Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes obtaining an image of the wash basket and a load of articles therein from a camera assembly of a remote user interface device. The method also includes analyzing the obtained image using a machine learning image recognition process. Analyzing the obtained image may include determining a ratio of a diameter of an area occupied by the load of articles to a diameter of the wash basket or determining a ratio of a maximum height of an area occupied by the load of articles to a major axis of the wash basket. The method further includes estimating a load size of the load of articles based on the analysis and directing a wash cycle within the washing machine appliance based on the estimated load size.

Abstract: A dryer appliance and a method of operating a dryer appliance are provided. The dryer includes a drum defining a drying chamber rotatably mounted within a cabinet, an additive dispensing assembly to provide a dryer additive to the drying chamber, and a controller for initiating a drying operation. The controller obtains washer operating parameters from a washing machine, determines a drying operation based on the received parameters, initiates a dry cycle, and directs a dryer additive to be dispensed based on the dryer operating schedule.

Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treatment appliance including a chamber for receiving a laundry load and a water supply provided within the chamber includes determining a target moisture level of the laundry load; initiating a drying cycle of the laundry load, the drying cycle including a primary drying time; initiating a spray operation for providing moisture into the chamber; determining that a measured moisture level of the laundry load meets a moisture goal based on the target moisture level; and ceasing the spray operation in response to determining that the measured moisture level meets the moisture goal.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a water supply configured to selectively dispense wash fluid into a wash tub, a bulk dispenser for selectively adding a wash additive to the wash fluid, and a conductivity sensor for measuring an electrical conductivity of the wash fluid collected in the wash tub. A controller is configured to obtain a first additive conductivity metric of the wash additive stored within the bulk dispenser using the conductivity sensor, determine that the bulk dispenser has been refilled, obtain a second additive conductivity metric of the wash additive stored within the bulk dispenser using the conductivity sensor, determine that the second additive conductivity metric is different than the first additive conductivity metric, and implement a responsive action in response to determining that the second additive conductivity metric is different than the first additive conductivity metric.

Abstract: An appliance, system, and method for operating an appliance and determining presence of water softener at water provided to an appliance is provided. The system is configured to obtain a first water hardness value; obtain a second water hardness value based on a location of the appliance; determine a ratio of the first water hardness value and the second water hardness value; compare the ratio of the first water hardness value and the second water hardness value to a threshold limit; transmit a first water hardness signal when the threshold limit is exceeded, wherein the first water hardness signal corresponds to the first water hardness value; transmit, to the database storage device, a second water hardness signal when the ratio is within the threshold limit; and adjust operation of the appliance based on whether the first water hardness signal or the second water hardness signal is transmitted.

Abstract: A threat detection and reporting system and method using AR glasses is disclosed. The system includes AR glasses configured to analyze sensor data of at least two built-in sensors to identify a threat and transmit information indicating the identified threat in real time, a smart device configured to receive the information indicating the threat in real time from the AR glasses and reports the threat in real time, and a threat detection platform configured to perform reporting to a relevant organization according to a threat reported in real time from the smart device.

Abstract: A dryer appliance includes a drum defining a chamber for receipt of clothes for drying, an air handler for urging a flow of air through the chamber, and a trap duct in fluid communication with the chamber and comprising a lint filter for filtering lint from the flow of air exiting the chamber. A lint detection assembly includes an emitter for generating light and a receiver for detecting the light that is transmitted through the lint filter, and a controller is configured to determine a lint level based at least in part on the light detected by the receiver, determine that the lint level exceeds a predetermined lint threshold, and implementing a responsive action, such as stopping the cycle, notifying the user, and/or updating an initial cycle time.

Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance may include obtaining one or more images of the washing machine appliance from a camera assembly of a remote device spaced apart from the cabinet. The method may also include receiving a plurality of angle readings from the remote device and determining a position of the remote device relative to the washing machine appliance based on the plurality of angle readings. The method may further include determining a set camera angle for the camera assembly is met based on the determined position of the remote device. The method may still further include analyzing at least one obtained image using a machine learning image recognition process, estimating a load attribute of a load of clothes within the washing machine appliance based on the analysis, and directing a wash cycle within the washing machine appliance based on the estimated load attribute.

