Abstract: Provided is a robot, including: a plurality of sensors; a processor; a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuates operations including: capturing, with an image sensor, images of a workspace as the robot moves within the workspace; identifying, with the processor, at least one characteristic of at least one object captured in the images of the workspace; determining, with the processor, an object type of the at least one object based on characteristics of different types of objects stored in an object dictionary, wherein possible object types comprise a type of clothing, a cord, a type of pet bodily waste, and a shoe; and instructing, with the processor, the robot to execute at least one action based on the object type of the at least one object.

Abstract: Some aspects include a method for operating a robot in a workspace, including: capturing, with an image sensor, image data of the workspace including objects within the workspace as the robot moves within the workspace; identifying, with a processor of the robot, at least one characteristic in the image data, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises one of: an edge, a shape, and a color; determining, with the processor, an object type of an object; and instructing, with the processor, the robot to execute at least one action based on the at least one characteristic, wherein the at least one action comprises one of: driving along a modified path and driving around the object.

Abstract: A removable mop attachment module, including a frame; a reservoir positioned within the frame; at least one drainage aperture positioned at a bottom of the reservoir; at least one breathing aperture positioned on the reservoir; and a pressure actuated valve positioned at least partially on an inner surface of the reservoir, covering the at least one breathing aperture.

Abstract: A distance estimation system comprised of a laser light emitter, two image sensors, and an image processor are positioned on a baseplate such that the fields of view of the image sensors overlap and contain the projections of an emitted collimated laser beam within a predetermined range of distances. The image sensors simultaneously capture images of the laser beam projections. The images are superimposed and displacement of the laser beam projection from a first image taken by a first image sensor to a second image taken by a second image sensor is extracted by the image processor. The displacement is compared to a preconfigured table relating displacement distances with distances from the baseplate to projection surfaces to find an estimated distance of the baseplate from the projection surface at the time that the images were captured.

Abstract: A robot including a medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor of the robot effectuates operations including: capturing images of a workspace as the robot moves within the workspace; identifying at least one characteristic of an object captured in the images of the workspace; determining an object type of the object based on an object dictionary of different types of objects, wherein the different object types comprise at least a cord, clothing garments, a shoe, earphones, and pet bodily waste; and instructing the robot to execute at least one action based on the object type of the object, wherein the at least one action comprises avoiding the object or cleaning around the object.

Abstract: Provided is an autonomous coverage robot including: a chassis; a set of wheels; a plurality of sensors; and a mopping assembly including: a fluid reservoir for storing a cleaning fluid; a cloth for receiving the cleaning fluid, wherein the cloth is oriented toward a work surface; a means to move at least the cloth of the mopping assembly up and down in a plane perpendicular to the work surface, wherein the means to move at least the cloth of the mopping assembly up and down is controlled automatically based on input provided by at least one of the plurality of sensors; and a means to move at least a portion of the mopping assembly back and forth in a plane parallel to the work surface.

Abstract: Some aspects provide a method for instructing operation of a robotic floor-cleaning device based on the position of the robotic floor-cleaning device within a two-dimensional map of the workspace. A two-dimensional map of a workspace is generated using inputs from sensors positioned on a robotic floor-cleaning device to represent the multi-dimensional workspace of the robotic floor-cleaning device. The two-dimensional map is provided to a user on a user interface. A user may adjust the boundaries of the two-dimensional map through the user interface and select settings for map areas to control device operation in various areas of the workspace.

Abstract: Provided is a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the image processor effectuates operations including: capturing, with a first image sensor, a first image of at least two light points projected on a surface by the at least one laser light emitter; extracting, with at least one image processor, a first distance between the at least two light points in the first image in a first direction; and estimating, with the at least one image processor, a first distance to the surface on which the at least two light points are projected based on at least the first distance between the at least two light points and a predetermined relationship relating a distance between at least two light points in the first direction and a distance to the surface on which the at least two light points are projected.

Abstract: Provided is a robot, including: a plurality of sensors; a processor; a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuates operations including: capturing, with an image sensor, images of a workspace as the robot moves within the workspace; identifying, with the processor, at least one characteristic of at least one object captured in the images of the workspace; determining, with the processor, an object type of the at least one object based on characteristics of different types of objects stored in an object dictionary; and instructing, with the processor, the robot to execute at least one action based on the object type of the at least one object.

Abstract: Provided is a tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor effectuate operations including: obtaining, with one or more rangefinder sensors positioned on a mobile automated device, distances from the one or more rangefinder sensors to a surface; monitoring, with the processor, the distances sensed by each of the one or more rangefinder sensors; detecting, with the processor, an edge when a change in the distances is greater than a predetermined amount; and actuating, with the processor, the mobile automated device to execute one or more movement patterns upon detecting the edge, wherein the one or more movement patterns initiates movement of the mobile automated device away from the area where the edge was detected.

Abstract: Provided is a method including emitting, with a laser light emitter disposed on a robot, a collimated laser beam projecting a light point on a surface opposite the laser light emitter; capturing, with each of at least two image sensors disposed on the robot, images of the projected light point; overlaying, with a processor of the robot, the images captured by the at least two image sensors to produce a superimposed image showing both captured images in a single image; determining, with the processor of the robot, a first distance between the projected light points in the superimposed image; and determining, with the processor, a second distance based on the first distance using a relationship that relates distance between light points with distance between the robot or a sensor thereof and the surface on which the collimated laser beam is projected.

