Systems and methods are provided for determining obstacle-free paths of an areal vehicle in a warehouse and for determining shortcuts to be generated in the warehouse to increase the number of obstacle-free paths available to the areal vehicle. The systems and methods include predicting at least one location of an inventory moving device in the warehouse based on the status of received inventory moving tasks, and determining an obstacle-free path of an aerial vehicle to a desired location in the warehouse based on the predicted at least one location of the inventory moving device. The systems and methods also include receiving inventory validation tasks in a warehouse comprising a plurality of storage racks, requesting, based on the received inventory validation tasks, a shortcut to be generated in a storage rack of the plurality of storage racks to provide a path segment for performing the inventory validation task.

A method for controlling a flight-capable drone in an elevator shaft of an elevator system uses an elevator system inspection arrangement configured for carrying out the method. The method comprises the following steps: receiving elevator shaft segment information provided by the elevator system that indicates which volume segment of the elevator shaft is currently designated to be off-limits for the drone; and controlling the drone along a flight path automatically determined by the drone, wherein the drone determines the flight path such that the drone travels exclusively outside of the volume segment designated as off-limits for the drone, wherein the drone determines the flight path taking into account the received elevator shaft segment information. By exchanging the elevator shaft segment information with the elevator system, the drone is able to initiate evasive maneuvers in good time in order to prevent collisions with fast-moving components of the elevator system.

A method for controlling a flight-capable drone in an elevator shaft of an elevator system uses an elevator system inspection arrangement configured for carrying out the method. The method comprises the following steps: receiving elevator shaft segment information provided by the elevator system that indicates which volume segment of the elevator shaft is currently designated to be off-limits for the drone; and controlling the drone along a flight path automatically determined by the drone, wherein the drone determines the flight path such that the drone travels exclusively outside of the volume segment designated as off-limits for the drone, wherein the drone determines the flight path taking into account the received elevator shaft segment information. By exchanging the elevator shaft segment information with the elevator system, the drone is able to initiate evasive maneuvers in good time in order to prevent collisions with fast-moving components of the elevator system.

A localization system comprises: a device; a master unit which wirelessly transmits a first localization signal; a plurality of lateration units distributed about the area within which the device is being localized, wherein each lateration unit of the plurality independently starts its own timer upon its receipt of the first localization signal; and a localization unit. The device receives the first localization signal and responsively wirelessly transmits a second localization signal. Each of the lateration units: independently receives the second localization signal; stops its respective timer responsive to receipt of the second localization signal; and wirelessly transmits a timer count signal to a localization unit. The timer count signal identifies the transmitting lateration unit and a count of its respective timer. The localization unit utilizes the plurality of timer along with respective distances between the master unit and the lateration units to localize the first device via time-of-flight lateration.

Disclosed are a method for extricating a pool cleaning robot from a stuck state and a pool cleaning robot. The method includes: controlling the pool cleaning robot to travel in a pool to perform a cleaning operation; acquiring an operating parameter of the pool cleaning robot during the traveling, and determining whether the pool cleaning robot is stuck due to being suspended according to the operating parameter; if it is determined that the pool cleaning robot is stuck due to being suspended, performing an extrication action; as example, the extrication action includes adjusting a magnitude and/or direction of the driving force of the pool cleaning robot. It can be detected the situation in which the pool cleaning robot is stuck due to being suspended, thus improving the ability of the extrication.

Disclosed are a method for extricating a pool cleaning robot from a stuck state and a pool cleaning robot. The method includes: controlling the pool cleaning robot to travel in a pool to perform a cleaning operation; acquiring an operating parameter of the pool cleaning robot during the traveling, and determining whether the pool cleaning robot is stuck due to being suspended according to the operating parameter; if it is determined that the pool cleaning robot is stuck due to being suspended, performing an extrication action; as example, the extrication action includes adjusting a magnitude and/or direction of the driving force of the pool cleaning robot. It can be detected the situation in which the pool cleaning robot is stuck due to being suspended, thus improving the ability of the extrication.

A wall climbing method for an underwater cleaning device and an underwater cleaning device are disclosed. When the underwater cleaning device is about to start or has started wall climbing, a forward end of the device is caused to be slightly lifted or tend to be slightly lifted.

A wall climbing method for an underwater cleaning device and an underwater cleaning device are disclosed. When the underwater cleaning device is about to start or has started wall climbing, a forward end of the device is caused to be slightly lifted or tend to be slightly lifted.