Abstract: A method may include obtaining one or more images of the washing machine appliance from a camera assembly of a remote device and detecting a fiducial reference on a front portion of the washing machine appliance within the one or more images. The method may also include comparing the detected fiducial reference to a two-dimensional reference shape in an obtained image of the images and determining a set camera angle for the camera assembly is met based on the comparison in the obtained image. The method may further include analyzing the obtained image using a machine learning image recognition process and estimating a load attribute of a load of clothes within the washing machine appliance based on the analysis. The method may still further include directing a wash cycle within the washing machine appliance based on the estimated load attribute.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a camera for determining whether the drum is rotating during operation of the appliance. A controller is operably coupled to the camera. The controller is configured for obtaining one or more images of the drum during operation of the appliance. An artificial intelligence image recognition process is used to perform image classification and determine whether a drum rotation fault has occurred. In the event of a drum rotation fault, operation of the laundry appliance is adjusted.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a drum rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet for providing selective access to the chamber, and a user interface for controlling operation of the laundry appliance. A controller is configured to monitor the number of wash cycles that have occurred in the laundry appliance since the last self-clean cycle. Once the laundry appliance reaches a predetermined number of wash cycles without an intervening self-clean cycle, an automatic self-clean cycle is initiated upon the next selection of a drying cycle by the user, wherein the drying cycle provides an indication that the chamber is empty of article of laundry and that the user has no further immediate washing needs. In these circumstances, the controller is configured to reconfigure the selected drying cycle into a combination cycle including a self-clean cycle which is automatically followed by the desired drying cycle.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a wash tub, a wash basket, a dispensing assembly, a water hardness sensor, a camera assembly, and a controller. The wash tub may be positioned within a cabinet. The water hardness sensor may be mounted in fluid communication with the wash tub. The camera assembly may be spaced apart from the wash tub. The controller may be communicatively coupled to the water hardness sensor and the camera assembly. The controller may be configured to direct a washing operation. The washing operation may include identifying a wash additive provided to the washing machine appliance, determining a water hardness level of water provided to the washing machine appliance, determining a cycle additive volume based on the identified wash additive and the determined water hardness level, and dispensing the determined cycle additive volume within the wash tub.

Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes flowing a wash liquid into or within the washing machine appliance and monitoring a sound with a microphone of the washing machine appliance during flowing the wash liquid. The method also includes analyzing the monitored sound and determining a status of a fluid circulation system of the washing machine appliance based on the analysis of the sound.

Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes obtaining an image of the wash basket and a load of articles therein from a camera assembly of a remote user interface device. The method also includes analyzing the obtained image using a machine learning image recognition process. Analyzing the obtained image may include determining a ratio of a diameter of an area occupied by the load of articles to a diameter of the wash basket or determining a ratio of a maximum height of an area occupied by the load of articles to a major axis of the wash basket. The method further includes estimating a load size of the load of articles based on the analysis and directing a wash cycle within the washing machine appliance based on the estimated load size.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash basket that is rotatably mounted within a wash tub and that defines a wash chamber for receiving a load of clothes. A dispensing assembly selectively dispenses wash fluid through a discharge nozzle into the wash tub and a camera assembly is used to monitor the wash fluid and diagnose issues related to the detergent quantity. Specifically, a controller of the washing machine appliance uses the camera assembly to obtain one or more images of the load of clothes as fresh water is dispensed to determine whether detergent was added manually. The controller further determines whether a smart dispense feature is activated or deactivated and implements a responsive action in response to determining that either 1) detergent is present and the smart dispense feature is activated or 2) detergent is not present and the smart dispense feature is deactivated.

Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes measuring a humidity value with the humidity sensor and comparing the measured humidity value to an expected humidity value. The method also includes flagging a fault in response to the measured humidity value differing from the expected humidity value by at least a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, a sterilization light assembly, and a flow sensor. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may further define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion to transmit an ultraviolet light emission thereto. The flow sensor may be disposed within the indoor portion upstream from the exhaust outlet. The flow sensor may be operably coupled to the sterilization light assembly and configured to activation of sterilization light assembly in response to detecting a predetermined airflow within the indoor portion.

Abstract: A laundry appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a laundry basket, a heater, and a controller. The laundry basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub and define a chamber for receipt of articles for washing or drying. The heater may be configured to heat and remove moisture. The controller may be operably coupled to the heater and configured to initiate a laundry operation. The laundry operation may include directing a dry cycle, directing the dry cycle comprising activating the heater according to the dry cycle. The laundry operation may also include receiving a plurality of motion signals during the dry cycle, evaluating the plurality of received motion signals, and determining a dry state of the articles based on the evaluation of the plurality of received motion signals. The laundry operation may further include modifying direction of the dry cycle based on the determined dry state.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a basket rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes and a camera assembly mounted within the cabinet in view of the chamber. A controller is configured to implement a leftover load detection method including determining that an operating cycle of the laundry appliance has been completed and that a user has removed the load of clothes. A camera then obtains one or more images of the chamber and the images are analyzed to determine whether any articles of clothing remain in the chamber. If the image analysis identifies a leftover article remaining in the chamber, the method includes implementing a responsive action, such as providing a user notification.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a water supply configured to selectively dispense wash fluid into a wash tub, a bulk dispenser for selectively adding a wash additive to the wash fluid, and a conductivity sensor for measuring an electrical conductivity of the wash fluid collected in the wash tub. A controller is configured to determine that a requested cycle has a target set of cycle parameters, determine that the bulk dispenser has been refilled, obtain a historical average conductivity of cycles performed using the target set of cycle parameters, obtain a conductivity of the wash fluid during performance of the requested cycle using the conductivity sensor, determine that the conductivity is different than the historical average conductivity, and implement a responsive action in response to determining that the conductivity is different than the historical average conductivity.