided is a method for operating a robot, including capturing images of a workspace, comparing at least one object from the captured images to objects in an object dictionary, identifying a class to which the at least one object belongs using an object classification unit, instructing the robot to execute at least one action based on the object class identified, capturing movement data of the robot, and generating a planar representation of the workspace based on the captured images and the movement data, wherein the captured images indicate a position of the robot relative to objects within the workspace and the movement data indicates movement of the robot.

An upright surface cleaning apparatus, such as an upright vacuum cleaner, is provided wherein the upright section is moveable sideways about a pivot axis wherein the pivot axis is angled forwardly and downwardly. In other embodiments, a surface cleaning head is provided which is moveable sideways and is biased to the centered position. In other embodiments, a surface cleaning head is moveable sideways and is provided with a detent mechanism to inhibit sideways movement when in the storage position. In other embodiments, a surface cleaning apparatus is also provided which alternately uses a cleaning head adapted to receive a cloth or a traditional surface cleaning head.

The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, a debris collection device for an autonomous cleaning robot includes a cleaning pad portion configured to contact a floor surface. The cleaning pad portion includes a backing and at least one cleaning pad connected to a bottom surface of the backing. The autonomous cleaning robot includes a vacuum bag portion configured to collect at least a portion of debris removed from the floor surface by a vacuum assembly of the autonomous cleaning robot. A volume of the vacuum bag portion is positioned vertically above the cleaning pad portion.

Provided is a robot, including: a chassis; a set of wheels coupled to the chassis; a processor; and a tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuate operations including: capturing, by an image sensor disposed on a robot, images of a workspace; obtaining, by the processor of the robot or via the cloud, the captured images; comparing, by the processor of the robot or via the cloud, at least one object from the captured images to objects in an object dictionary; identifying, by the processor of the robot or via the cloud, a class to which the at least one object belongs using an object classification unit; and instructing, by the processor of the robot, the robot to execute at least one action based on the object class identified.

A method for identifying objects for autonomous robots, including: capturing, with an image sensor disposed on an autonomous robot, images of a workspace, wherein a field of view of the image sensor captures at least an area in front of the autonomous robot; obtaining, with a processing unit disposed on the autonomous robot, the images; generating, with the processing unit, a feature vector from the images; comparing, with the processing unit, at least one object captured in the images to objects in an object dictionary; identifying, with the processing unit, a class to which the at least one object belongs; and executing, with the autonomous robot, instructions based on the class of the at least one object identified.

A hand vacuum cleaner and a mounting structure for the hand vacuum cleaner. The mounting structure has a base which is free standing on a floor and an upper portion comprising an air flow duct and a mounting apparatus provided at an upper end of the upper portion. The mounting apparatus has first and second laterally opposed first engagement members. The hand vacuum cleaner has first and second laterally opposed second engagement members. The hand vacuum cleaner is downwardly removably mountable to the mounting apparatus and the first and second engagement members are slideably interengagable. As the hand vacuum cleaner is moved downwardly to be mounted to the mounting apparatus, the first and second engagement members slideably interengage.

The present disclosure relates to a liquid container and an autonomous cleaning robot. The liquid container may include a container case and a cleaning cloth that is removable and mounted on the container case. The cleaning cloth may include a first guiding member disposed thereon. The container case may include a second guiding member. The first guiding member and the second guiding member cooperate with each other to define an assembly direction of the cleaning cloth. The cleaning cloth can be installed correctly by defining the assembly direction of the first guiding member and the second guiding member.

Methods and apparatus for cleaning a surface with a cleaning device having a body with a handle, a connector, and one or more cleaning heads that are removably attached to the cleaning device. Each cleaning head include a lower surface arranged to contact a surface to be cleaned and a dirt collection chamber permanently attached to the cleaning head. The cleaning head may include a support structure to support the dirt collection chamber and a cleaning sheet. The cleaning head also may include a suction nozzle. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be made of a filter material.

A replacement head for a vacuum device includes a plastic tray, a filter and a pad. The plastic tray includes a dust chamber that has a sealing surface and at least one opening. The opening is provided to allow air, dust and debris to be drawn into the dust chamber during use. The sealing surface defines a sealing surface plane and the opening defines an opening place. The relative angle between the sealing surface plane and the opening plane is preferably between about −20 degrees and +150 degrees. The pad is attached to the lower side of the plastic tray and is in contact with the floor during cleaning. The filter is connected to the plastic tray such that the filter substantially covers a top opening in the dust chamber.

Methods and apparatus for cleaning a surface with a cleaning device having a body with a handle, a connector, and one or more cleaning heads that are removably attached to the cleaning device. Each cleaning head include a lower surface arranged to contact a surface to be cleaned and a dirt collection chamber permanently attached to the cleaning head. The cleaning head may include a support structure to support the dirt collection chamber and a cleaning sheet. The cleaning head also may include a suction nozzle. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be made of a filter material.