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 camera assembly is used to monitor articles for washing within the wash basket. Specifically, a controller of the washing machine appliance uses the camera assembly to obtain a reference image and one or more test images, which utilize image recognition to assess turn-over of the articles for washing during a given wash cycle. When turn-over performance is inadequate, a controller may adjust one or more operating parameters of the wash cycle to improve performance. Turn-over performance of the wash cycle is determined to be adequate once the image recognition process fails to find adequate correlation between the reference image and the test image a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: An appliance, a controller, and a method for dispensing fluid are provided. The appliance including a fluid station configured to dispense water, cleaning agent, or a combination thereof, and a signal receiver device configured to receive signals from a user. A controller is operably coupled to the signal receiver device. The controller is configured to detect, via the signal receiver device, a gesture signal corresponding to a desired operating mode of the appliance, and command a function at the washing machine appliance based on the gesture signal.

Abstract: A cooking appliance including a cooktop including a plurality of heating zones, each heating zone heated by at least one heating element; an image capture device directed toward the cooktop; and a controller operably connected to the image capture device and the at least one heating element, wherein the controller is configured to perform an operation. The operation includes receiving one or more inputs relating to a cooking operation; receiving an image signal of the cooktop via the image capture device after receiving the one or more inputs, the image signal including a cookware item; identifying a size of the cookware item in the received image signal; adjusting one or more parameters of the cooking operation based on the identified size of the cookware item; and initiating the cooking operation based on the one or more adjusted parameters.

Abstract: An appliance, system, and method for operating an appliance is provided. The appliance, system, and method are configured to execute operations including determining when a dispensing device for a detergent meets or exceeds a detergent level threshold, determining if a first wash mode corresponding to a performance wash mode is activated, and changing operation from the first wash mode to a second wash mode corresponding to an efficiency wash mode when the dispensing device meets or exceeds the detergent level threshold and the first wash mode is activated.

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: An appliance, system, and method for operating an appliance is provided. The appliance, system, and method include performing a wash cycle and draining wash water from the wash chamber, flowing a quantity of water to a wash chamber, determining a water hardness value based on a water conductivity measurement and a temperature measurement, and draining the quantity of water from the wash chamber.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a camera assembly mounted in view of a wash chamber for obtaining images of the wash chamber. The lens of the camera assembly is positioned adjacent a water outlet of a water dispenser and a controller is configured to facilitate an automated cleaning method for the camera assembly, the method including obtaining one or more images of the wash chamber using the camera assembly, analyzing the one or more images to determine an image quality, determining that the image quality has dropped below a quality threshold, and operating the water dispenser to perform a lens cleaning operation in response to determining that the image quality has dropped below the quality threshold.

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 of the laundry appliance implements a method for detecting living things in the chamber and initiates a responsive action, for example, by disturbing the chamber by adjusting at least one operating parameter of the laundry appliance, obtaining one or more images of the chamber using the camera assembly, and determining that there is movement in the chamber based at least in part on the one or more images using an image processing algorithm and a machine learning image recognition process.

Abstract: A laundry appliance, such as a washing machine or dryer appliance, includes a basket that is rotatably mounted within a tub and that defines a chamber for receiving a load of clothes. A camera assembly is mounted within the tub for taking images of the load of clothes and a controller is operably coupled to the camera assembly for determining that a limited access mode is activated, receiving a start command for an operating cycle, obtaining and transmitting images or a live stream of the chamber to a remote device, and receiving user input related to a responsive action, such as a cycle authorization or operating parameter adjustment.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a basket that is rotatably mounted within a cabinet and that defines a chamber for receiving a load of clothes. A camera assembly is mounted within the cabinet for taking images of the chamber and a controller obtains an image of the chamber when the basket is empty and not rotating. The image is analyzed using an autoencoder neural network process to determine an image quality and a responsive action is implemented when an image quality drops below a quality threshold.

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 basket speed sensor monitors the speed of the wash basket and a camera assembly is mounted within the wash tub for taking images of the load of clothes during and/or after a wash or rinse cycle. A controller determines the basket speed, adjusts a frame rate of the camera assembly to match the basket speed, obtains a still image from the camera assembly, analyzes the image using a machine learning image recognition process to determine a remaining moisture content (RMC) of the load of clothes, and adjusts at least one operating parameter of the washing machine appliance based on the remaining moisture content, e.g., such as ending the drain cycle when a target RMC is reached.

Abstract: An appliance, system, and method for operating an appliance is provided. The appliance, system, and method include performing a wash cycle and draining wash water from the wash chamber, flowing a quantity of water to a wash chamber, determining a water hardness value based on a water conductivity measurement and a temperature measurement, and draining the quantity of water from the wash chamber.

Abstract: An appliance, system, and method for operating an appliance is provided. The appliance, system, and method are configured to execute operations including determining when a dispensing device for a detergent meets or exceeds a detergent level threshold, determining if a first wash mode corresponding to a performance wash mode is activated, and changing operation from the first wash mode to a second wash mode corresponding to an efficiency wash mode when the dispensing device meets or exceeds the detergent level threshold and the first wash mode is activated.

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 method of operating a washing machine appliance is provided. The method may include obtaining one or more images of the washing machine appliance from a camera assembly directed at the washing machine appliance and detecting a fiducial reference on a portion of the washing machine appliance within the one or more images. The method may also include detecting a color deviation at the fiducial reference based on the one or more images. The method may further include calibrating color of an obtained image of the one or more images based on the detected color deviation. The method may still further include directing a wash cycle within the washing machine appliance based on the calibrated obtained image.

Abstract: A method may include detecting a transfer event for loading articles within a wash chamber of the washing machine appliance. The method may also include transmitting a push notification to a remote device spaced apart from the washing machine appliance in response to detecting the transfer event. The push notification may prompt an image capture event at the remote device.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance or method of the same may include obtaining one or more images of a container in which a wash additive is stowed from a camera assembly of a remote device spaced apart from a cabinet of the washing machine appliance. The method may also include determining a position of the remote device relative to the container and analyzing an obtained image of the one or more images using an image recognition process to identify the wash additive. The method may further include directing a wash cycle within the washing machine appliance based on the identified wash additive.

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 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.