Abstract: A method for operating an autonomous wheeled device, including: obtaining first data indicative of objects within an environment; generating, with a processor of the autonomous wheeled device, a map of the environment using the first data; transmitting, with the processor, first information to an application of a smartphone; proposing, with the application, a suggested schedule for the autonomous wheeled device; receiving, with the processor, second information from the application of the smartphone; and actuating, with the processor, the autonomous wheeled device to operate according to the new schedule or the adjustment to the existing schedule and the suggested schedule, wherein the processor only actuates the autonomous wheeled device to operate according to the suggested schedule after the application receives approval of the suggested schedule.

Abstract: A method for operating a mobile robotic device, including: selecting, by the processor, actions of the mobile robotic device as the mobile robotic device navigates through a workspace, wherein: at least a portion of the actions transitions the mobile robotic device from a current state to a next state; and each state of the mobile robotic device comprises at least a location of the mobile robotic device within the workspace; actuating, by the processor, the mobile robotic device to execute the actions; detecting, by the processor, whether a collision or a stuck event is experienced by the mobile robotic device; and associating, by the processor, a collision or a stuck event to a location within the workspace in which the collision or the stuck event occurred.

Abstract: Provided is a method including obtaining a map of an environment of a robot; maneuvering the robot to a first location and orientation that positions the robot to sense a part of the working environment at a second location of the working environment; sensing, while the robot is at the first location, the part of the physical layout of the working environment at the second location; updating the map of the physical layout of the working environment; determining at least a part of a route plan of the robot through the working environment; and maneuvering the robot along the at least the part of the route plan.

Abstract: Methods for utilizing virtual boundaries with robotic devices are presented including: positioning a boundary component having a receiver pair to receive a first robotic device signal substantially simultaneously by each receiver of the receiver pair from a robotic device only when the robotic device is positioned along a virtual boundary; operating the robotic device to move automatically within an area co-located with the virtual boundary; transmitting the first robotic device signal by the robotic device; and receiving the first robotic device signal by the receiver pair thereby indicating that the robotic device is positioned along the virtual boundary.

Abstract: A removable mop attachment module, including: a reservoir; an opening for filling the reservoir with a fluid; a lid for sealing the opening; at least one drainage aperture positioned on a bottom surface of the reservoir for draining fluid from the at least one drainage aperture; a mopping cloth; a means for holding the mopping cloth; and a pressure actuated valve positioned at least partially inside the reservoir.

Abstract: A removable dustbin for a robotic vacuum that is wholly separable from all electronic parts thereof including a motor unit such that the dustbin, when separated from the electronic parts, may be safely immersed in water for quick and easy cleaning. The dustbin design further facilitates easy access to the motor for convenient servicing and repair.

Abstract: Provided is a method for a robotic device to autonomously overcome obstructions hindering the operational capacity of the robotic device. When a robotic device encounters an obstruction, the robotic device may enact one of a number of predetermined responses to overcome the obstruction without requiring the intervention of an outside entity to assist the robotic device with overcoming the obstruction.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a workspace, including: autonomously moving, with a mechanism of a robot, a cloth of a mopping assembly of the robot upwards and downwards relative to a work surface of the work space. The cloth is disengaged from the work surface when the cloth is moved upwards relative to the work surface such that the cloth is not in contact with the work surface. The cloth is engaged with the work surface when the cloth is moved downwards relative to the work surface such that the cloth is in contact with the work surface. The mechanism moves the cloth of the mopping assembly upwards and downwards relative to the work surface based on input provided by at least one sensor of the robot.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method for configuring fan speeds can include (i) measuring an air temperature at the air intake of a fan that cools a hardware processing unit of a computing device, (ii) adjusting a rotational speed for the fan based on the air temperature at the air intake of the fan and at least one additional parameter measured around the time of measuring the temperature of the air, and (iii) sending, to the fan, an instruction to rotate at the rotational speed. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a method for determining a coverage path of a robotic device, including: capturing, with a sensor, spatial data of the environment; detecting, with a processor, at least one obstacle within the environment based on the spatial data; determining, with the processor, a first working zone within the environment; determining, with the processor, a coverage path within the first working zone that accounts for at least one of the obstacles detected within the first working zone; actuating, with the processor, a robotic device to drive along the coverage path within the first working zone; and wherein the processor determines an adapted coverage path when a new obstacle is detected and wherein the processor actuates the robotic device to drive along the adapted coverage path.

