Seasonal cleaning zones for mobile cleaning robot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11940808-B2
Application number	US-202117522381-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2021
Priority date	Nov 9, 2021
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

A method of operating a mobile cleaning robot in an environment can include detecting, such as using an optical stream from the mobile cleaning robot, a seasonal object located in the environment. A seasonal cleaning zone can be created based on the detected seasonal object when a current date is within a specified date range. The seasonal cleaning zone can be displayed on a map of the environment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of operating a mobile cleaning robot in an environment, the method comprising:
detecting, using an optical stream from the mobile cleaning robot, a seasonal object located in the environment;
determining whether a current date is within a specified date range associated with the seasonal object;
creating a seasonal cleaning zone based on the detected seasonal object when the current date is within the specified date range;
increasing a cleaning frequency of the mobile cleaning robot within the seasonal cleaning zone when the current date is within the specified date range; and
displaying the seasonal cleaning zone on a map of the environment.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an adjustment to the seasonal cleaning zone; and
updating the seasonal cleaning zone on the map based on the received adjustment.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
creating a seasonal keep out zone within the seasonal cleaning zone;
displaying the seasonal keep out zone on the map of the environment;
receiving an adjustment to the seasonal keep out zone; and
updating the seasonal keep out zone on the map based on the received adjustment.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
producing a seasonal object detection notification when seasonal cleaning zone is created and the current date is within the specified date range.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
producing a seasonal object removal notification when the current date is outside the specified date range, the seasonal object removal notification indicating that the seasonal keep out zone should be removed.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the seasonal cleaning zone and the detected seasonal object to a remote device;
operating the remote device to confirm the detection of the seasonal object and creation of the seasonal cleaning zone; and
transmitting approval of the seasonal object and the seasonal cleaning zone from the remote device to the mobile cleaning robot.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the seasonal object is detected using an upper portion of the optical stream.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
increasing a cleaning parameter of the mobile cleaning robot within the seasonal cleaning zone.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing a cleaning operation within the environment based on the seasonal cleaning zone.

10. A method of operating a mobile cleaning robot within an environment, the method comprising:
detecting, using an optical stream from the mobile cleaning robot, a seasonal object located in the environment;
determining whether a current date is within a specified date range associated with the seasonal object;
creating a seasonal cleaning zone based on the detected seasonal object when the current date is within the seasonal date range;
increasing a cleaning frequency of the mobile cleaning robot within the seasonal cleaning zone when the current date is within the specified date range; and
creating a seasonal keep out zone within the seasonal cleaning zone on a map of the environment.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
operating a remote device to confirm the detection of the seasonal object and creation of the seasonal cleaning zone; and
transmitting approval of the seasonal object and the seasonal cleaning zone from the remote device to the mobile cleaning robot.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
producing a seasonal object creation notification when seasonal cleaning zone is created and the current date is within the seasonal date range.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
displaying the seasonal cleaning zone on the map of the environment;
receiving an adjustment to the seasonal cleaning zone; and
updating the seasonal cleaning zone on the map based on the received adjustment.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
displaying the seasonal keep out zone on the map of the environment;
receiving an adjustment to the seasonal keep out zone; and
updating the seasonal keep out zone on the map based on the received adjustment.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
producing a seasonal object removal notification when the current date is outside the seasonal date range.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the seasonal object is detected using an upper portion of the optical stream.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the seasonal object is a holiday tree.

18. A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions, for operating a mobile cleaning robot in an environment, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
detect, using an optical stream from the mobile cleaning robot, a seasonal object located in the environment;
determining whether a current date is within a specified date range associated with the seasonal object;
create a seasonal cleaning zone based on the detected seasonal object when the current date is within the specified date range;
increase a cleaning frequency of the mobile cleaning robot within the seasonal cleaning zone when the current date is within the specified date range; and
display the seasonal cleaning zone on a map of the environment.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18 , the instructions to further cause the machine to:
receive an adjustment to the seasonal cleaning zone; and
update the seasonal cleaning zone on the map based on the received adjustment.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18 , the instructions to further cause the machine to:
create a seasonal keep out zone within the seasonal cleaning zone;
display the seasonal keep out zone on the map of the environment;
receive an adjustment to the seasonal keep out zone; and
update the seasonal keep out zone on the map based on the received adjustment.

21. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18 , the instructions to further cause the machine to:
produce a seasonal object detection notification when seasonal cleaning zone is created and the current date is within the specified date range.

22. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the seasonal object is a holiday tree.

Assignees

• Irobot Corp

Inventors

• Ni Ottillia Shirhan
• Schneider Ryan
• Paik Hyun Woo
• Martinson Eric Beowulf
• Dean Danielle O'Connor

Classifications

• G05D1/0274 Primary

  using mapping information stored in a memory device (navigation using map-matching G01C21/30) · CPC title

• G05D1/0219

  ensuring the processing of the whole working surface · CPC title

• G05D1/0231

  using optical position detecting means (position-fixing by using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. optical position detecting means G01S5/16) · CPC title

• A47L11/24 Primary

  Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven · CPC title

• A47L11/4011 Primary

  Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor · CPC title