Abstract: A method for efficient navigational and work duty planning for mobile robotic devices. A mobile robotic device will autonomously create a plan for navigation and work duty functions based on data compiled regarding various considerations in the work environment. These factors include what type of work surface is being operated on, whether dynamic obstacles are present in the work environment or not and the like factors.

Abstract: Provided is a method for operating a robot, including capturing images of a workspace, comparing at least one object from the captured images to objects in an object dictionary, identifying a class to which the at least one object belongs using an object classification unit, instructing the robot to execute at least one action based on the object class identified, capturing movement data of the robot, and generating a planar representation of the workspace based on the captured images and the movement data, wherein the captured images indicate a position of the robot relative to objects within the workspace and the movement data indicates movement of the robot.

Abstract: A method for confining and/or modifying the movement of robotic devices by means of a boundary component. The boundary component is placed within an area co-located with the robotic device. The boundary component has a predetermined surface indentation pattern that may be discerned by a sensor component installed onto the robotic device. A robotic device configured with a line laser emitting diode, an image sensor, and an image processor detects predetermined indentation patterns of surfaces within a specific environment. The line laser diode emits the line laser upon surfaces within the filed of view of the image sensor. The image sensor captures images of the projected line laser and sends them to the image processor. The image processor iteratively compares received images against a predetermined surface indentation pattern of the boundary component. Once the predetermined indentation pattern is detected the robotic device may mark the location within the working map of the environment.

Abstract: A system for compacting debris collected within a robotic vacuum debris container to allow more space for incoming debris. The volume of collected debris is reduced by pressure plates pressing the debris against surfaces so that the debris container may hold a greater mass of debris. The system allows robotic vacuums to operate for longer periods of time before requiring maintenance by a user to empty the debris container.

Abstract: Provided is an integrated bumper system including, a suspension assembly including, a suspension element coupled with a robotic device chassis, a plurality of elastic elements positioned along at least a portion of a perimeter of the suspension element and coupled with the suspension element, and a plurality of cutouts positioned along at least a portion of the perimeter of the suspension element; and a bumper coupled with the suspension assembly, the bumper including, a plurality of anchors coupled with the plurality of elastic elements, and a plurality of tabs aligned with the plurality of cutouts configured to limit movement of the suspension element; and wherein the bumper is configured to move when impacted.

Abstract: Provided is an integrated bumper system including, a suspension assembly including, a suspension plate coupled with a robotic device chassis, a plurality of springs positioned along at least a portion of a perimeter of the suspension plate and coupled with the suspension plate, and a plurality of cutouts positioned along at least a portion of the perimeter of the suspension plate; and a bumper coupled with the suspension assembly including, a plurality of spring anchors coupled with the plurality of springs, and a plurality of tabs aligned with the plurality of cutouts configured to limit movement of the suspension plate; and wherein the bumper is configured to move when impacted.

Abstract: Provided is a process executed by a robot, including: traversing, to a first position, a first distance in a backward direction; after traversing the first distance, rotating 180 degrees in a first rotation; after the first rotation, traversing, to a second position, a second distance in the second direction; and after traversing the second distance, rotating 180 degrees in a second rotation such that the field of view of the sensor points in the first direction.

Abstract: Provided are operations including: receiving, with one or more processors of a robot, an image of an environment from an imaging device separate from the robot; obtaining, with the one or more processors, raw pixel intensity values of the image; extracting, with the one or more processors, objects and features in the image by grouping pixels with similar raw pixel intensity values, and by identifying areas in the image with greatest change in raw pixel intensity values; determining, with the one or more processors, an area within a map of the environment corresponding with the image by comparing the objects and features of the image with objects and features of the map; and, inferring, with the one or more processors, one or more locations captured in the image based on the location of the area of the map corresponding with the image.

Abstract: A front suspension wheel for mobile robotic devices that can be compressed into or decompressed out of a main body of a mobile robotic device to facilitate driving the mobile robotic device over obstacles, thresholds and the like. The wheel will provide the mobile robotic device with information such as how fast the wheel is traveling. The wheel is easily removable by hand by the user.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and/or method to create or otherwise define one or more virtual barriers for confining or controlling an autonomous robotic device substantially within one or more portion of one or more selected working areas, for example, to prohibit entrance of certain areas. The system and/or method may use a set of beacon transmitters that emit time-stamped signals, which are received by one or more robots and used to calculate the robotic device's distance from such beacons.

Abstract: Provided is a robot, including: a first actuator; a first sensor; one or more processors communicatively coupled to the first actuator and to the first sensor; and memory storing instructions that when executed by at least some of the one or more processors effectuate operations comprising: determining a first location of the robot in a working environment; obtaining, with the first sensor, first data indicative of an environmental characteristic of the first location; and adjusting a first operational parameter of the first actuator based on the sensed first data, wherein the adjusting is configured to cause the first operational parameter to be in a first adjusted state while the robot is at the first location.

Abstract: A charging station for a mobile robotic vacuum using a folding dual prong system to recharge the battery of a mobile robotic vacuum. The electrical connector node contacts which charge the mobile robotic vacuum are placed on these dual prongs. The prongs extend outward from the charging station when charging is required for the mobile robotic vacuum's battery. When not charging, the prongs are retracted back into the charging station in order to protect the prongs and the electrical charging nodes.