Abstract: A debris fin for a robotic cleaner dust cup may include a fin mount and an airflow body extending from the fin mount according to a divergence angle, the airflow body defining an airflow surface, the airflow body being configured to straighten fibrous debris entrained within air that is incident thereon.

Abstract: A method is provided for designing and producing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) pistons. Pistons made with FRP have a lower mass than prior art metal pistons conferring advantageous engine efficiency and stability. FRP pistons also increase the thermal efficiency of engines by having a lower thermal conductivity, with tighter piston-to-bore clearance, and/increased air-fuel ratio than pistons of metal. The technical parameters of the piston are identified, and a piston body blank is produced. The blank is then machined, a bearing surface for the pin bore is created, the piston blank is optionally coated, is optionally subjected to Heavy Metal Ion Implantation (HMII) treatment and is subjected to sodium silicate impregnation to produce the final pistons.

Abstract: A robotic cleaning system may include a robotic cleaner having a robotic cleaner dust cup and a docking station having a docking station dust cup configured to fluidly couple to the robotic cleaner dust cup. The docking station dust cup may include a first debris collection chamber, a second debris collection chamber fluidly coupled to the first debris collection chamber, and a filter fluidly coupled to the first debris collection chamber and the second debris collection chamber.

Abstract: A robotic cleaning system may include a robotic cleaner having a robotic cleaner dust cup and a docking station having a docking station dust cup configured to fluidly couple to the robotic cleaner dust cup. The docking station dust cup may include a first debris collection chamber, a second debris collection chamber fluidly coupled to the first debris collection chamber, and a filter fluidly coupled to the first debris collection chamber and the second debris collection chamber.

Abstract: A docking station for a robotic cleaner may include a base, a docking station dust cup removably coupled to the base, a latch actuatable between a retaining position and a release position, and a release system configured to actuate the latch between the retaining and release positions. The docking station dust cup may be removable from the base in response to a pivotal movement of the docking station dust cup relative to the base about a pivot point. The latch may be horizontally spaced apart from the pivot point, wherein, when the latch is in the retaining position, pivotal movement of the docking station dust cup is substantially prevented.

Abstract: A docking station for a robotic cleaner may include a base having a support and a suction housing, a docking station suction inlet defined in the suction housing, wherein the docking station suction inlet is configured to fluidly couple to the robotic cleaner, and an alignment protrusion defined in the support. The alignment protrusion may be configured to urge the robotic cleaner towards an orientation in which the robotic cleaner fluidly couples to the docking station suction inlet.

Abstract: A debris fin for a robotic cleaner dust cup may include a fin mount and an airflow body extending from the fin mount according to a divergence angle, the airflow body defining an airflow surface, the airflow body being configured to straighten fibrous debris entrained within air that is incident thereon.

Abstract: A robotic cleaning system may include a robotic cleaner having a robotic cleaner dust cup and a docking station having a docking station dust cup configured to fluidly couple to the robotic cleaner dust cup. The docking station dust cup may include a first debris collection chamber, a second debris collection chamber fluidly coupled to the first debris collection chamber, and a filter fluidly coupled to the first debris collection chamber and the second debris collection chamber.

Abstract: A docking station for a robotic cleaner may include a base, a docking station dust cup removably coupled to the base, a latch actuatable between a retaining position and a release position, and a release system configured to actuate the latch between the retaining and release positions. The docking station dust cup may be removable from the base in response to a pivotal movement of the docking station dust cup relative to the base about a pivot point. The latch may be horizontally spaced apart from the pivot point, wherein, when the latch is in the retaining position, pivotal movement of the docking station dust cup is substantially prevented.

Abstract: A docking station for a robotic cleaner may include a base having a support and a suction housing, a docking station suction inlet defined in the suction housing, wherein the docking station suction inlet is configured to fluidly couple to the robotic cleaner, and an alignment protrusion defined in the support. The alignment protrusion may be configured to urge the robotic cleaner towards an orientation in which the robotic cleaner fluidly couples to the docking station suction inlet.