Abstract: A mobile surface cleaning robot including a robot body having a forward drive direction, a drive system supporting the robot body above a floor surface for maneuvering the robot across the floor surface, and a robot controller in communication with the drive system. The robot also includes a collection volume supported by the robot body and a cleaning module releasably supported by the robot body and arranged to clean the floor surface. The cleaning module includes a first vacuum squeegee having a first duct, a driven roller brush rotatably supported rearward of the first vacuum squeegee, a second vacuum squeegee disposed rearward of the roller brush and having a second duct, and a third duct in fluid communication with the first and second ducts. The third duct is connectable to the collection volume at a fluid-tight interface formed by selectively engaging the cartridge with the robot body.

Abstract: A method of operating a robot includes electronically receiving images and augmenting the images by overlaying a representation of the robot on the images. The robot representation includes user-selectable portions. The method includes electronically displaying the augmented images and receiving an indication of a selection of at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation. The method also includes electronically displaying an intent to command the selected at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation, receiving an input representative of a user interaction with at least one user-selectable portion, and issuing a command to the robot based on the user interaction.

Abstract: A robot includes a robot body having forward and rearward portions, a sonar system, a drive system, and a control system. The sonar system is disposed on the robot body and has an array of emitters and an array of receivers arranged along a forward surface of the forward portion of the robot body. The emitters emit a sound wave and the receivers receive reflections of the sound wave. The array of emitters includes an odd number of emitters and the array of receivers includes an even number of receivers. The drive system supports the robot body and is configured to maneuver the robot across a floor surface along a path. The control system is supports by the robot body and is in communication with the drive system and the sonar system. The control system processes sensor signals received from the array of receivers.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An articulated vehicle including a main frame, a drive system disposed on the main frame, and at least one arm having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the at least one arm being pivotally coupled to the main frame and the distal end being pivotable above the surface. The vehicle also including an articulator motor disposed on the main frame and coupled to the at least one arm for pivoting the at least one arm above the surface and about the transverse axis, and a slip clutch coupled between the articulator motor and the at least one front arm for enabling rotation of the at least one front arm without rotation of the articulator drive motor when a torque between the at least one front arm and the main frame exceeds a threshold torque.

Abstract: Vector Field SLAM is a method for localizing a mobile robot in an unknown environment from continuous signals such as WiFi or active beacons. Disclosed is a technique for localizing a robot in relatively large and/or disparate areas. This is achieved by using and managing more signal sources for covering the larger area. One feature analyzes the complexity of Vector Field SLAM with respect to area size and number of signals and then describe an approximation that decouples the localization map in order to keep memory and run-time requirements low. A tracking method for re-localizing the robot in the areas already mapped is also disclosed. This allows to resume the robot after is has been paused or kidnapped, such as picked up and moved by a user. Embodiments of the invention can comprise commercial low-cost products including robots for the autonomous cleaning of floors.

Abstract: A debris monitoring system includes a receptacle, a first and a second emitter, and a first receiver. The receptacle defines an opening to receive debris into the receptacle. The first and second emitter are each arranged to emit a signal across at least a portion of the opening. The first receiver is proximate to the first emitter to receive reflections of the signal emitted by the first emitter, and the first receiver is disposed toward the opening to receive an unreflected portion of the signal emitted by the second emitter across at least a portion of the opening.

Abstract: A mobile robot includes a processor connected to a memory and a wireless network circuit, for executing routines stored in the memory and commands generated by the routines and received via the wireless network circuit. The processor drives the mobile robot to a multiplicity of accessible two dimensional locations within a household, and commands an end effector, including at least one motorized actuator, to perform mechanical work in the household. A plurality of routines include a first routine which monitors a wireless local network and detects a presence of a network entity on the wireless local network, a second routine which receives a signal from a sensor detecting an action state of one of the network entities, the action state changeable between waiting and active, and a third routine which commands the end effector to change state of performing mechanical work based on the presence and on the action state.

Abstract: A method of operating a robot includes receiving image data from an image capture device of the robot. The image data is representative of a glyph viewed by the image capture device on the display of a computing device within a field of view of the image capture device. The method further includes determining, at a controller, a command message based on the glyph represented in the image data and issuing a command to at least one resource or component of the robot based on the command message.

