A robotic cleaning apparatus for performing a cleaning operation and a method of cleaning a cleaning space therefor are provided. The method includes acquiring contamination data indicating a contamination level of the cleaning space, acquiring contamination map data based on the contamination data, determining at least one cleaning target area in the cleaning space, based on a current time and the contamination map data, and cleaning the determined at least one cleaning target area. The method and apparatus may relate to artificial intelligence (AI) systems for mimicking functions of human brains, e.g., cognition and decision, by using a machine learning algorithm such as deep learning, and applications thereof.

A system is comprised of a floor processing device, an object located in the environment of the floor processing device, which has a partial object area and a displacement device for automatically displacing the partial object area, a detection device, which is suitable for detecting a presence of the floor processing device in a detection area of the detection device, and a control device for generating a control command for the displacement device as a function of the detection result of the detection device. In order to prevent a collision with the floor processing device given automatic displacement devices of objects, the control command is suitable for deactivating the displacement device, thereby preventing a displacement of the partial object area even if the floor processing device is present in the detection area.

An information processing method in a server device includes obtaining first information on an object to be sucked by a self-propelled vacuum cleaner, specifying a first article constituted by the object to be sucked based on the first information, specifying a second article relating to the first article based on second information on the first article and third information on an owner of the first article, and outputting fourth information on the specified second article.

A cleaner system includes an autonomous travel type cleaner and an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a first information generator that generates first information about dirt based on a plurality of pieces of image data indicating a floor surface. The cleaner includes an imaging device that images the floor surface. The cleaner system includes a second information generator that generates second information based on image data acquired from the imaging device, a determination unit that determines whether the second information indicates dirt, based on the first information and generates a determination result, and a cleaning controller that changes a cleaning operation on the floor surface on which the second information is acquired, based on the determination result of the determination unit.

An artificial intelligence (AI) device for guiding an arrangement location of an air cleaning device includes a memory to store an air cleaning device arrangement model to infer the arrangement location of the air cleaning device based on information on fine dust in a house and a processor configured to acquire information on a map of the house and information on fine dust distribution in the house, and to determine the arrangement location of the air cleaning device based on the information on the map and the information on the fine dust distribution, by using the air cleaning device arrangement model.

Disclosed herein is an air cleaner disposed in an indoor space. An air cleaner according to an embodiment includes a blowing device including a suction port and a discharge port, a fan motor configured to generate an air flow, a purifying unit installed inside the blowing device to purify air, a driving portion configured to move the air cleaner, a communication unit configured to communicate with a moving agent moving in the indoor space, and a processor configured to receive status information including at least one of air quality information and dust occurrence information collected by the moving agent, determine a specific zone in which air purification is to be performed using the status information collected by the moving agent, and perform air purification in the specific zone.

A cleaning robot according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a traveling motor configured to generate a driving force for traveling; a cleaning module changing unit configured to selectively activate any one of at least one cleaning module; a sensing unit configured to sense characteristics of a floor surface; and a processor configured to perform a cleaning operation of cleaning the floor surface by controlling the cleaning module changing unit to activate any one of the at least one cleaning module based on the sensed characteristics of the floor surface, wherein the processor is configured to: sense characteristics of a contaminant present on the floor surface by using the sensing unit while performing the cleaning operation; and control the cleaning module changing unit to change or maintain the activated cleaning module based on the sensed characteristics of the contaminant.

A method of cleaning a dispenser including a faceplate, comprises emitting light over the surface of the faceplate across the width of the faceplate, measuring an intensity of the light at a plurality of points on the surface of the faceplate after the light has passed over the width, determining, based on the measured light intensity, whether an amount of accumulated formable material on the faceplate is greater than a predetermined value, and in a case that the amount of accumulated formable material is greater than a predetermined value, imparting a suction force on the surface of the faceplate using the vacuum at a distance from the faceplate to remove at least a portion of the accumulated formable material from the surface of the faceplate.

A dirt collector that includes a housing and an air-permeable filter media extending from the housing such that the filter media and housing at least partially define a collection volume. The housing has an inlet opening in fluid communication with the volume and at least a portion of the housing is transmissive of infrared radiation

An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a body, a controller supported by the body, a drive supporting the body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface in response to commands from the controller, and a pad holder attached to an underside of the body to hold a removable cleaning pad during operation of the robot. The pad includes a mounting plate and a mounting surface. The mounting plate is attached to the mounting surface. The robot includes a pad sensor to sense a feature on the pad and to generate a signal based on the feature, which is defined in part by a cutout on the card backing. The mounting plate enables the pad sensor to detect the feature. The controller is responsive to the signal to perform operations including selecting a cleaning mode based on the signal, and controlling the robot according to a selected cleaning mode.