A robotic device for providing vertical mobility has a payload is disposed inside a central compartment and supported by a skid. The skid can move up and down through latch and hook pairs to keep intimate contact with the surface and cross over bumps. The apparatus uses a flexible seal to create a reliable vacuum chamber. The flexible seal comprises a foam ring inside fabric pocket. A plurality of rod and spring strips are configured to apply a downward force to the flexible seal to conform with surface curvatures. The fabric pocket fills in the gaps or seams to maintain a vacuum. The air flows inside a manifold and passes through a filter to avoid debris from damaging the vacuum motor assembly.

Buoyant, autonomous devices for actively scrubbing upstanding walls of swimming pools and spas at and nearby their waterlines are detailed. The devices may be configured to float on and travel along a surface of water of a pool and include at least one brush or scrubber adapted to contact pool walls. An electric motor may cause the scrubber to rotate about a shaft or axle, with frictional contact between the scrubber and the wall dislodging dirt and debris therefrom. In particular, if a scrubber is conically shaped and angled relative to the vertical direction, its rotating blades may lift water from the pool to hydrate dried debris stuck to the wall, thereby facilitating dislodging of the debris.

Buoyant, autonomous devices for actively scrubbing upstanding walls of swimming pools and spas at and nearby their waterlines are detailed. The devices may be configured to float on and travel along a surface of water of a pool and include at least one brush or scrubber adapted to contact pool walls. An electric motor may cause the scrubber to rotate about a shaft or axle, with frictional contact between the scrubber and the wall dislodging dirt and debris therefrom. In particular, if a scrubber is conically shaped and angled relative to the vertical direction, its rotating blades may lift water from the pool to hydrate dried debris stuck to the wall, thereby facilitating dislodging of the debris.

A method for cleaning a wall body with a UAV includes obtaining a path to be cleaned; flying to a region to be cleaned according to the path to be cleaned; recognizing a wall surface in the region to be cleaned; and using a cleaning device carried by the UAV to clean the wall surface.

A method for cleaning a wall body with a UAV includes obtaining a path to be cleaned; flying to a region to be cleaned according to the path to be cleaned; recognizing a wall surface in the region to be cleaned; and using a cleaning device carried by the UAV to clean the wall surface.

A reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus is provided.

A reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus has a surface cleaning head, a support structure moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position and a portable cleaning unit removably mountable to the support structure. The support structure has a pair of laterally extending portions and the portable cleaning unit has a first mounting member comprising mating grooves which slideably receive the laterally extending portions when the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure.

A robotic device for providing vertical mobility has a payload is disposed inside a central compartment and supported by a skid. The skid can move up and down through latch and hook pairs to keep intimate contact with the surface and cross over bumps. The apparatus uses a flexible seal to create a reliable vacuum chamber. The flexible seal comprises a foam ring inside fabric pocket. A plurality of rod and spring strips are configured to apply a downward force to the flexible seal to conform with surface curvatures. The fabric pocket fills in the gaps or seams to maintain a vacuum. The air flows inside a manifold and passes through a filter to avoid debris from damaging the vacuum motor assembly.

A robotic device for working on a surface includes a body including: a tool for working on the surface; a controller moving the body along the surface; a first set of at least two rotors mounted to the body and generating thrust in a first direction towards the surface; and a second set of at least two rotors mounted to the body and generating thrust in a second direction away from the surface. A sensor measures a distance between the body and the surface, and a computer adjusts the first set of rotors and the second set of rotors in response to the sensor to place the body in position to work on the surface. In particular, the first set of rotors and the second set of rotors generate a net force on the body to it in non-contact position to work on the surface.

A solar or photovoltaic system comprises a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface of the solar or photovoltaic system, wherein the surface to be cleaned is tilted or tiltable respect to the horizontal. The cleaning apparatus is configured to carry out a cleaning process to clean the surface in which at least one cleaning element moves downward over the tilted surface driven by gravity.