Abstract: A system for directing a cleaning apparatus on a surface to be cleaned comprises a body having a floor cleaner, at least one wheel operably interconnected with a motor for imparting motion to the wheel, a controller for providing a signal to the motor to control the motion of the at least one wheel, and at least one sensor operably interconnected to the controller for detecting a target on the surface at a distance spaced from the body. The system further comprises a signal emitting device separable from the body comprising a user interface portion for receiving signals from a user and transmitting a representation of those signals to a target projection on the surface. The sensor on the body detects the target projection on the surface and the controller can initiate at least one function to be performed by the body of the cleaning apparatus on the surface.