Abstract: Provided is a navigation system for a leader vehicle leading follower vehicles, including: the leader vehicle, configured to transmit, real-time movement data to follower vehicles; and, the follower vehicles, each comprising: a signal receiver for receiving the data from the leader vehicle; sensors configured to detect at least one maneuverability condition; a memory; a vehicle maneuver controller; a distance sensor; and a processor configured to: determine a route for navigating the local follower vehicle from an initial location; determine a preferred range of distances from the vehicle in front of the respective follower vehicle that the respective follower vehicle should stay within; determine a set of active maneuvering instructions for the respective follower vehicle based on at least a portion of the data received from the guiding vehicle; determine a lag in control commands; and, execute the set of active maneuvering instructions in the respective follower vehicle.

Abstract: A robotic surface cleaning device is provided, including a casing, a chassis, a set of wheels coupled to the chassis to drive the robotic surface cleaning device, a control system to instruct movement of the set of wheels, a battery to provide power to the robotic surface cleaning device, one or more sensors, a processor, rotating assembly, including a plate supported by a base of the casing, rotating mechanism to rotate the plate; and one or more cleaning apparatuses mounted to a first side of the plate.

Abstract: A media storing instructions that when executed by a processor of a robot effectuates operations including detecting an object in a line of sight of at least one sensor; adjusting a current path of the robot to include a detour path around the object, instructing the robot to resume along the current path after avoiding the object, discounting areas of overlap from a total area covered based on at least some data collected by sensors, inferring previously visited areas and unvisited areas, generating a planar representation of a workspace of the robot by stitching data collected by at least some sensors of the robot at overlapping points, and transmitting the planar representation and coverage statistics to an application of a communication device configured to display the information.

Abstract: Provided is a method for operating a robot, including capturing images of a workspace, comparing at least one object from the captured images to objects in an object dictionary, identifying a class to which the at least one object belongs using an object classification unit, instructing the robot to execute at least one action based on the object class identified, capturing movement data of the robot, and generating a planar representation of the workspace based on the captured images and the movement data, wherein the captured images indicate a position of the robot relative to objects within the workspace and the movement data indicates movement of the robot.

Abstract: Provided is a method for operating a robot, including capturing images of a workspace, comparing at least one object from the captured images to objects in an object dictionary, identifying a class to which the at least one object belongs using an object classification unit, instructing the robot to execute at least one action based on the object class identified, capturing movement data of the robot, and generating a planar representation of the workspace based on the captured images and the movement data, wherein the captured images indicate a position of the robot relative to objects within the workspace and the movement data indicates movement of the robot.

Abstract: A method for identifying objects for autonomous robots, including: capturing, with an image sensor disposed on an autonomous robot, images of a workspace, wherein a field of view of the image sensor captures at least an area in front of the autonomous robot; obtaining, with a processing unit disposed on the autonomous robot, the images; generating, with the processing unit, a feature vector from the images; comparing, with the processing unit, at least one object captured in the images to objects in an object dictionary; identifying, with the processing unit, a class to which the at least one object belongs; and executing, with the autonomous robot, instructions based on the class of the at least one object identified.

Abstract: Provided is a robot, including: a chassis; a set of wheels coupled to the chassis; a processor; and a tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuate operations including: capturing, by an image sensor disposed on a robot, images of a workspace; obtaining, by the processor of the robot or via the cloud, the captured images; comparing, by the processor of the robot or via the cloud, at least one object from the captured images to objects in an object dictionary; identifying, by the processor of the robot or via the cloud, a class to which the at least one object belongs using an object classification unit; and instructing, by the processor of the robot, the robot to execute at least one action based on the object class identified.

Abstract: A method for covering a surface by a robotic device including: generating a two-dimensional map of a workspace using data from at least a depth measurement device positioned on the robotic device, dividing the two-dimensional map into a grid of cells, identifying the cells as free, occupied, or unknown, localizing the robotic device within the two-dimensional map, identifying at least one frontier within the map for exploration, generating a spanning tree such that a movement path of the robotic device includes a repetition of movement in a first direction along a straight line, 180 degree rotation over a distance perpendicular to the first direction, movement in a second direction opposite the first direction along a straight line, and 180 degree rotation over a distance perpendicular to the second direction, and recording the number of collisions incurred and the areas covered by the robotic device while executing the movement path.

Abstract: Provided is a method including emitting, with a laser light emitter disposed on a robot, a collimated laser beam projecting a light point on a surface opposite the laser light emitter; capturing, with each of at least two image sensors disposed on the robot, images of the projected light point; overlaying, with a processor of the robot, the images captured by the at least two image sensors to produce a superimposed image showing both captured images in a single image; determining, with the processor of the robot, a first distance between the projected light points in the superimposed image; and determining, with the processor, a second distance based on the first distance using a relationship that relates distance between light points with distance between the robot or a sensor thereof and the surface on which the collimated laser beam is projected.