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 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: 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: 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 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 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 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 of operating a washing machine appliance may include obtaining one or more images of an external basket spaced apart from the washing machine appliance from a camera assembly and analyzing an obtained image of the one or more images using an image recognition process to estimate a fill level of a load of clothes within the external basket. The method may further include matching the estimated fill level to an estimated load size 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 motor assembly selectively rotates the wash basket, a drain pump assembly selectively drains wash fluid from the wash tub, and a camera assembly is used to monitor an out-of-balance value to minimize out-of-balance issues. Specifically, a controller of the washing machine appliance uses the camera assembly to obtain one or more images of the wash chamber, analyze the one or more images using a machine learning image recognition process to determine the out-of-balance value of the load of clothes in the wash basket, and perform a cloth redistribution process based at least in part on determining that the out-of-balance value is greater than a predetermined out-of-balance 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 motor assembly is mechanically coupled to the wash basket for selectively rotating the wash basket and a camera assembly is mounted within the cabinet in view of the wash chamber. A controller is configured to obtain a series of image frames using the camera assembly during a wash cycle, identify a tracking point on a clothing article, generate a motion path of the tracking point over the series of image frames using an optical flow technique, estimate a turnover rate of the load of clothes based at least in part on the motion path of the clothing article, and implement responsive action in response to determining that the turnover rate falls below a predetermined threshold rate.

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 mounted within the wash tub for taking images of the load of clothes during and/or after a wash or rinse cycle. A controller is operably coupled to the camera for obtaining and analyzing the images using a neural network image recognition process (such as an R-CNN process) to determine a whether the level of suds or bubbles exceeds a suds threshold. If there are too many suds in the wash tub, the controller may implement corrective action, e.g., by decreasing a water temperature, adding more water, or reducing the amount of detergent that is auto-dispensed in a subsequent wash cycle.

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 motor assembly is mechanically coupled to the wash basket for selectively rotating the wash basket and a camera assembly is mounted within the cabinet in view of the wash chamber. A controller is configured to obtain a series of image frames using the camera assembly during a wash cycle, identify a tracking point on a clothing article, generate a motion path of the tracking point over the series of image frames using an optical flow technique, estimate a turnover rate of the load of clothes based at least in part on the motion path of the clothing article, and implement responsive action in response to determining that the turnover rate falls below a predetermined threshold rate.

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 motor assembly is mechanically coupled to the wash basket for selectively rotating the wash basket and a camera assembly is mounted within the cabinet in view of the wash chamber. A controller is configured to obtain a first image of the load of clothes using the camera assembly, operate the motor assembly to tumble the load of clothes, obtain a second image of the load of clothes using the camera assembly, analyze the first image and the second image using an image recognition process to identify one or more outlier garments, and implement a responsive action in response to identifying the one or more outlier garments.

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 method of operating a dryer appliance is provided that includes obtaining washer operating parameters from a washing machine appliance that is linked to the dryer appliance and obtaining dryer operating parameters of the dryer appliance. These parameters are transmitted to a remote server along with a user input such as a selected dryness level. The method further includes receiving operating instructions from the remote server and adjusting at least one operating parameter of the dryer appliance based on the operating instructions.