Abstract: Disclosed are a mobile robot with a single camera capable of performing a cleaning process with respect to surroundings, and capable of more precisely making a 3D map of the surroundings including a plurality of feature points, and a method for recognizing 3D surroundings of the same. According to the method, images of the surroundings are captured, and a preset number of particles with respect to feature points of a first image are projected to a second image based on matching information of feature points extracted from the two images sequentially captured, thereby extracting 3D information of the surroundings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile robot and a controlling method of the same. An entire movement region is divided into a plurality of regions, and a partial map is gradually made by using feature points of a plurality of images of the divided regions. Then, the map is compensated into a closed curved line, thereby making an entire map. Furthermore, when the mobile robot is positioned at a boundary of neighboring regions of the cleaning region, the boundary where a closed curved line is formed, the mobile robot compensates for its position based on a matching result between feature points included in the map, and feature points extracted from images captured during a cleaning process.

Abstract: Provided is a charging apparatus for a moving robot including a charging terminal that is connected to a terminal for charging a battery of the moving robot; a power supply unit that supplies a charging voltage for charging the battery of the moving robot; a power switching unit that outputs a detection signal, depending on whether a voltage is applied from the charging terminal or not, and switches a current flow between the power supply unit and the charging terminal in accordance with an input control signal; and a control unit that responds to the detection signal so as to output the control signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are a mobile robot and a controlling method thereof. The mobile robot comprises: a case; and a sensor unit having two or more sending portions and two or more receiving portions arranged on an outer surface of the case separately and alternately. The plurality of sending portions and receiving portions are arranged in an alternating manner, thereby having a directivity. Also, since signals received through the receiving portions are judged based on a reference value, an area unallowable to be detected for an obstacle sensing is minimized, which allows an obstacle to be detected more accurately. When the obstacle corresponds to a side wall on the basis of a moving path of the mobile robot, a distance between the side wall and the mobile robot is calculated based on signals received by the receiving portion closest to the side wall. Accordingly, the mobile robot can move with maintaining a constant distance from the side wall.

Abstract: Disclosed are a mobile robot with a single camera capable of performing a cleaning process with respect to surroundings, and capable of more precisely making a 3D map of the surroundings including a plurality of feature points, and a method for recognizing 3D surroundings of the same. According to the method, images of the surroundings are captured, and a preset number of particles with respect to feature points of a first image are projected to a second image based on matching information of feature points extracted from the two images sequentially captured, thereby extracting 3D information of the surroundings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile robot and a controlling method of the same. An entire movement region is divided into a plurality of regions, and a partial map is gradually made by using feature points of a plurality of images of the divided regions. Then, the map is compensated into a closed curved line, thereby making an entire map. Furthermore, when the mobile robot is positioned at a boundary of neighboring regions of the cleaning region, the boundary where a closed curved line is formed, the mobile robot compensates for its position based on a matching result between feature points included in the map, and feature points extracted from images captured during a cleaning process.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an operation of a robot cleaner including: a battery installed in the robot cleaner; and a means for selectively cutting off power supply of the battery to at least one or more units operated for performing a cleaning operation when the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped. When the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped, the robot cleaner is changed to the power saving mode or to the standby mode, and accordingly, power consumption of the battery of the robot cleaner can be reduced.

Abstract: Provided is a charging apparatus for a moving robot including a charging terminal that is connected to a terminal for charging a battery of the moving robot; a power supply unit that supplies a charging voltage for charging the battery of the moving robot; a power switching unit that outputs a detection signal, depending on whether a voltage is applied from the charging terminal or not, and switches a current flow between the power supply unit and the charging terminal in accordance with an input control signal; and a control unit that responds to the detection signal so as to output the control signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile robot charge station return system, which may return a mobile robot to a charge station exactly and rapidly according to a charge station position guidance signal emitted from the charge station. The mobile robot charge station return system includes a charge station for transmitting charge station position guidance signals to different areas in such a way that different emitting distances of the charge station position guidance signals change according to a predetermined time period; and a mobile robot for receiving the charge station position guidance signals, calculating direction and distance information, and returning to the charge station according to the calculated direction and distance information.

Abstract: A bumper device of a robot cleaner, and a robot cleaner equipped with the bumper device are disclosed. The bumper device of a robot cleaner includes: a bumper housing coupled to cover an outer circumferential surface of a main body of a robot cleaner, made of a material for restraining an expansion, and having an internal passage; an air tube insertedly installed inside the bumper housing so as to be expandable along the internal passage; and a sensing unit for sensing expansion of the air tube. Even if an impact is applied to any position of front, side and rear surfaces of the main body, it can be lessened in its transfer to the robot cleaner.

