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 robotic vacuum cleaner may include a housing, a displaceable bumper, an emitter/detector pair, and at least one divider. The displaceable bumper may be moveably coupled to the housing and may be configured to be displaced along at least one axis. The emitter/detector pair may have an emitter and a detector, wherein the emitter is configured to emit light through at least a portion of the displaceable bumper. The at least one divider may be disposed between the emitter and the detector of the emitter/detector pair.

Abstract: In general, the present disclosure is directed to a time of flight (ToF) sensor arrangement that may be utilized by a robot (e.g., a robot vacuum) to identify and detect objects in a surrounding environment for mapping and localization purposes. In an embodiment, a robot is disclosed that includes a plurality of ToF sensors disposed about a housing of the robot. Two or more ToF sensors may be angled/aligned to establish overlapping field of views to form redundant detection regions around the robot. Objects that appear therein may then be detected by the robot and utilized to positively identify, e.g., with a high degree of confidence, the presence of the object. The identified objects may then be utilized as data points by the robot to build/update a map. The identified objects may also be utilized during pose routines that allow the robot to orient itself within the map.

Abstract: A robotic cleaner may include a body, an optical receiver, the optical receiver being configured to detect an optical signal generated by an external device, and an optical pattern generator configured to emit light according to an optical pattern that extends at least partially around the body, wherein, when the optical pattern intersects an obstacle, at least a portion of the light incident on the obstacle is reflected towards the optical receiver, the optical receiver being configured to detect the reflected light.

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: An adaptive sensor array system and method includes receiving one or more signals from a sensor array and compare the received signals to one or more object detection threshold values, determining if the robotic cleaner was moving along a travel path for a predetermined period of time, window W, in response to a determination that the robotic cleaner was operating in straight-line motion during the window W, calculating a value of the received detected signals from the sensor array during one or more calibration periods C of the window W, and adjusting one or more of the object detection threshold values based on the calculated value during the window W. A sum of all the calibration periods C during window W is less than a length of the window W. One of the calibration periods C may start at a beginning of the window W.

Abstract: A beacon for a robotic cleaner may include a housing and an optical indicium having an optical pattern. The optical indicium may be coupled to the housing and be viewable by a camera of the robotic cleaner. After observing the optical indicium, the robotic cleaner may be caused to carry out an action associated with at least a portion of the optical pattern.

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 robotic cleaner may include a body and an illuminator assembly. At least a portion of the illuminator assembly may be disposed within the body. The illuminator assembly may include an illuminator optic configured to emit light from an illumination surface and an illumination guide configured to direct light into the illuminator optic. The illumination guide may have a cavity. The cavity may include a reflecting surface and a directing surface, the reflecting surface being positioned opposite the directing surface.

Abstract: A robotic cleaner may include a housing, a bumper, driven wheels, and a controller. The bumper can be coupled to a front of the housing. The bumper may include a plurality of projections extending from a top edge of the bumper and above a top surface of the housing. The projections may include at least one leading projection proximate a forward most portion of the bumper and at least two side projections on each respective side of the bumper. The driven wheels may be rotatably mounted to the housing. The controller may be for controlling at least the driven wheels.

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 cleaner may include a housing, a bumper, driven wheels, and a controller. The bumper can be coupled to a front of the housing. The bumper may include a plurality of projections extending from a top edge of the bumper and above a top surface of the housing. The projections may include at least one leading projection proximate a forward most portion of the bumper and at least two side projections on each respective side of the bumper. The driven wheels may be rotatably mounted to the housing. The controller may be for controlling at least the driven wheels.

Abstract: A robotic cleaner may include a body, an optical receiver, the optical receiver being configured to detect an optical signal generated by an external device, and an optical pattern generator configured to emit light according to an optical pattern that extends at least partially around the body, wherein, when the optical pattern intersects an obstacle, at least a portion of the light incident on the obstacle is reflected towards the optical receiver, the optical receiver being configured to detect the reflected light.

Abstract: An adaptive sensor array system and method includes receiving one or more signals from a sensor array and compare the received signals to one or more object detection threshold values, determining if the robotic cleaner was moving along a travel path for a predetermined period of time, window W, in response to a determination that the robotic cleaner was operating in straight-line motion during the window W, calculating a value of the received detected signals from the sensor array during one or more calibration periods C of the window W, and adjusting one or more of the object detection threshold values based on the calculated value during the window W. A sum of all the calibration periods C during window W is less than a length of the window W. One of the calibration periods C may start at a beginning of the window W.

Abstract: A beacon for a robotic cleaner may include a housing and an optical indicium having an optical pattern. The optical indicium may be coupled to the housing and be viewable by a camera of the robotic cleaner. After observing the optical indicium, the robotic cleaner may be caused to carry out an action associated with at least a portion of the optical pattern.

Abstract: A robotic cleaner may include a body and an illuminator assembly. At least a portion of the illuminator assembly may be disposed within the body. The illuminator assembly may include an illuminator optic configured to emit light from an illumination surface and an illumination guide configured to direct light into the illuminator optic. The illumination guide may have a cavity. The cavity may include a reflecting surface and a directing surface, the reflecting surface being positioned opposite the directing surface.