Abstract: A transmission assembly comprises: a motor; a shift actuator mechanism coupled to the motor; a sun gear coupled to an output shaft of the motor; a first magnet assembly coupled to the sun gear; a ring gear assembly coupled to a shift coupler, the shift coupler being configured to engage via the shift actuator mechanism; a second magnet assembly coupled to a housing face plate, the housing face plate being coupled to an output gear box; and a planet carrier coupled to an output pinion in communication with the output gearbox. The planet carrier comprises at least one planet gear. In a first mode, the ring gear is locked to the first magnet assembly and configured to rotate with the sun gear, the ring gear being configured to prevent the rotation of the at least one planet gear about its own axis causing the planet carrier to rotate at the same speed as the sun gear.

Abstract: A navigational control system for an autonomous robot includes a transmitter subsystem having a stationary emitter for emitting at least one signal. An autonomous robot operating within a working area utilizes a receiving subsystem to detect the emitted signal. The receiver subsystem has a receiver for detecting the emitted signal emitted by the emitter and a processor for determining a relative location of the robot within the working area upon the receiver detecting the signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for carpet drift estimation are disclosed. In certain implementations, a robotic device includes an actuator system to move the body across a surface. A first set of sensors can sense an actuation characteristic of the actuator system. For example, the first set of sensors can include odometry sensors for sensing wheel rotations of the actuator system. A second set of sensors can sense a motion characteristic of the body. The first set of sensors may be a different type of sensor than the second set of sensors. A controller can estimate carpet drift based at least on the actuation characteristic sensed by the first set of sensors and the motion characteristic sensed by the second set of sensors.

Abstract: A navigation control system for an autonomous vehicle comprises a transmitter and an autonomous vehicle. The transmitter comprises an emitter for emitting at least one signal, a power source for powering the emitter, a device for capturing wireless energy to charge the power source, and a printed circuit board for converting the captured wireless energy to a form for charging the power source. The autonomous vehicle operates within a working area and comprises a receiver for detecting the at least one signal emitted by the emitter, and a processor for determining a relative location of the autonomous vehicle within the working area based on the signal emitted by the emitter.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot comprise: a chassis having a drive system in communication with a control system; a cleaning head assembly having a lower cage and mounted to the chassis; a debris collection bin mounted to the chassis; a vacuum airway having a vacuum inlet and an airway outlet positioned adjacent the debris collection bin, and configured to deliver debris from the cleaning head assembly to a debris collection bin, the vacuum airway extending between the cleaning assembly and debris collection bin and being in fluid communication with an impeller disposed within the debris collection bin; and a cleaning head module connected to the chassis and having a front roller including a front shape-changing resilient tube and an adjacent rear roller including a rear shape-changing resilient tube rotatably opposing therewith beneath the vacuum inlet.

Abstract: A pad particularly adapted for surface cleaning. The pad includes an absorbent core having the ability to absorb and retain liquid material, and a liner layer in contact with and covering at least one side of the absorbent core. The liner layer has the ability to retain and wick liquid material through the liner layer. Cleaning apparatus containing such pads and methods of using such pads are also described.

Abstract: A method for energy management in a robotic device includes providing a base station for mating with the robotic device, determining a quantity of energy stored in an energy storage unit of the robotic device, and performing a predetermined task based at least in part on the quantity of energy stored. Also disclosed are systems for emitting avoidance signals to prevent inadvertent contact between the robot and the base station, and systems for emitting homing signals to allow the robotic device to accurately dock with the base station.

Abstract: Configurations are provided for vehicular robots or other vehicles to provide shifting of their centers of gravity for enhanced obstacle navigation. A robot chassis with pivotable driven flippers has a pivotable neck and sensor head mounted toward the front of the chassis. The neck is pivoted forward to shift the vehicle combined center of gravity (combined CG) forward for various climbing and navigation tasks. The flippers may also be selectively moved to reposition the center of gravity. Various weight distributions allow different CG shifting capabilities.

Abstract: A method for controlling one or more remote vehicles may comprise manipulating remote dexterous manipulators, translating movement of the remote dexterous manipulators into movement of the one or more remote vehicles, and providing a sliding work window allowing control of the one or more remote vehicles' entire range of motion without sacrificing control resolution.