Abstract: A moving-object directing system for directing a moving object to a target location includes: a moving-object directing unit and a moving object. The moving-object directing unit includes: a directing signal transmitter for generating a first moving-object directing signal, sequentially transmitting the first moving-object directing signal 360° in all directions, generating a second moving-object directing signal corresponding to directing information for directing the moving object to the target location upon receiving a signal indicating successful reception of the first moving-object directing signal, and transmitting the second moving-object directing signal, and a first RF (Radio Frequency) communication unit for receiving a signal indicating successful reception of the moving-object directing signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for correcting a position of a mobile robot includes a position notifying unit, installed at a predetermined position, that generates and transmits a signal indicative of the predetermined position. The mobile robot includes a position signal detector, installed at a predetermined position of the mobile robot, that detects a signal; and a control unit, installed at a predetermined position of the mobile robot, that corrects a position of the mobile robot on the basis of pre-stored position information corresponding to the detected position signal, so that a position error that is generated when the mobile robot moves is corrected.

Abstract: Disclosed is a position-recognizing system of a self-moving robot. A position-recognizing system of a self-moving robot includes: a floor in which a magnet is inserted; and a self-moving robot provided with a magnetic sensor that can sense the magnet while the robot is moving on the floor. According to this, a magnet mounted in a floor is sensed through the magnetic sensor, and thusly a current location of the self-moving robot can be accurately recognized, so that the self-moving robot can be precisely controlled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile robot charge station return system, which may return a mobile robot to a charge station exactly and rapidly according to a charge station position guidance signal emitted from the charge station. The mobile robot charge station return system includes a charge station for transmitting charge station position guidance signals to different areas in such a way that different emitting distances of the charge station position guidance signals change according to a predetermined time period; and a mobile robot for receiving the charge station position guidance signals, calculating direction and distance information, and returning to the charge station according to the calculated direction and distance information.

Abstract: A moving-object directing system for directing a moving object to a target location includes: a moving-object directing unit and a moving object. The moving-object directing unit includes: a directing signal transmitter for generating a first moving-object directing signal, sequentially transmitting the first moving-object directing signal 360° in all directions, generating a second moving-object directing signal corresponding to directing information for directing the moving object to the target location upon receiving a signal indicating successful reception of the first moving-object directing signal, and transmitting the second moving-object directing signal, and a first RF (Radio Frequency) communication unit for receiving a signal indicating successful reception of the moving-object directing signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a position-recognizing system of a self-moving robot. A position-recognizing system of a self-moving robot includes: a floor in which a magnet is inserted; and a self-moving robot provided with a magnetic sensor that can sense the magnet while the robot is moving on the floor. According to this, a magnet mounted in a floor is sensed through the magnetic sensor, and thusly a current location of the self-moving robot can be accurately recognized, so that the self-moving robot can be precisely controlled.

Abstract: A bumper device of a robot cleaner, and a robot cleaner equipped with the bumper device are disclosed. The bumper device of a robot cleaner includes: a bumper housing coupled to cover an outer circumferential surface of a main body of a robot cleaner, made of a material for restraining an expansion, and having an internal passage; an air tube insertedly installed inside the bumper housing so as to be expandable along the internal passage; and a sensing unit for sensing expansion of the air tube. Even if an impact is applied to any position of front, side and rear surfaces of the main body, it can be lessened in its transfer to the robot cleaner.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an operation of a robot cleaner including: a battery installed in the robot cleaner; and a means for selectively cutting off power supply of the battery to at least one or more units operated for performing a cleaning operation when the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped. When the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped, the robot cleaner is changed to the power saving mode or to the standby mode, and accordingly, power consumption of the battery of the robot cleaner can be reduced.

Abstract: A brush assembly of a cleaner includes a driving motor mounted at a cleaner main body, for generating a rotary force; a brush rotatably disposed at a suction opening formed at the cleaner main body; and a driving force transfer device installed between the driving motor and the brush, rotating the brush by transferring a rotary force of the driving motor to the brush, and protecting the driving motor by preventing transfer of a load generated at the brush to the driving motor. Accordingly, the driving motor can be continuously rotated even if the brush cannot be rotated by being caught by a stuff or the like, thereby preventing motor damage.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for correcting a position of a mobile robot includes a position notifying unit, installed at a predetermined position, that generates and transmits a signal indicative of the predetermined position. The mobile robot includes a position signal detector, installed at a predetermined position of the mobile robot, that detects a signal; and a control unit, installed at a predetermined position of the mobile robot, that corrects a position of the mobile robot on the basis of pre-stored position information corresponding to the detected position signal, so that a position error that is generated when the mobile robot moves is corrected.