Abstract: A method for autonomously servicing a first cleaning component of a battery-operated mobile device, including: inferring, with a processor of the mobile device, a value of at least one environmental characteristic based on sensor data captured by a sensor disposed on the mobile device; actuating, with a controller of the mobile device, a first actuator interacting with the first cleaning component to at least one of: turn on, turn off, reverse direction, and increase or decrease in speed such that the first cleaning component engages or disengages based on the value of at least one environmental characteristic or at least one user input received by an application of a smartphone paired with the mobile device; and dispensing, by a maintenance station, water from a clean water container of the maintenance station for washing the first cleaning component when the mobile device is docked at the maintenance station.

Abstract: Provided is a system including a robot and an application of a communication device. The robot includes a medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor of the robot effectuate operations including: obtaining first data indicative of a relative position of the robot in a workspace; actuating the robot to drive within the workspace to form a map including mapped perimeters that correspond with physical perimeters of the workspace while obtaining second data indicative of movement of the robot; and forming the map of the workspace based on at least some of the first data, wherein the map of the workspace expands as new first data are obtained, until all perimeters of the workspace are included in the map. The application is configured to display information, such as the map, and receive user input.

Abstract: Included is a method for a first robotic device to collaborate with a second robotic device, including: actuating, with a processor of the first robotic device, the first robotic device to execute a first part of a cleaning task; transmitting, with the processor of the first robotic device, information to a processor of the second robotic device upon completion of the first part of the cleaning task; receiving, with the processor of the second robotic device, the information transmitted from the processor of the first robotic device; and actuating, with the processor of the second robotic device, the second robotic device to execute a second part of the cleaning task upon receiving the signal; wherein the first robotic device and the second robotic device are surface cleaning robotic devices with a functionality comprising at least one of vacuuming and mopping.

Abstract: Provided is a robot, including: a plurality of sensors; a processor; a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuates operations including: capturing, with an image sensor, images of a workspace as the robot moves within the workspace; identifying, with the processor, at least one characteristic of at least one object captured in the images of the workspace; determining, with the processor, an object type of the at least one object based on characteristics of different types of objects stored in an object dictionary, wherein possible object types comprise a type of clothing, a cord, a type of pet bodily waste, and a shoe; and instructing, with the processor, the robot to execute at least one action based on the object type of the at least one object.

Abstract: Some aspects include a method for operating a robot in a workspace, including: capturing, with an image sensor, image data of the workspace including objects within the workspace as the robot moves within the workspace; identifying, with a processor of the robot, at least one characteristic in the image data, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises one of: an edge, a shape, and a color; determining, with the processor, an object type of an object; and instructing, with the processor, the robot to execute at least one action based on the at least one characteristic, wherein the at least one action comprises one of: driving along a modified path and driving around the object.

Abstract: A robotic cleaner executing operations such as capturing data indicative of locations of objects in a workspace through which the robot moves; generating or updating a map of at least a part of the workspace based on at least the data; and navigating based on the map or an updated map of the workspace. The robotic cleaner may include a side brush with a main body with at least one attachment point and at least one bundle of bristles attached to the at least one attachment point of the main body.

Abstract: A robot for transporting items, including: a chassis; a cavity within which items are stored for transportation; a set of wheels coupled to the chassis; a control system to actuate movement of the set of wheels; a power supply; at least one sensor; a processor electronically coupled to the control system and the at least one sensor; and a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuates operations including: capturing, with the at least one sensor, data of an environment and data indicative of movement of the robot; generating or updating, with the processor, a map of the environment based on at least a portion of the captured data; inferring, with the processor, a current location of the robot; and actuating, with the processor, the robot to execute a transportation task.

Abstract: Some aspects include a schedule development method for a robotic floor-cleaning device that recognizes patterns in user input to automatically devise a work schedule.

Abstract: A robot configured to perceive a model of an environment, including: a chassis; a set of wheels; a plurality of sensors; a processor; and memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuates operations including: capturing a plurality of data while the robot moves within the environment; perceiving the model of the environment based on at least a portion of the plurality of data, the model being a top view of the environment; storing the model of the environment in a memory accessible to the processor; and transmitting the model of the environment and a status of the robot to an application of a smartphone previously paired with the robot.

Abstract: A method for an autonomous robot to empty refuse. A sensor positioned on the robot captures sensor data of an environment of the robot as the robot navigates within the environment and a processor of the robot generates a map of the environment based on at least the sensor data. The processor receives a schedule for emptying refuse stored in a container of the robot at a refuse collection location from an application of a communication device. The processor determines a path of the robot from a storage location of the robot to the refuse collection location and actuates the robot to autonomously drive along the path according to the schedule.