An embodiment of the present invention provides an artificial intelligence (AI) robot for determining a cleaning route using sensor data, comprising: a sensor unit including at least one of an image sensor, a depth sensor or a shock sensor; a cleaning unit including at least one of a suction unit or a mopping unit; a driving unit configured to drive the AI robot; and a processor configured to: acquire the sensor data from the sensor unit, determine a complex area using the acquired sensor data, create a virtual wall for blocking an entry into the determined complex area, determine the cleaning route in consideration of the created virtual wall, and control the cleaning unit and the driving unit based on the determined cleaning route.

A mobile cleaning robot that includes a drive system configured to navigate around an operational environment, a ranging device configured to communicate with other ranging devices of respective electronic devices that are in the operational environment, and processors in communication with the ranging device that are configured to receive a distance measurement from the respective electronic devices present in the operational environment, each distance measurement representing a distance between the mobile cleaning robot and a respective electronic device, tag each of the distance measurements with location data indicative of a spatial location of the mobile cleaning robot in the operational environment, determine spatial locations of each of the electronic devices in the operational environment, and populate a visual representation of the operating environment with visual indications of the electronic devices in the operating environment.

An automatic guiding method for a self-propelled apparatus (10) is provided. The self-propelled apparatus (10) turns and irradiates when a signal light emitted by a charging dock (20) is sensed by a flank sensor (103), and changes its turn direction when another different signal light from the charging dock (20) is sensed by a forward sensor (102). The charging dock (20) switches to emit another signal light different from the signal light currently emitted when each time is triggered by the signal light emitted by the self-propelled apparatus (10). Repeatedly execute the above actions and make the self-propelled apparatus approach the light-emitting unit (202) until the self-propelled apparatus (10) reaches a charging position. It can accurately guide the self-propelled apparatus (10) to the charging position by arranging only two sensors on the self-propelled apparatus.

An Ionization unit (7) for cleaning air in a room (1) with a ceiling (3) and a floor (5), comprising an ionizer (19) configured to electrically charge particles in the air; and a support unit (13) configured to enable the ionization unit (7) to be positioned at a distance of at least 50 centimeters above the floor (5) of the room (1), wherein the support unit (13) allows the ionization unit (7) to travel within the room (1) while being distanced from the floor (5).

An air cleaner disposed in an indoor space is disclosed. The air cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a blowing device including a suction port and a discharging port, a fan motor configured to cause air flow, a purification unit installed in the blowing device to clean air, a flow conversion configured to change a flow direction of air discharged from the discharging port, a communication unit configured to communicate with a moving agent moving in the indoor space, and a processor configured to receive feature information collected by the moving agent and associated with a structure of the indoor space, obtain a type of the indoor space by using the feature information, and control an operation of at least one of the fan motor and the flow conversion device by using the type of the indoor space to adjust at least one of an operation mode, a wind direction, and a wind volume.

A floor cleaner can include a housing adapted for movement over a surface to be cleaned and at least one edge cleaning brush provided on the housing. The edge cleaning brush includes multiple cleaning implements which rotate at different velocities. A gear system, such as a planetary gear system, can drive one cleaning implement at a lower speed than another cleaning implement.

A robot cleaner includes a body to travel on a floor; an obstacle sensing unit to sense an obstacle approaching the body; an auxiliary cleaning unit pivotably mounted to a bottom of the body, to be extendable and retractable; and a control unit to control extension or retraction of the auxiliary cleaning unit based on a pivot angle formed by the auxiliary cleaning unit with respect to a travel direction of the body when the obstacle is sensed.

The present invention relates to an autonomously operable vacuum cleaner that has a modular design. The vacuum cleaner in this respect comprises a cleaning head module as well as a separate canister module. The cleaning head module and the canister module are in this respect connected to one another via a hose so that dust sucked in via the cleaning head module can be conveyed into the canister module.

A guide-type virtual wall system is provided. The system comprises a beacon (11, 44) and a robot (12), wherein a transmission module of the beacon (11, 44) directionally transmits a first signal, and an area covered by the first signal defines a beacon signal area (13). The robot (12) comprises a beacon signal receiving module corresponding to the beacon signal transmission module. When the robot (12) enters the beacon signal area (13) and the beacon signal receiving module detects the first signal, the robot (12) advances towards the direction of the beacon (11, 44) until it detects a second signal, and then the robot (12) crosses over or exits from the beacon signal area (13). The system can restrict the robot (12) from entering a certain area, wherein the area where a virtual wall is located is not missed, and the robot (12) is also enabled to cross over the virtual wall to enter the restricted area when required.

The present invention is a mobile robot with an attached cleaning element and capable of autonomously seeking areas with low overhead clearance. In the preferred embodiment is a mobile robot using an array of upward facing distance sensors in communication with a controller to detect the presence of obstructions or surfaces above the apparatus. The controller directs the movements of the mobile robot through the use of a drive system, using pattern recognition to avoid becoming stuck and using random movements to increase floor coverage.