Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous, mobile robot which is designed to navigate independently in a robot deployment area, using sensors and a map. According to one embodiment, the method comprises detecting obstacles and calculating the position of detected obstacles based on measurement data received by the sensors, and controlling the robot to avoid a collision with a detected obstacle, the map comprising map data that represents at least one virtual blocked region which, during the control of the robot, is taken into account in the same way as an actual, detected obstacle.

Abstract: An optical triangulation sensor for distance measurement is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a light source for the generation of structured light, an optical reception device, at least one attachment element and a carrier with a first groove on a lateral surface of the carrier, wherein the light source and/or optical reception device is at least partially arranged in the first groove and is held in place on the carrier by the attachment element.

Abstract: A system comprising at least one autonomous mobile robot (service robot) and at least one mobile terminal for controlling the robot. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, the robot and the mobile terminal are designed to communicate via at least a first wireless connection. The robot is designed to detect information regarding the location of a user (e.g. on the basis of the location of the terminal) and to decide as a function of the detected information regarding the location whether and, if yes, which information is sent to the mobile terminal and/or whether and, if yes, which actions are carried out, interrupted, continued or terminated by the robot.

Abstract: An optical triangulation sensor for distance measurement is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a light source for the generation of structured light, an optical reception device, at least one attachment element and a carrier with a first groove on a lateral surface of the carrier, wherein the light source and/or optical reception device is at least partially arranged in the first groove and is held in place on the carrier by the attachment element.

Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous mobile robot for carrying out a task in a local region of an area of application of the robot. According to one embodiment, the method comprises the following steps: positioning the robot in starting position within the area of application of the robot; detecting information relating to the surroundings of the robot by means of at least one sensor; selecting a region with a determined geometric basic shape; and automatically determining, based on the detected information relating to the surroundings, at least one of the two following parameters: size and position (also including the orientation/alignment) of the selected region.

Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous, mobile robot which is designed to navigate independently in a robot deployment area, using sensors and a map. According to one embodiment, the method comprises detecting obstacles and calculating the position of detected obstacles based on measurement data received by the sensors, and controlling the robot to avoid a collision with a detected obstacle, the map comprising map data that represents at least one virtual blocked region which, during the control of the robot, is taken into account in the same way as an actual, detected obstacle.

Abstract: An optical triangulation sensor for distance measurement is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a light source for the generation of structured light, an optical reception device, at least one attachment element and a carrier with a first groove on a lateral surface of the carrier, wherein the light source and/or optical reception device is at least partially arranged in the first groove and is held in place on the carrier by the attachment element.

Abstract: In the following, a system having an autonomous mobile robot and a base station for the robot is described. In accordance with one example, the robot comprises a navigation module with a navigation sensor for detecting geometric features of objects in the environment of the robot. The base station has at least one geometric feature which can be detected by the robot by means of the navigation sensor. The robot includes a robot controller that is coupled with the navigation module, the robot controller being configured to identify and/or localize the base station and/or to determine a docking position of the robot based on the at least one geometric feature of the base station.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment relates to a method for an autonomous mobile robot for the new exploration of an area already listed in a map of the robot. According to one example, the method comprises storing a map of a deployment area of an autonomous mobile robot, wherein the map contains orientation information, which represents the structure of the surroundings in the deployment area, and also meta information. The method further comprises receiving a command via a communication unit of the robot, which causes the robot to start a new exploration of at least a part of the deployment area. The robot then explores again the at least one part of the deployment area, wherein the robot detects information regarding the structure of its surroundings in the deployment area by means of a sensor. The method further comprises updating the map of the deployment area and storing the updated map for use in the robot navigation during a plurality of future robot interventions.

Abstract: A method for processing a surface of an area to be processed using an autonomous mobile robot. The method includes the steps of controlling the robot in order to process the area according to a first processing pattern, monitoring a region in the surroundings of the robot, wherein the region has a fixed position relative to the robot, and controlling the robot in order to process the area according to a second processing pattern if a reachable and unprocessed region is detected in the monitored region.

