In general, the present disclosure is directed to a time of flight (ToF) sensor arrangement that may be utilized by a robot (e.g., a robot vacuum) to identify and detect objects in a surrounding environment for mapping and localization purposes. In an embodiment, a robot is disclosed that includes a plurality of ToF sensors disposed about a housing of the robot. Two or more ToF sensors may be angled/aligned to establish overlapping field of views to form redundant detection regions around the robot. Objects that appear therein may then be detected by the robot and utilized to positively identify, e.g., with a high degree of confidence, the presence of the object. The identified objects may then be utilized as data points by the robot to build/update a map. The identified objects may also be utilized during pose routines that allow the robot to orient itself within the map.

A cleaning method and a cleaning robot are provided. The method includes: after the cleaning robot obtains a cleaning instruction for a target scene, acquiring a current power of the cleaning robot and a scene map for the target scene; if it is determined that the current power is insufficient to clean all areas to be cleaned in the target scene, determining a target cleaning area from all the areas to be cleaned in the target scene, based on a target dirtiness level for each of the areas to be cleaned; cleaning the target cleaning area based on the scene map, the target dirtiness level for the target cleaning area and the current power. A more intelligent cleaning robot and a more reasonable cleaning process are realized.

A cleaner performing autonomous traveling includes a main body, a driving unit moving the main body, a battery supplying power to the driving unit, a communication unit performing communication with a charging station to charge the battery, a sensor sensing a signal emitted from the charging station, and a controller controlling the driving unit such that the main body is docked to the charging station on the basis of the signal sensed by the sensor, wherein when the main body starts to move to dock to the charging station, the controller determines a kind of the signal sensed by the sensor and controls the driving unit such that the main body moves along a traveling path corresponding to a circle centered on a predetermined point on the basis of the determined kind of the signal.

There is provided an optical engine for a navigation device including a first light source, a second light source, a lens, a barrier structure and an image sensor. The barrier structure has a first space for containing the first light source, a second space for containing the lens and a third space for containing the second light source and the image sensor. The reflected light associated with the first light source propagates to the image sensor via the lens in the second space. The reflected light associated with the second light source propagates to the image sensor via the third space without passing through the lens in the second space.

Provided is a robot including main and peripheral brushes; a first actuator; a first sensor; one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors effectuate operations including: determining a first location of the robot in a working environment; obtaining, with the first sensor or another sensor, first data indicative of an environmental characteristic of the first location; adjusting a first operational parameter of the first actuator based on the sensed first data to cause the first operational parameter to be in a first adjusted state while the robot is at the first location; and forming or updating a debris map of the working environment based on data output by the first sensor or the another sensor configured to collect data indicative of an existence of debris on a floor of the working environment over at least one cleaning session.

A robotic cleaner may include a body, an optical receiver, the optical receiver being configured to detect an optical signal generated by an external device, and an optical pattern generator configured to emit light according to an optical pattern that extends at least partially around the body, wherein, when the optical pattern intersects an obstacle, at least a portion of the light incident on the obstacle is reflected towards the optical receiver, the optical receiver being configured to detect the reflected light.

The embodiment of the present disclosure provides a robot control method, a robot and a storage medium. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the robot determines a position when the robot is released from being hijacked based on relocalization operation; determines a task execution area according to environmental information around the position when the robot is released from being hijacked; and afterwards executes a task within the task execution area. Thus, the robot may flexibly determine the task execution area according to the environment in which the robot is released from being hijacked, without returning to the position when the robot is hijacked, to continue to execute the task, then acting according to local conditions is realized and the user requirements may be met as much as possible.

Provided are a robot cleaner and a method for controlling the same, which are capable of determining the presence or absence of a liquid based on an image captured by a camera. The robot cleaner includes a cleaner body including a traveling part, a camera provided on one surface of the cleaner body and configured to acquire an image of surroundings of the cleaner body, and a controller provided in the cleaner body and configured to control the traveling part. The controller is configured to divide an image acquired by the camera into a plurality of images with respect to a reference line, and determine the presence or absence of a liquid based on two or more images among the plurality of divided images.

A robot vacuum cleaner and a control method therefor are disclosed. A robot vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an acceleration change sensor module and a distance sensor module. Each piece of detected information is transmitted to an obstacle-passing information calculation module. The obstacle-passing information calculation module uses each piece of transmitted information so as to calculate information about whether an obstacle is present on one side of the robot vacuum cleaner and information about whether the robot vacuum cleaner can pass the obstacle on the one side. When the inability of the robot vacuum cleaner to pass the obstacle on the one side is calculated, a power module is driven so that the robot vacuum cleaner avoids the obstacle. Therefore, the robot vacuum cleaner can be prevented from going on an obstacle such as a carpet. In addition, the robot vacuum cleaner can be prevented from passing an obstacle such as a door sill so as not to leave a cleaning area.

A robot cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a light receiving sensor configured to measure a brightness of a floor surface; an illumination part configured to irradiate the floor surface with light; a rotation device connected to the illumination part and configured to adjust a rotational angle of the illumination part; an capturing part configured to capture an image of the floor surface; a memory part that stores the image of the floor surface captured by the capturing part; a driving part including an electric motor and wheels; a vacuum suction part configured to perform a vacuum suction by being supplied with power from the electric motor; and a control part. The control part determines an operation in a capturing mode in the capturing mode and a cleaning mode when a value input from the light receiving sensor is determined to be equal to or lower than a predetermined value.