Abstract: A method for processing a surface of an area to be processed using an autonomous mobile robot. The method includes the steps of controlling the robot in order to process the area according to a first processing pattern, monitoring a region in the surroundings of the robot, wherein the region has a fixed position relative to the robot, and controlling the robot in order to process the area according to a second processing pattern if a reachable and unprocessed region is detected in the monitored region.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot, comprising: a drive unit which is designed to receive control signals and to move the robot in accordance with the control signals, a navigation sensor for capturing navigation features, and a navigation unit coupled to the navigation sensor. The navigation unit is designed to receive information from the navigation sensor and to plan a movement for the robot. The robot also has a control unit, which is designed to receive movement information representing the movement planned by the navigation unit and to generate the control signals based on the movement information. The robot has further sensors which are coupled to the control unit such that the control unit can receive further sensor information from the further sensors. The control unit is designed to pre-process this further sensor information and to supply the pre-processed sensor information in a pre-defined format to the navigation unit.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate, inter alia, to a method for controlling an autonomous mobile robot which can operate in a first and at least one second contour-following mode, wherein, in each of the contour-following modes, the robot maintains a substantially constant distance away from a contour while it moves along the contour. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method comprises the following: starting the first contour-following mode, in which the robot follows the contour in a first direction of travel; detecting a dead-end situation, in which it is not possible to continue following the contour in the first contour-following mode without collision; starting a second contour-following mode, in which the robot follows the contour in a second direction of travel; and defining a criterion, the fulfilment of which terminates the second contour-following mode, and continually evaluating the criterion while the robot operates in the second contour-following mode.

Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous mobile robot for carrying out a task in a local region of an area of application of the robot. According to one embodiment, the method comprises the following steps: positioning the robot in starting position within the area of application of the robot; detecting information relating to the surroundings of the robot by means of at least one sensor; selecting a region with a determined geometric basic shape; and automatically determining, based on the detected information relating to the surroundings, at least one of the two following parameters: size and position (also including the orientation/alignment) of the selected region.

Abstract: A method for exploration of a robot operating zone by an autonomous mobile robot. The method involves the starting of an exploration run, wherein the robot during the exploration run detects objects in its environment and stores detected objects as map data in a map, while the robot moves through the robot operating zone. During the exploration run, the robot carries out a partial region detection based on the stored map data, wherein at least one reference partial region is detected. The robot repeats the partial region detection in order to update the reference partial region and again checks whether the (updated) reference partial region has been fully explored. The exploration of the reference partial region is continued until the check reveals that the reference partial region has been fully explored.

Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous mobile robot. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method comprises the storage and management of at least one map associated with an area of use for the robot and the navigation of the robot through the area of use for the robot, wherein the robot continuously determines its position on the map. The method further comprises the detection of a repositioning procedure, during which the robot carries out a movement that the robot itself cannot control. During this repositioning procedure, the robot detects information about its position and/or its state of motion with the aid of sensors and, based on the detected information, determines an estimated value for its position.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot is described having a propulsion module designed to move the robot in its surroundings, a control module designed to transmit control commands to the propulsion module, the control commands being designed to control the movement of the robot, and a security module designed to detect a dangerous situation, classing an actual movement of the robot as dangerous on the basis of predetermined criteria, and to change or stop the movement of the robot when the movement is classed as dangerous.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a method for controlling an autonomous mobile robot, comprising the following steps: controlling the robot in a treatment mode to treat a floor surface by means of a floor treatment module of the robot, detecting, by means of a dirt sensor mounted on the robot, a dirt sensor signal representing the soiling of the floor surface, and modifying the speed of the robot in response to the dirt sensor signal.

Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous mobile robot for carrying out a task in a local region of an area of application of the robot. According to one embodiment, the method comprises the following steps: positioning the robot in starting position within the area of application of the robot; detecting information relating to the surroundings of the robot by means of at least one sensor; selecting a region with a determined geometric basic shape; and automatically determining, based on the detected information relating to the surroundings, at least one of the two following parameters: size and position (also including the orientation/alignment) of the selected region.

Abstract: Methods for an autonomous mobile robot are described. According to an exemplary embodiment, one method comprises the detection of information regarding the structure of the environment around the robot in the robot deployment area by means of a first sensor unit of the robot and the creation of a map based on the detected information. The method also comprises the measurement of a direction and/or a quantity of at least one physical vector field variable for one or more poses of the robot by means of a second sensor unit and the determination, based on the measurement(s) carried out for one or more poses of the robot, of a preferred direction of the at least one physical vector field variable for the robot deployment area (or a portion thereof). Furthermore, corresponding robots and robot systems are described.